As businesses of all sizes begin to rely more heavily on the internet to do business, it becomes more important for them to have a communication infrastructure that can handle the increased requirements. There are many technologies that are becoming cheap enough that small businesses can take advantage of the savings and security they provide. For example: VoIP phone systems, off backup and VPNs all can help small business grow a become more secure, but each add additional stress of a business’s data capacity. By ensuring you have the best possible business internet plan, you will be able to successfully grow your business without worrying about the infrastructure that keeps your staff communicating.
Needs Assessment
The first step is too look at your current data needs and look to the future. When one is planning on investing heavily in new digital technologies, it behooves you to look 5-10 years ahead. You do not want to invest a large amount of capital in a data infrastructure only to have it not meet future needs. How many phone lines do you have now? And how many will you be adding? How many computers are connected to the internet and are they backing up important information off line. Adding a VPN can add additional stress on a system.
The second step in a needs assessment is to figure out exactly how much data your business is currently using. There are numerous speed test tools online that help you calculate your current upload and download speeds as well as lag. With this information you can work with an IT Consultant or Data provider to calculate your data needs and determine what sort of package is going to be right for your business.
Choosing a Provider
Data providers, whether they are large national companies or local providers, can deliver you a whole range of options to meet your business’s specific needs. No matter who you go with, they are going to be delivering a very similar product. Data is data. Bits are bits. What is important is does the provider provide the service level agreement and support that growing businesses need. Look for a service level agreement that specifies uptime transfer rates and maximum latency. Getting this information in writing you can help you hold the your provider accountable if it is determined that issues are on their end.
It is also important to ask for references of other businesses in your area. This is important for two reasons. First, whether the provider is a national provider or local internet provider, serves quality can vary based on local infrastructure. Second, talking with current or past clients can give you an idea about the data providers support. If your business is going to invest in a new VoIP system — you want it to work without interruption.