Having such convenient access to the internet, emails and social networks means we can go from being fast asleep to globally connected in a matter of seconds. Or rather, we can as long as we have an internet connection. And while wireless wide area networks, such as 3G and 4G, have never been more available, more and more people are demanding convenient and reliable access to a Wi-Fi network regardless of where they happen to be.

Meeting high Wi-Fi expectations

From a niche technology used by companies in warehouses and other business environments, Wi-Fi has grown into a commodity technology. With that comes challenges. Businesses are now under pressure to be able to offer the same seamless Wi-Fi experience most people now take for granted in their homes. And while in many ways this sounds like a simple enough request, taking the technology that works at home and transferring it into a business environment simply isn’t good enough.

The jump that occurs between Wi-Fi that is suitable for personal use and the kind of Enterprise Class solution a business needs to provide widespread connectivity is vast. But while most people can understand the leap in requirements for, say, a hotel or hall of residence, many find it harder to comprehend the requirements for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Can your network cope?

It used to be that technology in businesses was driven exclusively by the IT department. But all that has changed in recent years, thanks in no small part to the digital workplace revolution. Employees are often the first to own the latest, cutting edge technologies and what’s more, they are eager to bring them to work, where equipment may be a generation or two behind. So large is the demand for this that many businesses are embracing Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, something that will only see network traffic increase. So perhaps it should be time you asked yourself: can your network cope? And if it can’t, do you know what steps you should be taking to plan for the future?

Making the right choice

Owners of SMBs are often the most likely to be tempted to try and save on costs by purchasing the same kind of router or access points as they have at home. After all, the price is right and they’ve never experienced any problems connecting, so what could go wrong? The fact is, that no matter what size of business you currently run, it is always a good idea to invest in a system that is futureproof. This means you will have a system that is not only fit for purpose in a professional business environment now, but also has scope to expand or contract as the size of your business changes. An enterprise Wi-Fi solution will also include specific options and features to make sure your business is set up correctly and protected from risk of unauthorised access when it comes to mobile working, security, and guest access. 

If your day-to-day business operations require any more than ten devices to be attached to your Wi-Fi at any given time, this will cause the average processor to struggle. And although this may seem like a large number, when you consider that the average person has 3.64 connected devices with them when they are at work, it isn’t too far-fetched to say that even a small business’s Wi-Fi network needs to be prepared to cope with hundreds of devices attempting to connect simultaneously.

For more information on how to choose the right Wi-Fi solution for your business, get in touch today.