For any business, the ability to communicate is crucial. It does not matter whether you are an independent running a small plumbing firm or a multi-national retailer you need to stay in touch with your customers, suppliers and workers.
Therefore, choosing the correct business fibre broadband contract is important. If you make a mistake, and sign up with the wrong kind of supplier, you can easily end up doing long-term damage to your business.
To help you to avoid this potential pitfall we have put together this quick guide. Below we explain how to assess your business’s broadband needs, and find the right provider.
Understand what you need
The first step when buying any product is to work out what you actually need. When it comes to choosing your broadband service, there are several factors that you need to take into account.
How many people will use the system?
Sit down and make a note of how many people will be using your connection, and what type of work they will be doing. Think about how they will be accessing the system, and what type of devices they will be using to do so.
Extras you may need
Don’t forget the extras that can easily take up bandwidth and potentially put a strain on your connection. For example, will you be running an extranet? Do you plan to use your connection to the web to make VoIP calls? Are any of the tasks you are planning to do online very data rich?, for example graphic design.
If you do plan to use your internet connection in these ways, you will need to pay particular attention to speed and reliability. You do not want to be in the situation where your staff cannot hold a proper conversation with a customer because the connection keeps dropping in and out.
Do you need to provide remote access to your network?
If you have staff that work from home or while on the road, on a regular basis, you will want to consider purchasing a broadband package that allows you to have a fixed IP address. Doing so will make it far easier for people to reliably connect to your network. You can read more about the differences between static and dynamic IPs here.
Your business network needs to be as secure as possible. Unfortunately, having a fixed IP can make your system more vulnerable to hackers. Therefore, you will need to set up even more robust security measures to keep your data safe.
Consider security
It is always wise to look for a provider that takes security seriously. Ideally, you need to use a company that provides good support and advice about keeping your connection secure.
How flexible is your contract
When you are in business, you need to be able to adapt to market changes. It is, therefore, important to look for a contract that is flexible enough to meet your needs.
An established company
Given the fact that practically everything that a modern business does requires some sort of connection to the web it is very important to ensure that your broadband provider is reliable. The best way to do this is to look for a well-established company that has a good reputation.
