The internet has become a critical part of modern day living with 312 million Americans going online every day. With those many people using the internet today it is imperative that businesses welcome the internet into their internal and external operations to survive. Whether it is putting up a website to engage with customers or operating company email accounts to aid operations, firms will find the internet indispensable to them. For those companies who take the step to move their services to the cloud, reliable internet service is mission-critical. Choosing an internet service provider (ISP) that delivers the best value for money for your business is not easy. You need to know what service offerings to look for, what speeds are best and a myriad of other factors that go into making that decision. When looking for the best business internet plans use these guidelines to decide wisely:
Steps to Picking The Best Internet
- Determine Your Business’ Internet Requirements.
- Figure Out How to Choose the Best ISP.
- Determine the Best Internet Connection Type for Your Firm?
- Figure Out Needed Cybersecurity measures.
The Steps Explained
When it comes to procuring internet services for your business the first step is to have a clear idea of what your firm’s needs are. Accurately identifying your firm’s internet needs will not only lead you to the most suitable ISP for your company but it will also help you avoid overpaying for it.
The most critical factor in choosing an ISP is the coverage they offer and how it can best serve your business. A provider with national coverage will provide an extensive network to you if your firm has a national or international footprint. If you are a small business, then a local provider would better suit you due to their proximity and more personalized service. Analyze the scale of the provider you’re considering engaging and how it will impact your businesses’ operations.
The equipment an ISP gives its customers is also vital. Some providers will only give you a modem once you sign up while others will include additional equipment to help you set up. The more equipment a provider gives you, the more cost-effective their service will ultimately be.
An essential factor in choosing a provider is the level of service their support team can deliver. Your internet service will routinely experience downtimes and others technical issues which will impact your operations. A provider with a reputation for speedy and knowledgeable support services will minimize the amount of time your business operations will slow down due to service problems. Poor service support will cost your firm dearly in lost business with every technical breakdown.
Assess the speed packages each ISP provides to know which one is the best fit for you. Your internet service speed will affect how well your business operates. Pay attention to the download speeds (for receiving files, video and audio content) and upload speeds (for sending out files, video and audio content) measured in bits per second each provider touts to pick out the best one for you.
There are several kinds of internet connections, and the most suitable one will depend on how your firm plans to use the service.
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL): This is a connection type that uses phone lines to connect a computer to the internet. It is dedicated meaning only you get to use it. A significant disadvantage is that if your provider is located far away from you, your speeds will be slow.
- Cable broadband: It is faster than DSL and operates over coaxial wires your cable television provider is using. It is not dedicated, and you will share the service with other subscribers around you.
- Satellite: As the name suggests, this connection type uses satellite dishes to link you to your provider. It covers areas that the other connection types can’t and is especially useful in rural areas. It’s slower than cable and fiber optic connections.
- Fiber optic: It is the fastest connection type operating via an optical network that uses light. It provides the highest bandwidth across many users.
Using business internet services will expose your operations to malicious actors online (also called hackers). Assess each ISP’s security measures to identify the best fit for your firm. Online (cloud) data backups and anti-virus software are just some of the add-ons that ISPs should offer you to address your security concerns. Deploy business internet services that are secure to protect your operations from internal and external threats.
The internet is a tool that can give your business a competitive edge. Selecting an ISP that will deliver excellent service and will assist you to troubleshoot issues to minimize disruption to your operations is an essential need. Marry potential ISPs to your company’s internet needs to get the best value for money.
