Category: Networking
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Traditional satellite internet was slow and laggy. A newer generation of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, orbiting much closer to the planet, offers faster speeds and much lower delay. Several providers now offer service to businesses, and more constellations are being built. Where it fits – Remote or rural sites with poor or no fibre, cable, or…
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Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) is the newest mainstream wireless standard. Business access points, newer laptops, and many phones now support it. The real question is whether your office benefits yet. What Wi-Fi 7 adds – Wider channels: up to 320 MHz in the 6 GHz band, for higher peak speeds – Multi-Link Operation (MLO): a…
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5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks. For business, it opens options beyond faster smartphones. Public 5G for business – Backup internet: 5G routers can provide failover when wired service goes down – Primary connectivity for temporary or remote sites, such as construction, pop-up stores, and events – Fixed wireless access: an alternative to…
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A Wi-Fi site survey measures how wireless signals behave in your actual building, so access points are placed correctly. Types of surveys – Predictive survey: software models coverage from floor plans and building materials. Useful for planning and quoting. – On-site (active/passive) survey: an engineer walks the space with measurement tools, testing real signal strength,…
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A network built piece by piece often ends up fragile and insecure. Professional design starts with your needs. Phase 1: Requirements – How many users, devices, and locations? – What applications and traffic types (voice, video, cloud, large files)? – What uptime, security, and compliance requirements? – What growth do you expect in the next…
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Even a small server closet needs thought. Heat, dust, and clutter shorten equipment life and cause outages. Cooling – Keep temperatures roughly between 18ยฐC and 27ยฐC – Provide dedicated cooling, since a closet with no airflow overheats quickly – Arrange racks with front-to-back airflow, and use blanking panels to avoid hot air recirculation – Monitor…
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Wireless is convenient, but every access point, camera, and desktop depends on physical cabling behind the walls. What is structured cabling? A standardized, organized cabling system with patch panels, labeled runs, and a central network room. It’s designed to last for many years across equipment changes. Why it matters – Reliability: poor cabling causes mysterious…
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Power over Ethernet (PoE) sends electricity and data over a single network cable, so devices like cameras, phones, and access points don’t need their own power outlet. Why use PoE? – Fewer cables and outlets – Easier installation in ceilings and remote locations – Central power backup (one UPS protects all connected devices) – Remote…
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Many small businesses run on whatever router their internet provider supplied. It often becomes a limitation. Why consumer routers fall short – Limited security features – Poor handling of many simultaneous users – No VLANs, VPN, or advanced controls – Little visibility or logging – Infrequent firmware updates What to look for – Throughput that…
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Businesses with multiple locations used to rely on MPLS, a private, carrier-managed network. It’s reliable but expensive. SD-WAN offers an alternative. What is SD-WAN? Software-defined WAN uses regular broadband, fiber, or LTE/5G links, and software to decide how traffic travels between sites and the cloud. Key benefits – Lower cost than MPLS circuits – Multiple…