Assumptions usually would point to a poor wifi or too many users on the server but actually when the question of why does my business internet keep dropping gets asked, it’s rarely something as obvious as the previous two points. Here are some top causes and fixes you can apply to your business when you next run into internet issues.
Legacy Infrastructure Old Routers and Copper Lines
Legacy infrastructure can be one of the main causes of an unreliable internet connection. Legacy infrastructure is where your business broadband is still operating on copper lines or an old router. Over time the copper lines will degrade which will cause much slower speeds under heavier loads. If you have multiple employees in your business that are all working on the same connection, this will cause speeds to be hampered to a greater extent as older copper lines won’t be able to support multiple users successfully. The same applies to older routers or modems that haven’t been updated. With FTTC and Fibre Optic Broadband being much faster, old hardware now struggles under the pressure of supporting larger workforces. Fibre eliminates these issues and allows small and large teams to operate more effectively and sufficiently.
Insufficient Bandwidth and Cloud Usage
With the prominent use of cloud based servers and employees working from home will also create problems that can be fixed with a sufficient Bandwidth. The upload speeds can come under considerable strain when employees are taking video calls while using cloud apps that would usually be hosted on your network. If the business also has CCTV on the premises BMS or POS, you will have three tools all competing for the same pipe in retail environments. With Bandwidth not always being fully understood, businesses then underestimate the need they actually have for good quality Bandwidth.
Implementing a Bandwidth Hog is something that would be recommended to help monitor and analyse traffic. This would usually be a three step process that would include monitoring your network’s total usage, identifying the source of the traffic and then addressing the bandwidth hogs. You will then be able to monitor your quality of service, manage limits of intensive applications. Failing this however will mean that you will need to upgrade your service plan or hardware.
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Network Interference and Wi-Fi Congestion
Network interference and Wi-Fi congestion can become a large pain point when running a business. Especially if your offices are situated amongst shopping malls or large office blocks. The competing nature of various different businesses using the same servers can cause internet and broadband to slow. Large buildings or neighbouring devices can also slow down your workflow which in turn will eventually cause you issues in the long run. The simple fix for this would be to have a fibre fitted or structured cabling. The broadband speeds will improve and your business Wi-Fi will no longer struggle or compete with neighbouring companies.
Provider issues that have a high contention and poor SLA’s will also cause slower broadband and in turn will make your business face more issues. One of these is peak-time internet dropouts, something most people with children will face in the school summer holidays or Christmas breaks. This can mainly be caused by a shared infrastructure. The difference between consumer grade and business grade broadband is huge, some of the key differences are as follows; Business-grade broadband offers higher reliability, dedicated support, symmetrical speeds (equal upload/download), better security (like static IPs, VPNs), and traffic prioritization, designed for performance. Whereas consumer broadband prioritizes lower cost with asymmetrical speeds, sufficient for browsing/streaming, but with shared bandwidth and less robust features for business-critical tasks.
Fixing problems – Step by step troubleshooting
Some of the key troubleshooting steps an IT manager can take are really quite simple but also very effective. The inspection of cables is a great way to routinely stay on top of your hardware. Speed tests can also be run on your broadband, which can allow IT managers to monitor exactly what sort of speed your internet is running at whilst also keeping track of consistent readings. Scanning for Malware and making sure software is updated is also good practice to get into and it’ll mean you run into less problems.
When full Fibre is the only real solution
The benefits of using full fibre will genuinely future proof businesses Wi-Fi and broadband. The Zero-loss connectivity will protect you from dropouts which will allow the workforce to work seamlessly and not face any serious internet connectivity issues. It will also have better resilience and allow the IT manager to proactively monitor the service in case any issues arise.