Constant access to internet is critical for most businesses today, small or big. Even more so now when more and more corporations are starting to use cloud-based services such as Dropbox and Google Drive.
The consequences of a failure in your broadband connection can be very harmful and result in a lack of productivity, missed business opportunities and lost orders. Which naturally will result in loss of revenue.
Large companies can usually afford to pay for solutions that will ensure them constant broadband access, whereas small or medium-sized businesses might not have that luxury. They need to find other solutions when their connection fails. Here are a few things you can do to ensure your company stays online.
Choose a supplier with a backup broadband connection
Instead of just paying for the cheapest option out there, invest in a supplier that offers deals with two lines from two different carriers. If your primary connection fails the backup line will automatically take over.
Invest in mobile broadband devices
If you have access to a tablet or a smart phone you’ll also have access to a mobile broadband connection. This connection is not as fast as regular broadband, but in an area with good mobile phone signal you should be able to continue working online. (This will probably not work for large companies, but for small businesses and freelancers, yes.)
Enable flexible working
Provide the opportunity for your staff to work from home. In case of a sudden connection failure advise your employees to work from a café or restaurant with wireless Internet. Changing between work environments can increase productivity levels.
Make an agreement with a nearby company
If you share a building with another company you could agree on a mutual arrangement to share broadband connections. If your connection fails you will have access to the partner business’s and vice versa. Just make sure you don’t have the same suppliers.
Adopt multiple technologies
There are two major types of broadband – ADSL and cable. These two types of connection take separate routes when connecting to internet, so if one fails the other will still work. (It is extremely unlikely that both would fail at once.) If you can’t get cable in your area you can get two ADSLs from two different providers instead. To connect ADSL and cable to your office network you’ll need to buy a WAN router.
Creating a back-up plan for when your Internet connection stops working is a smart thing to do as it can save your business a lot of money.
