The Forgotten, Unsung Heroes of Your Networking Infrastructure

Your business runs on its network, and when your network hardware isn’t running up to speed, it can have a significant impact on business operations. It’s also far from the most interesting topic, and other parts of your business—like the software that makes and manages the products or services you provide—likely takes up the spotlight. Here are some of the common networking solutions that are often neglected and why they should be a priority instead.

Wireless Access Points

Wireless access points enable the numerous devices on your network, such as smartphones and laptops, to access important data and infrastructure… but when was the last time you updated them?

It’s easy to forget about your wireless routers, and older models might struggle with more modern devices. This results in slower and less reliable wireless connections, which effectively kills your productivity. We recommend you upgrade to more modern wireless access points after several years of use; the stark difference between a router ten years ago and now might shock you.

Newer standards mean improved performance, simultaneous different networks and connections, and enhanced security features, making your wireless connections far more reliable in more ways than one.

Firewalls

Before a threat reaches your network, it first encounters a firewall, which is designed to catch and reject suspicious activity.

So it makes sense that you would keep your firewall updated with the latest threat definitions, right? Well, a lot of businesses see the firewall as a “set it and forget it” device, and older models might not be able to detect some of today’s most dangerous, sophisticated threats. You want your network to be upgraded with the latest in threat intelligence, such as intrusion prevention systems and deep packet inspection, ensuring the barrier between you and the countless threats out there remains as strong as possible.

After all, security solutions only work when they’re updated and configured correctly, so take a moment to think about the last time you actually upgraded your security solutions.

Network Switches

We can’t forget about everyone’s favorite hubs that keep all your wired devices connected: the network switches.

Whether it’s a computer, a printer, or a server, it interfaces with a network switch to transfer data across your network. As your business grows, however, older switches might not have the capacity or speed to handle the traffic, and your network will slow to a halt as a result. Upgrading your hardware can lead to significantly higher bandwidth, which results in faster file transfers, fewer bottlenecks, and improved network efficiency.

Remember, your network should be able to keep up with your business’ demands, and if it doesn’t, it could hold you back from achieving the kind of results you want to see.

Want to make sure your network infrastructure is kept up-to-date, resilient, and conducive to productivity? Eclipse IT, Inc. can help you bring it up to speed. To get started, call us at (619) 331-4008 today.