When was the last time you upgraded your wide area network? In the past 7 years we've witnessed some of the largest fiber expansion ever seen in the Western U.S.. It is not uncommon to find multi-site networks with 40mb private MPLS connections for $700 per site or less. 100x100mb Fiber Internet which was $2000 per month just 3 years ago can be found as low as $165 per month today.
If you are still supporting your critical data infrastructure using wireless internet, cable or DSL you might as well be flying along in a Coruscant Air Taxi. In the past fiber was expensive, hard to get but it's time to take another look at what's available.
Why do I need Fiber?
1. Speed!!!
Fiber-optic Internet is much faster than even the highest-speed copper connections with options ranging from 10mbps to 10Gbps. More and more applications from point of sale to CRM and ERP solutions are becoming cloud based meaning the need for a fast network is more prevalent than ever. 82% of organizations are now using the cloud in some capacity and the speed capabilities of fiber Internet mean faster access to your data and applications stored in the cloud. Fiber is the equivalent of adding a hyperdrive propulsion system to your ship.
2. VoIP
Like many other applications phone service has moved to the cloud as well. The best phone systems for small business are all cloud based and fiber insures crystal clear call quality. VoIP is just the beginning, before long video calls will be the norm. The millennial generation spends more time on video and chat then they ever do on voice calls.
3. Reliability
Fiber connectivity offers significant reliability advantages over copper and wireless connectivity due to the fact that fiber is stronger and is not susceptible to weather conditions. Fiber is also resistant to human or electrical interference. Unreliable network connections can create real costs for business with any unplanned downtime. Productivity, business communications, point of sale terminals and more can go down and bring business to a halt. Fiber is more reliable and less susceptible to outages.
4. Symmetric Speed
Symmetric refers to equal upload and download speeds on a circuit. A few years ago business could get away with asymmetric bandwidth like DSL or Broadband but todays users are more likely to upload video content, files and make phone calls while downloading content when they are working. Symmetric speed enables users to accommodate heavy demands on downloads and upload simultaneously via the data connection, improving performance and increasing speeds.
5. Security
Penetrating business cable or wireless connections can be done with relative ease for any would-be hacker. The only way to penetrate fiber-optics is to physically cut the fibers which would cause the signal to disappear. Fiber is one of the more powerful ways to improve network security. Whether its R2-D2 storing the Death Star plans, gaining unauthorized access to critical systems like garbage compactors access control will continue to be a major concern for the threat to data security and fiber is the most secure transport available.
The list of benefits from fiber connectivity could go on and on. There are few things more appealing in business than the aspect of speed. Technology has reached a point where things can be done with the click of a button in the blink of an eye. Every business is forced to operate at the speed of hyperspace in order to fulfill customer demands. For business to thrive in today's business world it has to take advantage of technologies that allow for quick processes and fiber is the backbone necessary to carry these technologies. Business may not have to "make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs" but to keep up with the ever increasing demands of customers and users high speed fiber connectivity will give your network the propulsion system it needs.
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