Necessity of Building a Computer Network for Small Business
Posted on 30th March 2023
For your business to grow, you have to invest in equipment. The more gadgets an organization has, the easier it is to spread out programs and key information. Your gadgets need to work together for you to achieve this. As an entrepreneur, you’ve probably heard the words – computer network. If you’ve never bothered to find out what it entails, you are missing out on a wide range of benefits. In this article, we are going to discuss the importance of building small business computer networks.
Defining a computer network
Here is the simplest definition of a computer connection – It is a series of connection points that allow you to receive, transmit and share information in different formats such as audio, images, spreadsheets, and documents to name a few. With this network, you can easily communicate with other users and share information. As you create a computer network, you need to learn about how you can mount a network drive mac to ensure that information for business is easily accessible and safe. The four common categories of networks for business are local area network, wide area network, personal area network, and metropolitan area network. You can use your connection to communicate, access the internet and conduct business online.
Why do you need your computer connection in business?
Your employees can easily store and organize files
A server is a primary repository for all your files. Every computer that is connected can access stored information. If your employees can store files on the server, it will save them a lot of time and energy that would have been otherwise used to send several emails. When you don’t have a network, your staff will save every file on their computers. In case something happens, all the files will be lost. When information is saved to the server and backed up regularly, everything will be safe even if a gadget fails.
Improves security
It can be difficult to enforce security policies without supervising your employees. By having a network, you can inform all users to update their passwords after a set number of days for them to access information stored on the server. You can also configure the server to follow various levels of access thus allowing your employees to access the information they need.
Saving resources
With a small business network, you can connect tablets, printers, and laptops. Instead of having to email files to each laptop, buy printers for every department or copy files to external drives, employees can copy, print, save, or change files from any gadget connected.
It supports remote work
In remote work environments, a wireless computer connection is essential. Since the pandemic took over the world, most organizations embraced remote and hybrid work models. This makes it easy for employees to boost their productivity and performance wherever they are as long as they are connected to the internet.
How to create your computer network?
There are a few factors that you need to consider before you start building a connection for your business. Some of the devices that you’ll need include:
Router – A component that transfers data between different networks
Modem – A hardware component that allows your gadgets to connect to the web
Switch – A key device that allows other gadgets connected to the network to communicate and transfer information.
Access Point – A device that allows wireless gadgets to connect to a network
LAN cables – Components that deliver sufficient bandwidth to every access point
Patch panel – Hardware assembly with ports that are used to manage LAN cables
Repeater – A device that reproduces signals that are transmitted over a wide area so that there is equality in signal strength
Here is a simple setup of an office connection – A cable provides an internet connection from your internet service provider. It is connected to the router. Traffic transmitted via the cable gets filtered by the firewall which connects to a switch. All the devices connected can access the web by connecting to the switch.
Conclusion
As you have seen, there are a lot of benefits that you’ll get from building a computer network for your small business. To get started, you should consider consulting an expert in this field.
