NETWORK DESIGN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
The infrastructure of your computer network is the backbone of your business. All of your devices, applications, software, and most of your work are supported or built on your computer network. Therefore, planning, designing, purchasing equipment and securing the computer network for your business should be the top priorities for your business.
To build a computer network for your company, you need to consider a few things. Making a computer network work efficiently in a business environment is very different from setting up a home or home network. Business network design has a high degree of complexity and security concerns. Building the best network for your business depends on the needs of your business.
Here is a list of the devices you need to build a computer network for your business:
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Modem
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Router
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Firewall
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Switch
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LAN cable / connecting cable
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Access point
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Repeater
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Patch panel
Here's a typical example of a small business network setup:
And here is a description of a simple office network setup: Internet connection is via a cable from your Internet provider. This cable connects to your router. The firewall filters the traffic on the cable, which then connects to the switch. Then all of your network devices can access the Internet by connecting to this switch.
Now let's take a closer look at each of the network devices. We won't go into the technical details, but rather focus on what you need to know in order to select the right hardware you need to design and configure the best network for your business.
MAIN HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF THE OFFICE COMPUTER NETWORK
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MODEM
A modem, short for modulator-demodulator, is a hardware component on your network that helps your computer and other devices connect to the Internet. This device converts digital data that a computer understands into analog data that is transmitted over a cable.
The modems you usually see are most likely cable modems that support DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Interface Specification), which is used to transmit over hybrid fiber coaxial cables to the Internet. Thus, you can get TV, cable Internet, digital phone line over the same cable.
With the increasing use of fiber optic connections, modems are becoming obsolete. Fiber optic cables can carry more bandwidth over long distances. Since you require high data rates in your office, it is more likely that you will be using a fiber optic connection. In this case, you do not need the modem to be part of your network.
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ROUTER
A router is the component of your network equipment that transfers data packets between networks. Simply put, it transmits data from an internet cable to your device.
With a simple network connection, an internet cable connects to the router, allowing it to transmit and receive information from the internet. Other devices on your office network connect to the router with an Ethernet switch between them and thus access the Internet.
We will not go into the technical details of the router. This is not the purpose of this blog. Instead, we'll focus on what you need to consider before choosing a router for your office network.
HOW TO CHOOSE ROUTER FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
Most internet provider usually provide you with a free router when you purchase a subscription. However, these routers are not suitable for your use. You will definitely need to buy one, and here are some things to consider before choosing a router:
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NUMBER OF DEVICES IN YOUR NETWORK
It is not always easy to count the number of devices connected to your network. Desktop, portable, and mobile devices aren't the only devices on your network. Here's what you need to include in your calculations:
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Desktop computers
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Laptops
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Pills
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Smartphones
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Network printers
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VoIP phone system
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Conference room equipment
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POS systems
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IP cameras
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Guest Devices
If the total number of devices connected to your network is 20 or more, you should invest in commercial or business grade Wi-Fi equipment, as household or home routers can only work with a limited number of devices. You can also connect some of your devices to increase the speed of your wireless devices. Even so, buying a commercial router will greatly simplify your network.
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INTERFERENCE FROM NEIGHBORS WI-FI
If your office is located in a densely populated area such as downtown San Francisco, it is highly likely that your Wi-Fi will be interfered with by your neighbor's Wi-Fi. That's right, it happens all the time. A dual band router can be used to reduce interference.
You can use the 2.4 GHz band for IoT devices by reserving the 5 GHz band for mobile devices such as laptops. This helps to avoid overload in the 5 GHz band. In addition, because the 5 GHz band has a shorter range, it allows the use of additional access points without the risk of interference in high-traffic airspace. Most enterprise-grade Wi-Fi equipment uses the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands at the same time and automatically switches your devices to the best available option.
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GUEST WI-FI REQUIREMENT
If you want to have guest users on your network, you must create a separate SSID (Service Set Identifier) for the guests. This gives you considerable flexibility as well as security as you can provide your guests with Internet access without giving them access to your internal network. SSID can also be assigned various policies, encryption, authentication, etc. to provide an additional layer of security. Business class equipment supports multiple SSIDs.
Choosing the right router is critical to building a reliable wireless network. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the above requirements.
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FIREWALL
A firewall is a security system for your computer network. It monitors and controls inbound and outbound network traffic based on the security rules you set. In other words, a firewall is a filter between your internal and external networks, such as the Internet, that protects your business network from unauthorized external access.
DO YOUR NETWORK NEED A FIREWALL?
Even though computers come with built-in software firewalls, your business is not safe with this one fragile safety net. Network infrastructure devices are typical targets for cyber intruders, and without a dedicated firewall, your network and all connected devices are vulnerable to hackers.
A dedicated hardware firewall gives your network a much needed extra layer of protection. The hardware firewall has advanced features like VPN, remote access, and advanced web filtering. It is similar to a router in that it can handle a limited number of users. So make sure your firewall has enough power for future growth.
A commercial router usually comes with built-in firewall capabilities, so you may not have to buy separate firewall hardware. Just make sure you double check this as it is critical to your network security.
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SWITCH
The switch is an essential element in the foundation of your office network. It is a network device that allows other devices on the network to exchange information. You will have PCs, printers, NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices, servers, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), etc. on your network, and the switch links these devices together on your network.
You don't see a switch in the house because the wireless router you are using is a combination of a wireless router, access point, and switch. We'll talk about access points in the next section. Therefore, there may be some confusion if you compare your home network with your office network. You just need to remember that the function of a switch is different from that of a router, which connects different networks. For most businesses, a router connects your network to the Internet. While the switch connects different devices on your network.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE SWITCH FOR THE OFFICE NETWORK?
For small and medium businesses, there are three types of network switches to choose from. These types are based on configuration options and are as follows:
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NON-CONTROL SWITCH
An unmanaged switch is the simplest and most basic type of switch. It's easy because you can use it right out of the box, as it doesn't require any configuration. Unmanaged switches are cheaper but lack advanced features. They are best suited for small offices with simple networks.
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OPERATING SWITCH
A managed switch gives you the ability to control the operation of the switch. You can configure your switch to decide how your network uses your Internet connection. You can configure the switch through CLI (Command Line Interface), SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), or the web interface.
For example, a managed switch allows you to set port bandwidth and create or modify VLANs (virtual local area networks). Managed switches are more expensive and require some technical knowledge to use them effectively. Another key advantage is that they can be controlled remotely and hence are very useful for large offices and ancillary facilities.
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PATCH CABLE, PATCH CORD, LAN CABLE
A reliable core wired network is essential to ensure a fast wireless network. Your cables are responsible for providing enough bandwidth to your hotspots, without which your Wi-Fi network will be slow. Therefore, using the latest cable standards such as CAT6 for LAN wiring would be a good investment. It also allows you to connect specific
devices such as printers, IP cameras, etc., to a wired network, thereby freeing up the spectrum from wireless-dependent devices such as laptops and mobile devices. Also plan to run two cables to each wireless access point because current and future standards will require additional wired network bandwidth.
BEST NETWORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
This is the first part of our blog about setting up a small business network. So far, we have discussed the functions and requirements of your business network in relation to the following network devices:
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Modem
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Router
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Firewall
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Switch
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LAN cable / connecting cable
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need help designing and building a network for your company.