07 November 2022
Patrick Hirscher, wireless market development manager, Zyxel Networks
Wireless technology is now an integral part of day-to-day life for individuals and businesses alike. Just as with electricity, we rarely stop to think about the importance of wireless technology until there’s an issue with our network. Now more than ever before, it is imperative that organisations tailor their wireless solutions to meet the specific needs and demands of the business.
The shift in consumer networking needs
The shift towards remote working, combined with the surge in energy costs, has seen employees flocking to work from cafes, restaurants and pubs in an effort to reduce their heating bills at home this winter. But this influx of laptop workers has meant that for many small businesses, their wireless networking solutions no longer meet the demands of their patrons.
A strong wireless connection is not only imperative to retain and attract this newfound customer base. Small businesses are now dependent on wireless technology for their daily operations. From their cash terminals to their order points, the majority of hospitality venues have incremental equipment that is reliant on a stable wireless network.
Previously, WiFi routers with embedded Access Points were enough to meet the needs of small businesses. However, the increased dependency on wireless connectivity from both customers and businesses alike has meant that small businesses now need to invest in an external Access Point, to support the increase in the number of users looking to connect to the network.
Investing just a small amount of money on a basic Access Point will not only improve the day-to-day operations of a business, but also help attract the growing number of remote workers, improving the bottom line for businesses at a time when it is under pressure.
Density vs distance
Larger scale businesses operating across multiple rooms and floors, such as offices or hotels, will likely already have Access Points integrated into their networking infrastructure. However, where many of these mid-sized companies run into connectivity troubles results from lacking the tailored solutions their business needs.
For example, in a scenario where there is a high density of people in a small area, like in a conference room, classroom or the London Underground, powerful Access Points are required. Investing in multiple, cheaper Access Points will not be an effective solution, as these APs will not be able to handle the quantity of users and devices attempting to join the network at once. In an instance like this, businesses must invest in two or three powerful Access Points, depending on the quantity of users and devices.
Comparatively, in a hotel where rooms are spread across a long corridor, the density of users is lower, but the distance from the router will be far greater, meaning that guest users located further away from the router will struggle to connect. In this instance, one or two powerful Access Points will not solve this problem. Rather, businesses should invest in multiple, lower power Access Points to spread along the corridor. This will enable guests, regardless of their location, to connect to the router seamlessly.
Securing the network
In recent years, businesses across the globe have become the target of large-scale cyber-attacks by malicious actors. According to the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breach Survey, phishing attacks accounted for 83% of all business cyber hacks in 2022. For organisations that have access to sensitive data, falling victim to such an attack could have catastrophic implications for the company.
To prevent sensitive data from getting into the wrong hands, businesses should consider investing in an Access Point that has a security component. Fairly new to the market, these APs can be centrally managed via a cloud platform and can filter out any unsafe web content and prevent users from accessing the data streams of others, preventing malicious actors from spying or stealing the information of others.
While these security profile embedded APs have a premium price point, they eliminate the need for a separate security gateway device, saving businesses money in the short and long term.
