Why you shouldn’t skimp on your business network equipment
There are many things to consider when setting up your office, but these are the key things you’re going to need to meet the network demands of your business.
When it comes to setting up a business network, it’s tempting from a financial perspective to simply go with consumer-grade equipment. But while that might be suitable for the ordinary home, it falls short of what a modern, forward-thinking business needs. What to look for in a router Take the most critical element: your router. This gateway is the glue that connects everything in your network together, as well as to the wider internet. So, it’s critical that it meets the different and unique kinds of business demands you won’t find in the home. First, your router needs to be capable of managing hundreds of simultaneous connections – if not now, then in the future. We’re talking staff computers obviously, but don’t forget mobile devices, your server and other networked equipment too. Many devices will connect wirelessly, so look for a model offering MU-MIMO capabilities to facilitate those connections. These use multiple antennae and help improve performance over greater ranges. That said, don’t forget those devices that require a wired connection. Ensure that your router offers plenty of Ethernet (LAN) ports too.
Business-grade routers like ASUS’s BRT-AC828 tick all these boxes. But they also provide advanced options to boost network and internet performance, such as through link and WAN aggregation. Additional features are aimed specifically at businesses, like the ability to provide guest Wi-Fi access to visitors. Your business-grade router also needs to be hot on security. This means picking one with built-in VPN servers (to allow your employees to dial into the office network remotely and securely) and VLAN support (to isolate parts of your business from each other). Selected ASUS routers – including, of course, the BRT-AC828 we mentioned earlier – also come with AiProtection, which helps protect your network from malicious websites and external attacks. This feature – which is offered free for the life of the product – also has the ability to both spot and block infected or compromised devices on your network. Expanding your network As your business grows, so too will your networking infrastructure needs. A MU-MIMO router like the BRT-AC828 already helps boost your office’s Wi-Fi signal as far as possible. But to take full advantage, you need to pair it with equipment that can deliver great performance even at range. That means equipping your desktops with MU-MIMO Wi-Fi adapters like the ASUS PCE-AC88, which can deliver connection speeds up of up 2.1Gbps. Expanding wired networks involves investing in switches, usually with the purpose of connecting multiple devices in a specific location to a single port on your router. Those looking for a simple solution should pick an unmanaged switch like the XG-U2008. This provides 10 ports, two of which are 10Gbps, while it can also be mounted in a rack server with an optional bracket for use in your server room. Don’t forget to add a 10Gbps network adapter to any PC that needs the extra speed too. The XG-C100F is a great choice. Need to provide power as well as a network connection to remote locations? Investigate switches that support PoE (Power over Ethernet), such as the ASUS GP-108. Last, but not least, if you’re looking to introduce specific functionality into select locations, such as the back office or your IT department, consider so-called ‘managed’ switches. These bundle selected features like VLAN and link aggregation onto the switch itself, allowing you to either extend them from your main router or provide specific services independently of it.
