Seamless IT and network connections are crucial for today’s connected businesses. Not only does a streamlined IT and communication infrastructure offer customers and employees increased reliability and quality of experience, but it also reduces the risk of issues like dropped calls and internet cut-outs.
While strong IT and network connections can create great opportunities for a business, many companies settle for infrastructure that is just “good enough.” “Good enough” IT and communication infrastructure may be less costly to a business initially; however, there are leading risks that come with operating with “good enough” infrastructure, including security risks, slow processing speed, and unforeseen costs down the line.
Before setting up your own communications network, it is important to identify these risks and learn actionable ways to avoid using a less-than-optimal network.
Security Risks
One of the biggest security risks is failing to update your systems consistently. While your business may run smoothly on your network’s previous update, your system will be vulnerable to attacks and security breaches. An up-to-date communications network will prevent security breaches by keeping your system’s security measures current to industry standards.
However, while an up-to-date infrastructure may be “good enough,” it is important to also perform routine security assessments in order to be confident that your network is secure. Your business can efficiently implement run regular security assessments by training your staff in IT security policies and procedures and maintaining an updated security stance.
Furthermore, relying on your network alone may result in data loss. It’s important to go the next step and use data backups that include off-site or remote storage
Slow Processing Speed
High latency, or delay, decreases the quality of user experience. In fact, latency above 13 milliseconds has a negative impact on users. “Good enough” IT and communication infrastructure can lead to a slow processing speed due to a variety of factors. For one, slow processing speed may be caused by a malware attack on your network.
Slow processing speed can also be caused by an overloaded router or modem. If too many users are on your network at once, network contention may occur, as many users are waiter for each other’s requests to process, which causes lag. Another likely factor for lag on a “good enough” network is running too many applications at once.
To avoid latency, replacing your current system with a larger, more powerful one, or adding another router are great options. These solutions will not only decrease high latency but will also allow for more applications to be running and more users on the system at once.
Unexpected Costs
Not only does regularly updating your infrastructure help aid in protection against security breaches, it also helps lower unexpected costs down the road. When you have a system that you periodically use “band-aid” solutions for problems that come up or add-on installations needed to complete new projects, the risk of network failure increases, as well as the cost of ongoing maintenance — even though it may be sufficient in the short-term.
To avoid these large costs, it is ideal to invest in IT and communication infrastructure that is scalable, so it can support future technology updates for a lower price and decrease the risk of network failure.
Invest in More Than “Good Enough” IT/Communication Infrastructure
While sufficient IT and communication infrastructure can work for your company in the short-term, it may not be the smartest idea in terms of longevity. From lower security risks to lower long-term costs, as well as higher processing speeds, investing in a superior network can greatly benefit your business down the road.
