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- Guide To Small Business Networking In Portland Oregon
- Guide To Small Business Networking In Portland Area
- Guide To Small Business Networking In Portland Wa
Guide To Small Business Networking In Portland Oregon
Rural Business Internet
Your computer network is the backbone of productivity in your office. If it doesn't work efficiently, modern office workers just can't function.
It gives your workers access to the tools they need to get their job done, whether it's communication with clients or designing new products.
That's why your small business network setup is essential if you want your workers to be as productive as possible. But. designing a network that's reliable, secure, and quick enough can be a challenge.
That's why we're going to guide you through everything you need to know to help you design the right computer network for your small business.
Design Your Network for Scalability
Before you start ordering hardware, you need to think about how to design your network. You can only do that by looking at what your objectives are when designing it.
What exactly does your computer network need to offer you and your workers?
One of the most important decisions you'll make when you're designing your network is the size of it. The number of PCs and connected hardware you'll need will have an impact on the networking hardware you'll have to buy.
Allow yourself a network that can scale up with you. You may find you need more PCs and connected hardware, like network-attached storage devices or VOIP equipment, in the future.
Buy network switches with spare capacity for growth. If you're going wireless, consider the number of connected devices you'll need. Only buy wireless equipment that can handle the demand of the number of devices you'll need.
You should also design your network around your physical environment. Install switches and access points to allow for the least amount of interference or difficulty in installation.
Wireless, Wired, or Both?
If you work in an office that uses a lot of mobile devices, or you're worried about the cost of a wired network, you should consider going wireless.
It doesn't have to be a question of one or the other, as a wireless network can work in conjunction with wired devices on a wired network. One of the main advantages of a wireless network is that it's a far more portable setup.
There are some potential disadvantages to remember.
An unsecured wireless network can put your entire network (and by extension, your business) at risk. Use enterprise-level security for any wireless access points you install.
Speed can also be a disadvantage. While the newer 802.11ac wireless specification can achieve speeds of over 1 gigabit per second, this is in an ideal environment without walls or other electrical interference.
A wired network will offer you more speed consistency for your business devices. If this isn't a major concern, you should choose to install a wireless network, either alongside a wired network or as your sole choice.
Routers and Switches
Terminology can be a little confusing when you're designing a new network. One of the basics of networking for small business owners to understand is the difference between a switch and a router.
Switches allow the devices on your network to communicate with each other. They're the point of access for your devices to be connected up to the rest of your network.
Routers offer that, too, but they also offer other features, such as connection to your internet provider. They can also offer wireless network access in some cases.
In your own home, you might only need a single router for your devices. An office network, with more devices, is going to need a combination of a router for internet connectivity and switches for other devices.
Internet Access
You might not need to buy a router for your internet connection, as your business internet service provider might provide one to you. Choosing the right ISP is next on our list of priorities to consider in your networking setup.
You need an ISP that offers the right speed and bandwidth availability for your business. So, consider if the internet speeds on offer are enough for the number of devices or workers you have.
Consider, too, the support services the ISP offers. Do they offer priority support if you're having issues with your connection, to get you back online quickly? Do you need to know how to set up a router, or will your ISP do it for you?
Choosing the right internet connection for your business can make all the difference to your office network. Choose the right small business internet provider with these 5 tips.
Cloud Services
Not every IT service your business needs has to be run from your office. Cloud-based service providers can offer you many of your business computing essentials.
Cloud-based services and saas tools such as office suite, project management tools, vendor and contract management, cloud storage etc. will have an impact on your initial network design.
Guide To Small Business Networking In Portland Area
You won't need as much capacity for additional hardware like local servers, but you will need a firewall that can allow access to remote services. Storage, collaboration and communication tools, security firewalls. They can all be run from cloud service providers. You won't need to buy specialist equipment to offer the same services, as the cloud providers host them remotely.
Cloud-based services will have an impact on your initial network design. As a bonus, you won't need as much capacity for additional hardware like local servers, but you will need a firewall that can allow access to remote services.
Firewalls can allow for encrypted connections to cloud service providers without creating risks to your wider network.
Regular Maintenance Plan
Once your network is installed, you need to consider how you're going to maintain it. Part of your maintenance plan should include deciding when it's best to repair, upgrade, or replace your equipment.
A study of small business owners found that over a third were using outdated PCs with high costs for repair. They found that the average cost of repairing outdated PCs was estimated to be $1500 a year per PC.
Consider replacing your hardware every few years, as it may prove more cost effective.
You should also consider the preventative maintenance you could do on your network. Think about regular software updates for your PCs, as well as having a policy for monitoring your critical network equipment.
Having the right security protection in place will keep your network running efficiently. An infected network with PCs running malware can cause network slowdowns and breach your network security.
You can avoid this with up-to-date business-grade anti-virus software. Hardware firewalls can also help to protect your internal network from intrusions.
Choose Your Small Business Network Setup Carefully
Design your network with these points in mind to give your business a competitive edge. You can learn about network managment from online courses platform such as Udemy.
Think ahead with a network that can scale depending on the demands of your business. Secure your network with good security, including wireless encryption and an enterprise-grade firewall.
Don't forget about your internet connection, either. Choose an internet connection that supports your small business network setup from one of our business internet plans for organizations like yours.
December 15, 2014
Dear Bizniks (members, event hosts, authors, contributors, ambassadors, and free-thinking free agents)
It is with bittersweet regret and a deep well of gratitude that I announce the end of an era. I am sending you this letter to inform you that Biznik will be disbanding and on 12/31/14 the website will be coming down.
While Biznik has been a community to 100,000 “indie businesses” for close to a decade, customer demand has fallen short of what is needed to continue to run the business and keep the lights on.
Who knew we would come this far? Ten years ago this May, Dan and I sat at our kitchen counter discussing our future. Newly married and both self-employed, we were craving authentic business networking between creative, inspiring people who were interested in meeting over conversations about cool ideas and not sales pitches. What started as an experiment and a tool to help our own independent businesses, turned into a community of likeminded free agents who also craved, “business networking that doesn’t suck.” Before long Biznik took on a life of it’s own as folks joined from all over the country an even the world, responding to the call for independent business people to show up, collaborate, and work together to help each other stay in business. At one point the Biznik calendar bulged with over 50 events a week across dozens of cities.
Biznik has been a tribe to some amazingly creative people. Friendships were established, business partnerships were forged, I know of at least one couple who met at a Biznik event and later got married! When I examine my own inner circle of close business associates and even closer friends, 80% or more can be traced to Biznik.
Knowing Biznik had a similar impact on thousands of others is both humbling and deeply satisfying.
Despite the impression some people had, Biznik the company, never stopped being a small business too. The full time staff never grew beyond 4. At Biznik’s height, a one-room office in Fremont, Seattle was shared by one developer, a community director, my co-founder, and myself. A number of extremely talented marketing, design and strategic consultants (found on Biznik!) were hired when needed. We counted on the commitment and shared vision of the community to host networking events and educational workshops, and contribute a breadth of articles we all learned from.
We forwent outside investment out of a desire to grow organically, and did what we could with membership revenue and a considerable contribution from my family. The hindsight I have from all those years of scraping by showed me that you can do a helluva lot with a little!
That being said… Biznik could not have reached this mile marker without the dedication and fervor of our most loyal advisors and volunteers. More people than I can name here stepped up and pitched in considerably, but I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge John Adair who single-handedly built the ruby on rails application; Andrew Lippert Biznik’s CTO, who improved it, expanded it, and helped it grow with the times, and continues to stand by me today; Danny Bronski, Biznik’s counsel who provided impeccable legal services, sage business advice and invaluable support; Karrie Kohlhaas, who provided strategic insights and an undying passion to see Biznik thrive; Matt Lawrence Biznik’s Community Director who’s guided this community with love and respect — and who I am fortunate to count among my dearest friends; and my husband Dan McComb, who started this whole thing with me, had the sense to leave 5 years into it, saving our marriage, yet continues to champion me today.
This resolution was not made lightly or in haste. The team spent countless hours over the last three years investigating ways to revitalize the business. I am at peace with the place we have arrived at and am confident that this is the right thing right now.
How does this resolution impact you, our members…
Guide To Small Business Networking In Portland Wa
Our immediate goal is to ensure the smoothest transition possible. We will continue to operate the site until the end of this year.
On January 1st, 2015 the social networking platform will be turned off. You will no longer have a profile. You will no longer have access to the people in your network. Any articles you wrote or conversations you contributed to will no longer be accessible. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@biznik.com and we will respond as quickly as possible.
If you are a paid member, you will notice that no membership dues were collected after November 30th. If you pre-purchased an annual membership and desire a partial refund for the unused portion of your dues, I am happy to oblige. Please send me your request at info@biznik.com no later than January 15th. Include the exact name used on your Biznik account along with the one on your credit card (if different) and your mailing address. If the request is made before 12/16 I will issue a refund to your credit card. If the request is made after 12/16, I will mail refund checks the first week of February. If you signed up for an annual membership in the month of November, you were issued an automatic refund on 12/14/14.
Thank you for sharing this experience and being part of this amazing journey. It means so much to me. I wish you all the very best!
Sincerely,
Lara Feltin, Cofounder and CEO
P.S.
To our staunch supporters who are particularly upset by this news and who’ve graciously offered to help brainstorm ways for Biznik to continue. I’m afraid we’re long past brainstorming. Biznik is operating at a deficit — revenue from membership and advertising is not covering the slimmest fixed expenses. And the application is old. It’s 4-years overdue for a major system upgrade, and it’s really inexcusable that it is not compatible with mobile devices. The mission lives on in those who were touched by Biznik. It will continue to be practiced on sites like Facebook and Meetup. That you continue to show a keen interest in Biznik’s vision touches me more than you know. Thank you.