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A Small Business Owner’s Guide to Setting up a Network

December 12, 2019 by BPM Team

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person setting up a network

Getting a business started is pretty straightforward. Running that business well enough to get anything done, let along make some money, is a completely different matter. 

Every business owner, no matter their role, needs to be a “big picture guy” as well as a “day-to-day guy.” To make sure thing happen, you need to be ready to take on every detail. 

Setting up a network will invariably be part of the work you need to go. 

Why? Your network, in this case, your IT network, will include your digital devices: the phones, computers, WiFi routers and other devices you need to do business. 

Today, businesses need to be online always and at all times for employees to collaborate and to connect with clients. To lose your network or not set one up in the first place is like asking to have the mouth of your business glued shut. You won’t be able to communicate. 

The Right Pieces

Here are a few parts you may need to consider as part of your network. 

Servers: Depending on the size and nature of your business, you may need to start with a server. This is a computer that centralizes things for the company’s internal network.

It gives a central point for storing and sharing data throughout the network. This helps ensure nimble and collaborative communications. 

If your business is small, or internal digital collaboration isn’t a large component of daily business, a desktop computer could be a good enough point for your network. And there are several types of servers to consider. 

Switches: The devices act as connections between several devices for the sake of connecting to each other. Before a computer can connect with another through the server, it needs to be connected first with a switch.

Routers: The devices to a lot. But in simple terms, they connect networks to networks and connect the device to the internet. They direct data to where it needs to go. Routers are like traffic cops or flaggers. 

Cables: Even so-called wireless networks need cables and wires at some point. Network cabling is the proverbial highway for data within the network. 

Setting up a Network Requires Knowing Your Business 

Start with ensuring that all your devices can connect to the internet before you work about connecting them to each other. In the interim, they will be able to use cloud-based services to get things done and your business will be able to communicate with the outside world. 

Then assess what you need to pull in the building. Do you need high-speed, secure access to file and data storage? Do you need to set up the business unique email for internal and external communication? Do you need somewhere to host your site? If you answered yes to any of these, you will need a server. 

Once you figure out the server you need, then you can think about how you want your computers to connect to one another through the router and connect to the server.  

One More Thing

It may be tempting to save a few bucks and buy a consumer-grade device: don’t! These devices are designed and capable of only dealing with an individual or a family’s needs, not the needs of a business. Odds are you’ll overwhelm the device very quickly. 

Now that we’ve covered setting up a network, keep it here for more tech-in-business insights, explanations, and news.

You may also like: 5 Super Common IT Problems All Businesses Face

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Internet, IT, Technology

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