The network can be defined as a collection of computers, mainframes, network equipment such as servers and other peripheral devices connected with the aim of allowing sharing of data. A perfect example of such interconnected devices (network) is the internet. Internet connects millions of devices into the World Wide Web to access data.
There are different types of networks with some of them very commonly used. As we shall see later, the kind of system you’ll be using in your business will affect its speed and performance.
They include;
- Local Area Network (LAN)
- Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
- Wide Area Network (WAN)
- System Area Network (SAN)
- Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Networks can also be categorized regarding the geometric relationship of the interconnected devices, commonly referred to as the network topology. These network topologies include;
Bus topology – here, each computer is connected to a single main cable commonly known as the backbone. This type of topology is the best for small businesses because it works optimally only on small networks.
Mesh topology – each computer and the host is interconnected for instance in wireless networks. This topology can handle high traffic and failure of a single computer will not affect the others.
Ring topology – this is simply a ring network where computers are connected to each other to form a circle-shape network. It is commonly used with WAN networks such as SD WAN and sometimes for LAN as well. It allows faster transfer of data, and you won’t need an extra server to control this network; therefore you’ll be cutting on operational costs.
The reason as to why I discussed network topologies is because they are the source of problems when it comes to network speed. Big corporations should, therefore, look into the design of their system regarding topologies.
Other ways of optimizing the speed of your network is by;
Keeping all the devices up-to-date
Computers use operating systems that power software which in this case, the OS can be compared to an engine. If the engine is old, it doesn’t matter how new your tires look.
Regularly check on new updates releases of your OS and other firmware and hardware such as the router to make sure you are not locked out and being crippled by bugs. Invest in modern IT devices to be precise.
Building your servers
It may be expensive to make your servers but let’s be honest, how much does it cost your business whenever there’s a network malpractice due to high traffic caused by shared servers? Thousands of dollars! Start small and upgrade as the need arises. There are no more excuses especially now that with cheap CPUs and server components.
Investing in high-speed internet connection
In today’s market, the attention span of a customer is decreasing at an alarming rate. Clients are getting impatient. It should worry the ‘slow’ businesses who take ages to respond to a complaint just because the message sent to the headquarters is got up in the ‘traffic.’ When shopping for an internet service provider, consider its MBPS. Lower mbps means it will take longer to connect and higher mbps means high connection speed.
Conclusion
The business world is incorporating more technological aspects. It means there will be added responsibilities of maintaining these new arrivals. It is therefore in your best interest to hire an IT expert to keep your systems checked. It will save you time and resources.
