Category: Business

Ever since the days of dial-up internet ended, it’s fair to say that ‘broadband’ has become the preferred terminology whenever we talk about high-speed internet connectivity. After all, this has been the industry standard for a long while, both commercially and in the home.

But as new technologies emerge and older ones fall by the wayside, it’s important to keep up-to-date with changing terminologies. Broadband isn’t exactly what it was when it first arrived on the scene in the early 2000s, and it certainly won’t be the same moving forward.

Broadband, fibre, Gfast, leased lines… There are so many variants that it can be slightly confusing, especially when you’re trying to find the best solution to meet your business’ connectivity requirements both now and in the longer term.

With that being said, let’s run through some of these differences together and see how things stack up.

Broadband
Before broadband, internet access was achieved with ‘narrowband’ dial-up connections that were much slower in comparison. In that sense, ‘broadband’ is actually a relative term because it can only be understood in context — i.e. as opposed to narrowband.

The broadband we use today comes in so many different forms (which we’ll come to in a moment) that the term is no longer specific enough. This is where knowing your apples from your oranges becomes so important.

Fibre (FTTC, FTTP, Gfast)
“Fibre is just faster broadband, right?”

Well, sure, but this is where things start to get a little bit more complicated. Let’s start with a simple overview of how fibre works.

Unlike copper wires of an ADSL connection, fibre-optic materials are used instead, which allows for far less signal degradation and much faster broadband speeds. Businesses already using fibre typically benefit from 1,000 times more bandwidth and up to 10 times faster internet speeds than traditional lines. This is also sometimes referred to as ‘cable broadband’ and is pretty indicative of where the technology is going on the whole.

Fibre can be FTTC (fibre-to-the-cabinet) or FTTP (fibre-to-the-premises). In the case of FTTC, fibre-optic cabling is laid to the cabinets, where copper wiring is then used to provide a connection to the premises. However, a newer version of FTTC, called Gfast, utilises specialist equipment fitted to the cabinet to alter the speed frequencies of the connection, resulting in speeds up to four times faster than traditional FTTC.

In the case of FTTP, fibre-optic cable is laid both to the cabinets and the premises. This allows for ultrafast speeds of up to 1Gbs (much quicker than FTTC).

Both FTTC and FTTP have their merits, but it ultimately comes down to cost and how much your business relies on the internet.

It’s also worth noting that you will be sharing the infrastructure with other users. And whilst this may not be an issue for small businesses, larger organisations with greater demands on their internet will likely prefer a more robust solution. This is where leased lines come into the mix.

Leased lines
A leased line (sometimes referred to as business ethernet) is essentially fibre-optic that runs directly to the premises, except you are not sharing it with other users. Simply put, it is a dedicated line set up to serve only your company.

Leased lines can provide symmetrical speeds of up to 10Gbs, which applies to both download and upload speeds. In terms of connection quality, leased lines are considered the gold standard and are much easier to ‘back up’ with an alternative line should anything affect the connection.

As such, leased lines are ideal for businesses and organisations that require an uncompromised and consistent connection, such as those with unified communications and other cloud services reliant on the internet.

Which is the right solution for you?
So now that we’ve clarified a few things, what is the best solution for your business?

While residential is typically okay with FTTC, home-workers consuming lots of data will likely need FTTP. The same can be said for small to medium-sized businesses, although depending on the size and nature of your organisation, business ethernet will probably be the better option.

Here at Fidelity Group, we can work alongside you to establish a service based on your internet requirements, ensuring solutions remain tailored now and in the longer term. We then bolster this with 24/7/365 dedicated technical support and customer service, keeping your business connected, and providing first-rate assistance whenever you need us. See what our clients have to say about us by visiting our Trustpilot review page here.

For more information about our data services, speak to a member of our team today.

Unified communications — it’s a term thrown around a lot nowadays, frequently cited by key management whenever the conversation turns to strategies for making things ‘better’ and ‘more productive’.

And that’s a fair assessment for managers to make. Unified communications do indeed improve the way daily operations are handled, but it’s also helpful to understand why.

This is an important distinction. Many smaller to medium-sized businesses can sometimes overlook unified communications as a viable strategy — specifically those under the assumption that they’re simply too small to benefit.

However, the reality is actually very different.

Unified communications explained
Put simply; unified communications bring together a company’s various lines of communication, including telephony, email, video conferencing and instant messaging.

Unified communications can also integrate with various company-wide systems, such as collaborative applications for sharing and co-authoring documents and systems for billing, accounting and customer relations management.

Unified communications can be managed on-premises or via software hosted in the cloud as a service, typically referred to as UC as a Service (UCaaS). In either case, a single suite of software allows for seamless unification of all your communication channels.

Okay, now we’ve cleared that up, let’s circle back to where we started. How can unified communications help SMEs?

There are plenty of accumulative benefits, perhaps a little too generalised to simply mention, so we thought we’d break things down:

1. Unifies teams
Maintaining multiple systems for different aspects of the work environment only makes collaboration more difficult.

Even across smaller to medium-sized businesses, it’s important to make sure teams are always synced. Having a unified communications infrastructure keeps everybody aligned regardless of whether they’re on the other side of the office or the other side of the country.

2. Scalability
When lockdown first hit, many companies found their existing systems unable to cope with remote workers suddenly trying to use them simultaneously. This was because these systems were either too limited or not designed for remote access to begin with.

Cloud-based unified communications can quickly scale to accommodate changes inside or outside a business. For growing SMEs, this is particularly useful as it allows businesses to increase operations without worrying about compromising performance.

3. Flexibility
Because all communications are managed via a single platform, users can move effortlessly between devices and operating systems. This provides incredible flexibility and means that employees can switch seamlessly between messaging, live audio, and video. It also prevents users from being denied access to certain work documents or files whenever they don’t have a specific device to hand.

4. Strengthens security
It’s far easier to maintain a single platform’s security than it is to secure multiple applications and user accounts. By reducing the number of log-ins an employee is required to make, you’re also decreasing the likelihood that one of those systems will be compromised due to their using a poor password. On top of that, UCaaS typically come with additional cybersecurity and various encryption protocols specially designed to prevent fraudulent activity and data loss.

5. Improves customer service
Customers expect a seamless experience whether they call, message or email. Unified communications make it easier for businesses to provide an exceptionally high level of consistency regardless of where or how these interactions occur. Bolster this with some of the productivity benefits we’ve already listed, and businesses can better satisfy their customers without drastically increasing resources.

Why choose Fidelity Group as your unified communications provider
Here at Fidelity Group, we understand that communication is the lifeblood of any business or organisation. Whether you are customer-facing, industrial or governmental, it’s important to have the right infrastructure to support those lines of communication at every level.

We deliver unique, tailored solutions that are designed to nature your communications, improve operations and strengthen your business. We then bolster this with 24/7/365 dedicated technical support and customer service. We won’t have you on hold for hours trying to get hold of an agent, you will have a dedicated account manager who is supported by a full technical and engineering department. Our goal is to keep you connected and communicating always. Building relationships that last. Everything is handled under one roof, including energy.

Get in touch with our team today and see how we can implement unified communications across your workplace.

Why should you need to purchase a Business Router for your home?
Your router has an important job to do. This is the piece of hardware that allows your computer to communicate with other computers connected to the internet or another network. Anything you do online requires a reliable router, whether you are scrolling through Facebook, working from home or on a 3-hour video call. The question is: why would you need a business router in your home? Most home routers manage the flow of information between the internet sites and your home in a way which is seamless to most of us. But when you are working from home, have you ever been on a video conference call and it drops regularly, or when you struggle to get good Wi-Fi access because everyone else is using it? Well, this is where the need for a business-grade router really comes into play, along with supporting you with any company information you may need to access, or if you intend to use an office VOIP handset, but want to make sure it’s all very secure and accessible. With a Business grade router, you establish a secure and clean link with your office through a virtual private network (VPN). Which most routers state they have – but standard home routers have what is known as a passthrough VPN. This has basic security checks but isn’t a truly secure, business-grade solution that protects your business data and information or offers you all the benefits of your business VOIP telephony solution including voice and data traffic management.

Business Routers vs. Home Routers
Both business routers and home routers perform the same basic functions. But be aware – they are not the same and do not provide the same service. Home routers are efficient in giving you standard access to the internet, along with basic security features that can help to keep your home network safe from prying eyes. However, a business-grade router goes above and beyond the basic functions of a consumer-grade router. Because business needs are more demanding and security becomes even more of a priority, any type of professional work will benefit from a business router and will support the normal activity and traffic your home requires.

What are the Main Advantages of a Business-Grade Router?
Business routers are more feature-rich than consumer-grade routers. This is due to businesses tending to have different needs than the casual internet user. These routers offer advanced settings for security, device management, traffic flow, VPN access and traffic prioritisation, among other needs. They are designed to be high-performing devices within a larger network, whereas home routers are all-in-one solutions that offer simplicity and basic features. Some of the features of a business router include A stronger VPN (a virtual private network)Business-grade routers can handle more users within a VPN. Companies that request employees to work from home know this feature is normally non-negotiable, and in some cases will supply their own approved business router for full security across their networked teams. Virtual networks (VLANs)This feature is referred to as a guest network on a consumer-grade router, but the functionality is more powerful on a business router. This allows the business to separate network traffic so that specific data sets stay within the network (e.g. all HR or accounting data could be isolated from all other data and voice traffic). Enhanced Unified CommunicationsIn some cases having a business router in your home, improves the Unified Communications services such as secure instant messaging, email, VoIP and video collaboration from the same provider that enables you to take advantage of all the telephony services such as hunt groups, transferring of calls across fixed and mobiles services. Robust security business routers and VPNs allow users to access company systems remotely, which calls for beefed up security. Business routers offer robust security and SSL encryption. Greater LongevityMost consumer routers are made to last only a few years. This is reflected in their shorter warranties. Business routers, however, usually last much longer, have longer warranties and in some cases can be part of a wider business service level agreement, which in some cases reflects a higher purchase cost for the business router.

Are Business Routers More Secure than Consumer Routers?
As a general rule, business routers prioritise security over just about any other feature. That is because you’re not just buying the hardware, but also business-grade software that makes the router work harder. Businesses can use the router to control different types of traffic, keep sensitive data within a specific network in the company, and support secure remote access via VPN – thus ensuring the business traffic over the router gives the best and most effective performance. In addition, business routers require a different way of connecting devices to the network since there are no external ports or WPS buttons. This helps to strengthen the security of the network and eliminate security holes that could exist in some home router networks. What’s the Cost Difference Between a Business Router and a Consumer Router? Because business routers offer more functionality and last longer than a basic consumer router, you can expect to pay a little more for them. Entry-level business router costs begin around the same price point as the most top-of-the-line consumer-grade models. However, consider that the longer life span and more powerful security and remote access features easily make the investment worthwhile for any business. For a little more cost – businesses are getting greater security, a router less likely to fail and overall, the confidence that their data is not unsuspectingly being shared with anyone else.

Bottom Line: Is a Business Router Right for You?
At a time when many businesses have shifted to remote home working, the need for a business router has never been greater. Business-grade routers promote scalability, security, and ongoing access and productivity to allow a business to keep going. It also has greater productivity features where your work telephony handset can be fully integrated with your work VOIP and Unified communications services such as one number, internal calling, group pick-up, and many more services that enable you to be much more efficient whilst working from home. Plus, it means not having to compete with video streaming or gaming consoles for bandwidth when on an important video call. Find out more