A network consists of two or more computers that are linked together in order to share resources, exchange files, or allow electronic communications. Two of the most common networks are local area networks (LAN) and wireless area networks (WAN). If your organization is needing network installation for the first time or is in the process of upgrading an existing network, here are some tips to help you assess your network requirements.
- USERS – Determine the number of people who will use the network, as well as how they will access it. Some helpful questions for this step are the following: will the user have their own computer or will they be sharing the same computer? Will any of them need to access the network remotely from home or other office sites or will they all work from the office? Answering these questions will help you estimate the number of computers and peripherals the network must support.
- NEEDS – Consider the needs of the teams and departments within your organization into your network plan. Define the requirements of each group and determine the relative costs of incorporating them into the network plan. Doing so will help you save on valuable resources including time, energy, and money.
- SUPPORT – Decide whether you can install and maintain the network yourself or whether you will need consultant or external company to handle it. Keeping technology running smoothly is challenging. Hiring professionals for network installation will not only save you money, it will also save you the time and headache of trying to resolve your networking needs in-house.
- SECURITY – Do not forget to include security features into your network plan to protect your organization’s most important asset – its information. Common network security precautions include passwords, virus protection, an external firewall and data encryption.
Whether you are adding to an existing system or creating a new one, our professionals at A+ Cable Runners, Inc. will help you design state-of-the-art network infrastructure to support all your networking needs. Call us today at 727-647-0961 to get started.