Do You Know How Much Bandwidth You Need? Here’s How to Find Out

Small businesses depend on a reliable Internet connection to remain competitive, and without the appropriate bandwidth, staff productivity and communications can suffer. To keep your business from suffering from a lack of bandwidth, we recommend that you read today’s blog article which discusses the intricacies of bandwidth in business computing.

Defining Bandwidth

Bandwidth is not actually the speed of your Internet connection. It certainly influences that speed, but it’s not the same thing. Bandwidth is the actual measurement of data that is sent over your Internet connection and across your network within a designated time frame. It’s measured in megabits per second, or Mbps, and the more bandwidth your network has, the more tools and data can be utilized throughout the workday. You can see how knowing your bandwidth limitations can be pivotal for your company’s success.

What Do You Need to Know About Your Company’s Bandwidth Needs?

First, you should find a reliable Internet Service Provider, or ISP, and know that they are not all dedicated to the same level of quality of service as you might expect. Some ISPs are perfectly fine for a consumer, but a business is not just a consumer; you need one that can easily scale according to your needs, but you also don’t want to pay too much for too little.

Here are some variables to consider when shopping for an ISP and their associated bandwidth.

Connected Devices

The number of devices connected to your network will influence the bandwidth you need, as these devices will be using the connection to send and receive data throughout the day with their Internet-based applications. You’ll also need to take mobile devices into account, not just wired ones. They might even outnumber your workstations and other important hardware.

Applications Used

Your business has a unique combination of applications that it uses throughout the workday as a part of its operational infrastructure. The needs of your organization will dictate how the plethora of applications at your disposal are used. Some businesses use mostly their web browsers, but others might have more intensive applications available for communications like VoIP, video conferencing, streaming, and cloud computing, all of which will add to the required level of bandwidth needed by your organization.

This is why you need to know how much bandwidth your business needs, as your operations largely depend on it.

BNMC can help your organization make this determination and whether or not your current ISP is up to snuff for your business’ needs. To learn more about how you can make the most out of your bandwidth, we recommend you contact us at (978) 482-2020.