Many small businesses are unaware of (1) how dependent they are on their networks and (2) how vulnerable they are to losing them.   But, there are some simple principles business owners and managers can apply to help their network remain fast and reliable.

Here are 5 areas where business owners can improve their network reliability:

1.)    Deploy a solid network design

Every business is different.  Even companies in the same business operate in different ways.  Your network has to be designed to support your unique operations.  While there are general principles that a good network follows, there are always unique issues to your own needs.  Have a trusted professional complete a design that will give you the reliability and speed your business needs.  Plus, a good design now will save you money replacing the wrong hardware down the road.

2.)    Minimize the number of manufacturers you utilize

So, let’s say your network stopped working right now.  You don’t know why.  You just know you can’t connect to the internet and therefore your business operation is on pause.  If you’re like many small businesses, your IT closet is filled with a potpourri of various product manufactures.   And when you contact support to try to figure out what’s wrong, the finger pointing begins.  Everyone says it’s not their fault.  It’s the other guy.

Minimizing the brands in your closet reduces or eliminates the other places the fingers can be pointed.  Therefore, you call one guy, it’s his fault, and he knows it.  Then he fixes it.  Additionally, products designed in families already know how to work together, making them more reliable and simpler to work with.

3.)    Place equipment in an appropriate environment

The IT closet is a highly overlooked issue in a small business’s computer network.  The area where you place your servers, routers, phone systems, etc.  must, at a minimum, be:

-  Constantly temperature controlled to the  comfortable temp for your systems

-  Highly secure and used only for operating IT network equipment.  Only a select group of people should have a key to this area.

-  Always, always, always dry.

If you’re having trouble justifying the costs to build an appropriate IT closet, just review this simple formula:

Cost to replace over heated equipment
PLUS cost of a service provider to try to recover lost data from damaged equipment
PLUS cost of services to install and configure replacement equipment
PLUS lost revenues for services that can’t be performed during down time
PLUS lost operations cost for lack of employee productivity during down time
EQUALS you can’t afford to not have a solid IT closet

4.)    Put appropriate network security measures in place

The days of no one wanting to hack your computer network are gone.  Everyone is a target for one reason or another.  You don’t know what information you have that someone else wants.  Even small non-profits can be targets for their information on the individuals they serve.  And you don’t know when you’re going to be a training session for an up and coming hacker.

A secure network needs to control not only what is coming in, but also what’s going out.  Employees from inside the network can unknowingly undermine network security by utilizing popular web sites and services that create holes in your network security.  These holes can be exploited by outside threats to gain access to your network.

5.)    Only allow trusted professionals to make changes to your network

There are two ways you extend trust to a service provider that works on your network:  (1) By becoming intimate with your network, they also become familiar with your vulnerabilities.  (2)  Your network is critical to your everyday operations.  The quality of the work done to it can directly impact your business’s daily operations.

Make sure you trust the integrity and skill level of the companies you choose to touch your network.

Want to learn more?  Check out USA Today’s recently published an article pointing out how small businesses neglect their computer networks and what one equipment manufacturer is doing to help.

Did you know the central Indiana property crime rate is 37 percent higher than the national average?

Installing physical security cameras can make the difference between saving your assets and risking burglary, vandalism, or employee theft.

CPI and Cisco will host the free webinar “Saving Your Assets: Small Business Guide to Physical Surveillance” on Wednesday, April 21.

This webinar will educate small business leaders on today’s trends and best practices for utilizing video surveillance for protecting company assets.

Video surveillance allows small businesses to:

• – Deter theft and vandalism by monitoring property, including:
• – Collect evidence if theft or vandalism occurs
• – View arriving guests at office entrances
• – Allow remote viewing for to observe work status in other locations (e.g. which vehicles are being serviced in a service bay)
• – And more

Many small businesses use video surveillance to increase secuirty in:

• - Parking lots, walkways, exterior entrances, etc.
• - Office areas, especially activity during after hours and weekends
• - Warehouse and other storage areas

In this session, attendees will see how simple using this new technology can be, including:

• - Managing multiple cameras through the Internet right from your PC
• - Moving and adjusting remote cameras and record important data that can be saved for evidence for future reference
• - Storing surveillance images reliably and affordably

Register now to reserve your spot for this free event.

Saving Your Assets:  Small Business Guide to Physical Surveillance
Wednesday, April 21
9–10 a.m. ET

Webcast details provided upon registration.

Cisco products provide the resources and reliability businesses have come to expect from CPI.  Along with existing product offerings, CPI will now offer Cisco small business voice and data solutions. 

Cisco is a leading manufacturer for:

• Voice and video conferencing technologies
• Routers and switches
• Network security
• Video surveillance
• Network storage

Cisco Systems has been known for enterprise level networking and voice products for over 25 years, and has developed a strong reputation for quality products and reliable customer support.  In recent years, Cisco has additionally began to focus on creating quality, cost effective products designed for small businesses – products that CPI is very enthusiastic about.

CPI believes that this small businesses product line will impact how small businesses use technology and give them more access to technology benefits being utilized by large corporations.