Wireless or wired: Which is the best option for your business?
As technology advances, businesses have even more connectivity options within their offices. One of the key choices you need to make is whether you’ll opt for a wireless or wired network, both have their advantages and disadvantages within in a business setting.
Wired
If your business operations require speedy downloads, it’s likely that wired networks will be essential for you. The core benefit of using an Ethernet cable to connect to the internet is the connection speeds you can take advantage of with added security providing a bonus.
While wired networks might be more complicated to set up, they do provide reliable, consistent connectivity, no matter where the computers connected are located. They’re less likely to experience problems so the investment may be worthwhile to your business in the long run, ensuring that your employees have access to a quality network that they can rely on and operations continue to run smoothly.
The main drawback of wired is the reduced flexibility it offers, which is where wireless excels. Your office layout is restricted to where internet ports are located, and it can be more troublesome to add devices to the network.
Wireless
One of the key benefits of a wireless network is that it supports the modern workplace culture that embraces flexibility. Whether your business embraces the hotdesking trend or wants to encourage collaboration with breakout areas, wireless networks mean that your employees can get online at a place that’s convenient for them. If you’ve embraced the trend that’s seen more employees work from home too, a wireless network can mean laptops automatically connect when they enter the building, minimising setup time when staff are at the office.
A wireless network can also support office design. Firstly, you’re not limited by the number of connection points within your space and it’s simple to add extra devices to the network. You also do away with messy cables, enhancing the aesthetics of your office.
Of course, there are disadvantages too. General connection speeds will be slower, particularly when you’re transferring files, and the strength of the connection may vary depending on where staff are located in relation to the router. Wireless connections can also be affected by features you cannot change easily, such as walls or lighting fixtures, and they’re typically less secure, so additional steps will need to be taken here if you choose a wireless setup.
Which option you should choose depends on your business operations, culture, and priorities, a combination approach could provide the ultimate solution