“Every day they have newer, faster technology…but do we really need it?” This is a common comment solution providers hear from business customers. SMBs are skeptical about spending money on something that does not deliver an immediate and tangible return. So how do you convince SMBs to upgrade their 5-10 year old gear? And how do you justify the expense? Here are a few tips that may come in handy.
802.11n - Switching to faster Wi-Fi: Faster wireless speed not only allows for a better experience. It also makes it possible for the network to serve a greater number of wireless devices, since it takes less time to complete each data transfer. Everyone is now using their smart phone or tablet as the primary means to handle email and conduct business; accelerating their ability to communicate translates into greater productivity and efficiency.
Network Attached Storage: Today Network Attached Storage (NAS) offer an inexpensive alternative to bulky file servers but with better features. They provide central storage, backup and redundancy along with ever faster response times. Small business can also take advantage of dual-bay NAS products marketed to consumers that offer up to 4 Terabytes of capacity with sophisticated yet easy to use features.
Gigabit Networking: A large file transfer that can take 15 minutes to finish on an older Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) network. The same file will take less than two minutes when transferred over Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) network (1,000Mbps). So for niches like Healthcare, Design and Engineering, Multimedia, Photography, and others that deal with large file transfers, migration to gigabit Ethernet networks is a no-brainer especially since the prices for GbE gear has dropped significantly. The increase in 300Mbps 802.11n Wi-Fi and availability of GbE ports on all current devices also validate the argument for gigabit Ethernet upgrades.
Content Filtering Security Service: A recent study shows employees spend 80% of their time “Cyberloafing” i.e. surfing the net for personal use. A content filtering service can substantially control this activity. Most businesses have a Firewall / VPN device of some sort – and newer firewalls come with Content Filtering and other security services like app patrolling that are subscription-based. App patrolling can reduce or eliminate the use of P2P services at work such as BitTorrent file sharing and other productivity inhibitors.
