In today’s fast-paced, digitally connected world, a strong, steady, and speedy WiFi connection can be considered a high-value commodity. Whether at home or at work, or even in hotels, airports, malls, and restaurants, a high-speed connection is almost always a must, especially for those who want or need to stay connected at all times.
However, while a small-scale WiFi connection and router will suffice for most homes and small business establishments, an office environment is a different story, especially those with a bigger employee count. What these larger businesses need is enterprise-class WiFi, which offers a host of benefits. Here are some of the reasons you might need an enterprise-class WiFi deployment in your office ASAP.
Advanced Security Options
In an office environment, your network is open and accessible to a large number of users and devices, which can all possibly serve as an entry-point of malwares and other security breaches. An enterprise-class WiFi infrastructure can provide additional layers of security simultaneously, which you can customize depending on the user and device.
For example, you can use a WPA2 encryption on personal phones and tablets. Meanwhile, office-issued mobile devices and laptops, which have access to more sensitive files, can require another layer of protection like authentication through one-time passwords. You can even register different devices so that these are the only ones allowed in your network. This way, you can be alerted if an unauthorized device tries to gain access to your network.
Alternatively, you can also allocate a portion of your bandwidth for guest access. You can guarantee security by providing captive portals where users can register. You can also limit their access time, and once they reach their quota, you can automatically log them out and prompt them to sign in again.
Apart from ensuring secure internet connections, IT managers can also make certain that certain files and web pages can only be accessed through the office WiFi connection. This lessens the risks of unauthorized persons gaining access to confidential files.
Mobility
Most small-grade WiFi routers have coverage sizes of 150 to 200 meters; however, when you go to offices, this coverage is not nearly enough. In many business environments nowadays, employees who use WiFi are not tied to their desks. Collaborative working spaces mean that one can transfer from desk to employee lounge to smoking area and back to the desk again. Other times, it means the need to use devices in a factory or warehouse setting, away from the confines of desk or a cubicle.
An enterprise-class WiFi infrastructure that has approximately 2,000 square meters of coverage, without a drop in connectivity strength, is a viable solution to such challenges. Furthermore, this can help foster collaboration, especially since team members know that they can meet and work anywhere within the office while still being able to access important resources.
Uncompromised Speeds
Usually, when there are multiple users connected to a WiFi network, the internet speed suffers because of the limited bandwidth. However, with an enterprise-class WiFi, internet speeds remain the same even with multiple users connected.
This is especially important when there are users who need to download or send large files—such as videos and unedited, raw photos or Photoshop files—simultaneously. Those who often conduct video conferences with associates and clients also benefit from an enterprise-class WiFi connection, without worry of dropping calls due to weak signals or connections.
Enterprise-class WiFi systems are usually more expensive than small office and home set-ups, especially when it comes to speeds and additional features. Nevertheless, the level of efficiency and security that enterprise-class WiFi offers will definitely be worth your investment.