Although buying an off-the-shelf or provider issued modem might seem like the most cost-effective solution for your business when implementing an internet connection, there are 3 main issues with this that could be exceedingly detrimental to your business. Primarily, home routers just aren’t designed for business use.
Automatic Failover
To start with, whatever size your business is, you may need to consider an internet failover to protect you from internet outage in your area. Home routers lack the ability to support multiple internet connections so it would be unable automatically switch over to the backup internet connection you may have not or into the future.
Performance
Even if you have fast internet to your premises, more often than not, consumer grate modem / routers may not be able to keep up if there are a number of staff connecting at the same time. Home routers are designed more for streaming or gaming, not for business apps or heavy cloud computing requirements.
Business routers also come with traffic management also known as Quality of Service (QoS) which enables you to prioritise certain types of internet traffic. Prioritised traffic is always given precedence over other traffic to ensure optimum experience.
Vendor Support
With commercial routers, the warranty and quality of the device will be vastly better compared to a home router. Home routers are ultimately designed as more of a disposable device so their quality (as well as warranty length) is quite poor in comparison.
Security
Security is arguable the most important reason that a business router should always be used. Home routers have very limited security features. For example, features such as Intrusion Detection, Sandstorm, Web Protection and Email protection simply aren’t available in the cheaper alternatives.
Internet Traffic Monitoring
With a business-grade router, you can control what your staff are able access when connecting to the internet. This will This allows you to potentially block social media access during work hours, or even schedule what times these types of services are accessible. You may choose to let your staff use social media on their lunch breaks for example. The advanced logging also allows you to report on internet usage over a period and identify any potential time wasters or areas of vulnerability with your staff’s browsing habits.
Overall, when working in a business environment with multiple staff, you should be using a business-grade firewall. It’s more secure, better quality and can support a lot more than your average home router.
If you would like to find out more information or feel as though this has convinced you to make the switch, give us a call today and our team will be happy to chat to you and find out what your needs are.
