Why a Standardised Business Network Matters

Often a business network evolves over time with various additions that solve problems at the time. A bit like one of those rambling houses where extra rooms have been haphazardly built when more space was needed.

A switch gets added here, a router there. The team members who added them move on, and suddenly there’s nobody around who knows the network inside out. But that’s ok, because it works… until one day it doesn’t. Now you’ve got a non-operational Frankenstein of a network with big security gaps that nobody on your team knows how to fix.

The bad news is, you’ve got a non-standardised network that’s going to be tricky to patch up. The good news? It’s never too late to switch over to a standardised business network. At Smile IT, we believe all businesses should be making use of one – they’re simpler, more secure and easier to support.

Let’s take a look at why a standardised network matters for businesses of all sizes.

What We Mean By a “Standardised Business Network”

When we talk about standardisation, we mean:

• Same brand of network gear across all sites
• Consistent configurations
• Centralised security and monitoring
• Predictable architecture and deployment
• Shared policies for access, updates, backups and security

You get one clean setup built to run properly – not a mix of consumer routers, patch-on-patch setups and old devices. And with the trusted toolset of an established MSP behind it, your standardised network will get the job done while being easy to scale.

Why Standardisation Helps Your Business

What are some of the benefits of a standardised business network?

Less complexity means fewer problems

When your whole worksite runs on the same stack, there are no mysteries lurking in your network. Everything behaves as it should, and if it doesn’t, it can be set right fairly quickly. Your MSP techs know the environment inside out and can diagnose and fix any issues without disruption to your business.

Less downtime and faster resolution times improve your efficiency and mean lower support costs in the long run. Win-win.

Better network performance

The devices of a standard network stack are designed to work together. You don’t have an add-on router getting overwhelmed, or different Wi-Fi brands interfering with each other. You do have fast and stable internet which keeps your team happy and productivity at high levels.

Stronger cybersecurity

Security becomes simple when everything follows the same rulebook. We’re talking:

• Consistent firewall policies
• Standard patching and firmware upgrades
• Central threat monitoring
• Cleaner network segmentation

As well as the above, a standardised business network gives you greater control over who is using it. This allows businesses to:

• Enforce MFA and access standards
• Lock down guest Wi-Fi access
• Monitor for suspicious traffic
• No random devices creating risk

Hackers are constantly on the lookout for doorways into a network. When you have a well-managed and standardised network, those doors are shut. You’re keeping your business safe and compliant with the rules and regulations in your industry – a standardised business network improves your cybersecurity.

A standardised business network is easier to scale and grow

Your business growth isn’t held back by your network – you can add users, expand wireless coverage and even add an entire new worksite with ease. There’s no redesigning each and every time. The new gear gets plugged in and configure the same way as the rest of the network – it’s fast and easy.

Lower training and support effort

When your tech team and your MSP work with one set of tools and vendors, everyone gets faster. Techs don’t need to waste valuable time figuring out random hardware or engaging in unpredictable troubleshooting. They know what they’re working with and have any sparse parts required ready to go. You get smoother support and a higher level of service.

What Happens When Networks Aren’t Standardised

A mixed network might look harmless until you try to upgrade, troubleshoot or secure it. That’s when the true nature of the beast reveals itself – any problems you have encountered are going to be very difficult to mop up.

But what are some of the issues that get you to this point? They could include:

• Unexplainable dropouts that no one can explain
• Slow internet even on fast plans
• Different brands of access points fighting each other
• Old firmware that never got patched
• New devices not playing nice with older ones

You might be able to solve your problem with a one-off fix. The problem is, these kind of fixes compound over time until your network hits breaking point. Security issues rear their heads, downtime becomes a near-constant companion and support will be more expensive.

Our advice? Standardise now rather than rescue later.

How Smile IT Approaches Network Standardisation

We use a proven stack that suits business environments and remote operations. It’s tried and tested and our techs know it inside out. It’s flexible and scalable too – we configure it to your needs and it can grow with your business.

We typically use the entire Ubiquiti stack in our standardised network, as it’s centrally managed from a single cloud controller. It allows us to easily take care of network security, monitoring for problems and deploying monthly firmware upgrades.

Using a single vendor’s stack in this way allows us to build out a network easily and keep it updated with integrated tools. If a larger business is looking or extra security for their network, we can swap out the router for a firewall. The firewall vendors we use are FortiGate and Sophos.

Let’s summarise the main features of a Smile IT standardised network:

• Built on the Ubiquiti tech stack
• Standard configuration templates
• Centralised security controls
• Proactive monitoring and updates
• Network documentation and version control

The above setup is what we would use for the majority of SMB and Enterprise customers. We also offer the option of a FortiGate firewall for companies seeking more security.

If we’re dealing with a more complex or industrial setup, we would use a combination of the FortiGate firewall with Juniper Networks access points and networking technology.

With Smile IT, you get a setup we trust and support every day across multiple industries. It’s secure, fast and trusted by many Australian businesses.

Contact Smile IT for a Smarter Network

When your network is no longer keeping up with your business, you’ll know about it. Slow speeds, more downtime and frequent dropouts will bring a level of frustration to operations, which is probably what has brought you here.

If you’re planning to grow your business or your network isn’t supporting you as it should, now’s the time to review your setup. Our team can audit your current network and help map out a pathway to a standardised network environment that will support your business goals.

Get in touch today to book in your network assessment. Let’s build something your business can depend on!