W H I T E PA P E R C O N N E C T I V I T Y Y O UR BUS I N E SS IS ONL Y A S S TR ON G A S YO U R CONNEC T I O N T HE I M P ORTANCE OF R ELI ABLE CO NNECTIVITY W HAT S IN SIDE: The importance of connectivity to modern businesses The benefits of upgrading your connectivity technology Choosing the right technology Finding the perfect service provider to match your business needs
AGE OF THE INTERNET According to Forbes, Less than 50% of the world has access to the web and recent statistics show that only 11% - 12% of people in the world have access to 1 fixed broadband. These numbers are relatively small compared to the United States, however, as the rest of the world continues to enter into the age of the internet, connectivity is quickly expanding. As Forbes inquires, What will happen when we move from 3 2 billion people in the world having connectivity, to 7 billion people? As the world becomes increasingly plugged in and interconnected there has been a monumental shift in attitudes surrounding the importance of network reliability for business. CONNECTIVITY: WHAT IS IT? Connectivity is broadly defined as the interconnection of platforms, systems, and applications. It encompasses a large variety of both wired and wireless technologies, including: Broadband - Often referred to as high speed internet, broadband is telecommunication technology with a wide band of frequencies that transmits information. Broadband is one of the fastest connectivity options available today encompassing several highspeed transmission technologies, including DSL, and Cable. 6.4 BILLION CONNECTED THINGS WILL BE IN USE WORLDWIDE IN 2016, UP 30 PERCENT FROM 2015, AND WILL REACH 20.8 BILLION BY 3 2020. - Gartner, Inc. Ethernet - Ethernet Circuit is high speed ethernet bandwidth of 1Mbps to 10Gbps delivered as Ethernet over fiber, Ethernet over DS3, Ethernet over T1, or Ethernet over copper phone lines. MPLS - Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a type of data-carrying technique for high-performance telecommunications cloud-based networks. MPLS is typically used for private line replacement, earlier- generation VPN replacement, and supporting voice and traffic convergence on a single and unified network. SD-WAN - Software-Defined WAN simplifies remote office networking and assures optimal application performance by dynamically routing traffic over both private and public links, such as leased MPLS links and broadband. An SD-WAN architecture 1-2 http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobmorgan/2015/11/06/how-important-connectivity-you 3 http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3165317 2
allows administrators to reduce or eliminate reliance on expensive leased MPLS circuits by sending lower priority, less-sensitive data over cheaper public Internet connections, reserving private links for mission-critical or latency-sensitive traffic like VoIP. The customizable nature of SD-WAN also reduces the need for overprovisioning, reducing overall WAN expenses. Wireless (4G LTE) - 4G is the fourth generation of mobile data technology, it uses radio frequency bands used in place of telephone or cable networks to enhance network performance. 4G LTE solutions are often used for business continuity as a circuit failover option where redundant circuit providers may not be available. HOW IT APPLIES TO YOUR BUSINESS Connectivity facilitates our ability to communicate, playing an especially large role in business communication. Think about it, we rely on connectivity for all of our day-to-day business tasks, including; sending important documents to colleagues, uploading webpages, attending virtual meetings, and sharing information online. Without a reliable network, even the most menial tasks can feel impossible. From internal operations to client relations, wireless network performance directly affects a businesses ability to connect. WHY UPGRADE? To successfully stay ahead of competition, it is important to invest in a connectivity solution that can facilitate and enable business growth. If you re current connectivity solution is not meeting all of your business needs, it may be time to upgrade your technology. Consider the following: SD-WAN HAS LESS THAN 1% MARKET SHARE TODAY, BUT IT PREDICTS THAT UP TO 30% OF USERS WILL BE MANAGING THEIR WAN THROUGH SOFTWARE WITHIN THREE 4 YEARS. - Gartner, Inc. As BYOD and IoT revolutions continue to gain momentum, so will demand for more network requirements. Unified Communications solutions, such as VoIP and video conferencing, require more bandwidth for a reliable connection. Cloud hosted infrastructure and applications increase the need for enterprise wide networks with QoS to provide reliability. Emerging IT practices such as network storage and network backup, demand large pipe bandwidth requirements. Can your existing network support today s technology standards? 4 http://www.silver-peak.com/gartner-sd-wan-market-guide 3
UPGRADING CAN BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS Advancing your connectivity technology can provide your business with a number of benefits. LOW COSTS Reduce costs by replacing antiquated phone lines with IP phone systems that use your existing or new internet connections. Another way to reduce costs is by replacing expensive existing internet connections with a new provider, often times they can provide faster speeds at cheaper rates. SECURITY Using a secure and stable network is the key to ensuring sensitive data is kept private. Business grade connectivity allows companies to use hosted security solutions and extend their private network to their private cloud. Businesses also have the option to use a third party resulting in very secure and private networks. CONTINUITY Continuous connections can be accomplished through wireless failover and redundant architecture. Having data backed-up off-site gives businesses a better opportunity to avoid theft, technology failure, or a natural disaster. Employees will never be affected by a failed connection thus allowing business to continue to be productive. AVAILABILITY Connectivity is a critical business requirement because downtime is no longer an option for modern businesses. On average, every minute of system downtime across 5 industries costs businesses around $4,700. By leveraging multiple connections, businesses can prevent downtime, save money and continue critical business operations. SCALABILITY As devices and solutions are added to the network, the demand for bandwidth grows. By increasing bandwidth solution today, your business can future-proof the demands of tomorrow. MOBILITY Connect your employees no matter their location. Business grade connectivity allows employees to have real-time unified communications with anyone in the organization. Link everyone in your company so employees can communicate efficiently and effectively from anywhere in the world. 5 http://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/blogs/the-high-cost-of-internet-downtime-for-retailers-infographic/ 4
WEIGHING THE OPTIONS When choosing the right connectivity technology, it is important to first consider, the characteristics of your business and then, your connection needs. BROADBAND ETHERNET SD-WAN MPLS SMALLER LOCAL BUSINESSES LARGER MULTI-SITE BUSINESSES Size - Broadband is generally the starting point for many companies. Smaller companies or sites can maximize their uptime and performance across a broadband connection for many years. However, larger companies on a national scale might consider Ethernet or MPLS network solutions which may be a better fit for the best flexibility and highest quality of service. Location - Carrier and service availability can be a limiting factor based on location. Also, the distribution of remote workers and the technology on the LAN. Many businesses are finding success using SD-WAN to replace their MPLS networks. By leveraging broadband technology, or a hybrid of the two, they are gaining reliability and performance required by their high demand infrastructure. SD-WAN also allows for flexibility in areas with limited connectivity. Budget - Connectivity technology can vary in price. Before implementing new technology, consider your budget and identify areas of opportunity to cut costs. For example, a SD-WAN solution over broadband can be less costly and more reliable than an MPLS network. In short, weigh your options, consider your budget and align it with your project s needs before making any quick decisions. Needs - Your connectivity technology should have the ability to evolve with your business. Look for a solution that meets all of your business demands and leaves opportunity for growth. 5
ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS Once you have considered your options, and have an idea of the technology you want to implement, find a partner to help keep your connectivity up and running optimally, at all times. Ensure the best possible service and support by asking the right questions before choosing your service partner. Ask your potential service provider the following questions: Do they have the project management in place to be successful? Do they fully understand your business needs and requirements? Is their provider product-neutral? Do they offer modern services like SD-WAN private network, WAN QoS, and Wireless failover? Can they work with your datacenter? Knowing details about your provider s capabilities will help you find a company that can support your every business need. FEATURES OF A SUITABLE SOLUTION Ask yourself, is my current connectivity solution fast? Is it reliable? Does it improve operational efficiency? Is it scalable? If you answered no to any of the questions above, it may be time to search for a new connectivity solution. Find a connectivity solution that will maximize profits by using the checklist below: Fast and Reliable Your connectivity system must be fast and reliable to easily support all your business-critical applications and Cloud-based services. Improve Business Operations It should also improve operational efficiency and boost employee productivity. Scalable In order to support future growth, your connectivity solution must have the ability to evolve with your business. 6
COMM-WORKS COMPREHENSIVE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTION Comm-Works offers end-to-end connectivity solutions. We provide state-of-the-art broadband technology and coordinate your connectivity needs, while still remaining your single point of contact across multiple service providers. Comm-Works treats each location as a separate entity, considering all locations unique variables, and then matching clients with the most effective and cost-efficient service provider. We leverage our relationships with each provider to ensure that our customers get the best price, fastest connection, highest productivity, and all the bandwidth needed to deploy large volumes of data. What makes us different from other service providers is our ability to provide 24/7/365 end-to-end support. Our help desk, monitoring, and management services ensures your technology stays up and running optimally at all times. HELP DESK Our North American based help desk service operates 24/7/365 with an 80% average resolution rate on the first call. We handle end-users so your staff can focus on high-level projects. LIKE WHAT YOU VE READ? Subscribe to our blog and receive updates about: Connectivity trends in the industry Lowering your IT spend Services that improve business operations Technology information and advice SUBSCRIBE MONITORING Improve your IT systems with a customized remote monitoring solution that best supports your business needs. Our proactive approach ensures potential device and network issues are identified and resolved before they can affect performance. MANAGEMENT Comm-Works offers full management of your remote sites to ensure your IT network is always healthy and secure. Provide your business with the technology and support needed to stay competitive in the modern business world; is your business connectivity geared for the future? For more information contact Brian Flander at 763.852.3178 or email bflander@comm-works.com 7