Building Small Business Issue: Networking

By Dan Evans

Point Of Interest
1 Does a small business need Gigabit Ethernet?

Small companies can get big networking for little money these days. Wired, wireless, and Internet connection speeds come faster and cheaper than ever.

It makes good sense for you to pay a little extra to purchase Gigabit Ethernet rather than Fast Ethernet switches. Smaller companies will find Web-managed switches from companies such as Belkin, D-Link, Linksys, and Netgear for around $10 per port. Even small companies are moving around bigger and bigger files (video, graphics, and more), and Gigabit will really help also when you are performing over-the-network backups.

For wireless, 802.11g is the standard, but the time has come to consider draft 802.11n products, which offer five to ten times the performance and better coverage in a building. You'll find the routers and access points available for $100 to $150 from the same companies, and many new laptops have the option of including a draft 802.11n ExpressCard or PC Card. Make sure you run a secure wireless network by choosing WPA2 rather than the less-secure WEP option.

Using DSL or a cable modem typically provides enough bandwidth for most small businesses. Today's prices are impressively modest, but you might want to explore replacing the standard modem that comes with your service with product that supports VPNs for remote access. Ask your carrier about upgrade options.

Finally, although Wi-Fi can be found in many airports and cafés, mobile broadband provides connectivity almost anywhere you are. For $100 to $150 for the card and about $60 per month with preexisting voice service from AT&T or Verizon, you won't have to hunt around for a Wi-Fi hot spot.