According to Uswitch, internet outages cost the UK economy £1.3 billion between the summers of 2021 and 2022. The primary cause of financial loss for businesses from an internet outage is the operational downtime it causes. Here, Paul Collins, senior service desk engineer at IT managed service provider OryxAlign, discusses a backup connection’s critical role in ensuring uninterrupted business operations, including the different types of internet connections and their cost versus reliability
In today’s technologically driven world, a reliable internet connection is the backbone of any successful business. From small startups to large corporations, seamless online connectivity is essential for smooth day-to-day operations. With businesses relying heavily on cloud-based services, video conferencing, and real-time collaboration, the importance of a robust internet connection cannot be underestimated.
Reliability correlates with cost
When considering internet connectivity, reliability and cost are closely intertwined. The more a company is willing to invest in a circuit, the more reliable it will be. There are primarily three categories of internet connections: standard broadband services, mid-range Ethernet over FTTC (Fiber to the Cabinet), and high-end lease services.
The standard broadband services generally cost £20 to £35 per month and are typically used for home connections and may not be sufficient for business needs. The mid-range Ethernet over FTTC provides better service with improved SLAs (Service Level Agreements) ranging from £150 to £500 per month and is ideal for small to medium-sized companies.
However, a gigabit lease line or even a faster 10-gigabit line might be necessary for large companies, especially if video conferencing is heavily used. These are typically tailored to the specific needs of businesses, and the costs can vary significantly based on factors like bandwidth requirements, contract terms, and SLAs. For high-end lease services, you could be looking at costs ranging from £500 to several thousand pounds per month.
The need for backup solutions
While investing in a reliable primary internet connection is essential, having a backup solution is equally crucial. Internet outages can occur due to various reasons, such as accidental cable damage, equipment misconfigurations, or even natural disasters. Without a backup, businesses are left vulnerable, facing costly operational downtime and potentially losing the trust of customers.
A backup connection can be viewed as a form of insurance, allowing essential tasks to continue even if the primary connection goes down. The ideal backup would be through a different Internet Service Provider (ISP) than the primary connection. This way, if one ISP experiences an issue, it is less likely to affect both circuits. Moreover, having diverse physical infrastructures and telephone exchanges further reduces the risk of a simultaneous outage.
Cost-effective backup options
While the cost of a reliable primary connection can be significant, backups need not be equally expensive. Depending on a company’s requirements, options such as fibre-to-the-cabinet circuits or mid-range Ethernet over FTTC can provide adequate backup support at a more affordable price. Even though these options may not match the primary circuit’s speed, they can still handle critical tasks, ensuring that the business continues to operate even in the event of a primary connection failure.
OryxAlign is an IT managed service provider (MSP) with expertise in designing and implementing backup internet solutions tailored to the unique needs of each business. Its comprehensive services encompass assessment and consultation, designing a suitable backup plan with secondary ISPs, redundant connections, or backup technologies.
Partnering with an MSP can help businesses of all sizes implement backup internet infrastructure and ensure seamless functionality through constant monitoring, maintenance, and failover testing. MSPs can also provide dedicated technical support and troubleshooting to promptly address any primary or backup internet connection issues.
To find out more about how OryxAlign can help you to ensure seamless connectivity for you business, visit its website: www.oryxalign.com.
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