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More and more devices are making their way into your workplace. Many of these devices function only through use of your wi-fi connections. If your business has an old wireless infrastructure (or no wi-fi capability at all) you run the risk of not being able to handle the computing needs of a changing environment.
Wi-Fi is defined by Wikipedia as, 'a popular technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data or connect to the Internet wirelessly using radio waves.' An example of devices that use wi-fi include personal computers, smart phones, tablet computers,and e-readers. Increasingly other less traditional devices are being designed to use wi-fi to access functions: thermostats to control your HVAC, lighting and other energy management devices, printers that can be placed where a wired connection may not be possible, door locking and security access systems, appliances….any devices that need to alert or control functions in your business.
What do you need to know so your payroll department does not find themselves unable to connect?
You connect by finding the Network Name, commonly called the SSID (Service Set Identifier), which shows on your device to connect via wi-fi. There are several levels of security on making the connection, and your equipment configuration will control the SSID to be visible to people in or outside your company. Depending on the number of users, you may have multiple SSIDs to access your wi-fi infrastructure.
There are different standards that dictate the performance and speed of wi-fi networks. These follow a standard called 802.11, with levels a, b, c, g, n and ac determining the speed and capacity performance. When purchasing equipment, it should meet a minimum of the 'n' standard, with the higher performance 'ac' standard coming into use, having been certified in 2013. If your existing router is more than a few years old, you could benefit from an upgrade.
Security and access will vary based on the user’s needs. Wireless connections are less secured that the traditional wired network version. If you have frequent visitors, you may need to provide an SSID to be 'open' for guests visiting your business, while internal users would connect only via a protected access method, requiring a network key/passphrase.
Develop a policy on how users connect and use the wi-fi. Are employees allowed to connect their phones/computers/devices to your company wi-fi? Are there restrictions placed on what content can be accessed? What is considered proper use in the work environment?
How much capacity do you require? Plan for growth: If a user has a laptop computer, smartphone and tablet that are all connected to the wi-fi, and you multiply that number of devices by the potential users, you may find that the service has greater demand than capacity.
It is important to engage with your IT department to plan for the current and future needs of wireless computing, to ensure no loss of productivity. Budget for equipment acquisition, deployment and configuration. There are several items to consider when you plan for your future needs.
One big factor to realize is the hardware you purchase will evolve and change in a fairly short time. Don’t hold back waiting for technologies that are planned for release in the next couple years. Access is vital; be sure you have the capacity today and for the future.