Network security is a hot topic these days. We don’t really talk about some of the other issues that your local network can encounter. So many businesses deal with slowness on their network, especially at key times.
Often the culprit for the slowdown is employees using personal devices for personal use on the company network. This can happen when you give out the corporate Wi-Fi password like candy.
Implementing a tool like RADIUS security can help curb this problem by only allowing authenticated users and machines on the network, but even with RADIUS protocols, many businesses are still utilizing their Wi-Fi network incorrectly.
Devices On The Company Wi-Fi
There are machines that should be using corporate Wi-Fi. This includes laptops, printers, and mobile devices that are specifically dedicated to work, like a Point-of-Sale tablet.
Since these devices need access to company resources and data they need to be connected on the same network as the servers they should be communicating with. Without this direct connection, there could be problems trying to get their job done.
Oftentimes, there will be network monitors in place, which means managed services providers like BRITECITY can resolve networking issues before they become a larger problem. If there is a lot of noise that is not work-related on the network, it can cloud the results of these monitors and report issues where there may not be any.
Devices On The Guest Network
On the other hand, devices that absolutely should not be connecting to the corporate network are personal phones, tablets, and laptops. Even if the smartphone is sometimes used for work-related purposes, unless it is exclusively work-related and paid for by the company, it should not be connecting to the corporate Wi-Fi.
These personal devices can wreak havoc on a network, especially when the company has no control over the apps and programs that are installed. If one personal device gets a virus and connects to the corporate Wi-Fi, it could end up spreading to the entire network.
Employees are also more likely to be off task on a personal device than on a work device. Although the device is on the same network and the time spent online can still be tracked through the corporate network, people get a false sense of privacy since they are using their own devices.
Related to being off task, watching videos from YouTube or other streaming services can significantly lower the speed to the rest of your network. Bob over there watching a Netflix show on his lunch break could make the entire company come to a grinding halt depending on your internet speed and bandwidth.
Create a Guest Network
To combat some of these issues, you can create a Guest Network that has limited bandwidth, which can help you limit the impact to the rest of your network.
Creating a guest network is typically extremely easy if you have a modern wireless access point. It’s just a checkmark and a couple questions asking you to name the network and set a password.
Make sure all of your employees are using the guest network for their personal devices, and your network will thank you for it!
BRITECITY offers local businesses support in areas like Cyber Security, Cloud Services, Strategic IT, and Managed IT Services in Orange County.