Your computer network is the most used, most relied upon, most critical asset for running your business..... but it is probably the least appreciated.
There are two types of computer networks in business today. Those that were designed and installed well by competent professionals, and those that were not. Most likely your network falls into the second category because you are looking for help and reading this! Most networks that we encounter are a product of evolution. When you first set up a network, it was a simple matter of running some wire around from computer to computer until the lights started blinking. You either installed your first network yourself, or gave a deserving kid an opportunity to earn some money and gain experience while on summer vacation. Maybe it was your own kid or relative and nobody wants to criticize their work. It all seemed simple enough, but then you started adding more computers and eventually a server to share files. You added Internet and maybe some multi-user software, printers, and other devices. At some point, you added a wireless router so that your employees could use their laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Somehow it all magically worked,,,, until it didn't! This was all great until things started slowing down. Strange error messages started appearing on your screens, and some computers could not get reliably connected. Data got corrupted and you started having some real problems. You can see from the variety of types and colors of network cable lying around that different people have come through and expanded or repaired your network, spendng no more than what it takes to get by. You lost track of what goes where and what is actually being used. Employees come and go and nobody today really knows exactly what you have or understands how it all works, nor do they care. Eventually something breaks and you find out that the company, or individual who installed your network is out of business, or grew up and moved on. Now you have a mess and you want someone to come in and straighten it all out. Yes, we have seen it all before. It is time for a new network, this time professionally installed!