In today’s fast-paced environment, optimal internet functionality is vital for the survival of your business.
If you are experiencing loss of productivity due to dropped connections, it’s time to install a wireless access point (WAP).
Find out how you can go about installing a WAP to increase productivity and ensure the success of your business.
Basic wireless access points
A wireless access point is a device which transmits information among devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. It does this by creating a wireless area network (WLAN) in your building and projecting a Wi-Fi signal to a specific area.
This has several benefits for your business. These are low-cost Internet sharing services and mobility of connected devices. Unfortunately, a stand-alone access point can have its drawbacks too. These access points often have limited coverage. Transmission can be unreliable too, especially through solid objects such as walls.
This is particularly true in the case of WAP’s designed for home use.
Business-grade access points
To cope with the high connectivity demands of the business environment, it is a good idea to install an access point to a wired router, switch or hub with an Ethernet cable. These access points can be set up anywhere that you can run these cables.
The latest models are compatible with Ethernet plus so that one cable can deliver both data as well as electric power to your device.
Captive Portal and an Access Control list may also feature in the newer models. These allow you to protect sensitive information by limiting guest access and managing users.
A Clustering feature ensures that your IT administrator can view and manage your entire Wi-Fi network from a single point.
Another way to create an access point for your business is to use a router to extend the wireless exposure around your premises.
Routers
A router is a device that joins computers together via a network of structured cabling. Usually, routers come with a basic firewall to protect your system from internet threats. Wireless routers are equipped to function as an access point as well.
When selecting a suitable wireless router for your business, you have a few options:
- VPN Firewall Router – can be used to set up a secure internal network of devices. This is called a Virtual Private Network (VPN). All information transmitted by means of a VPN is secure and private from the outside world.
- UTM Gateway – Another type of firewall, a UTM gateway uses content filtering to protect your network. Spam, malware, and intrusion are blocked before they can infiltrate your systems.
- Broadband Routers – These must be used in conjunction with a separate Wi-Fi access point.
- Core Router – Core routers connect several computers in a building (Local Area Network). The devices on the LAN can share information but need a separate Wi-Fi access point to use the internet.
How to choose the best wireless access point for your business
All this technical jargon can be overwhelming. The easiest way to set up a wireless access point for your business is to get in touch with the experts.
Call us for all the advice you need with regard to IT solutions and get your business internet up and running in a flash.
