Being connected to the Internet quickly, securely and efficiently from wherever you are in the world is critical to all forward-thinking businesses and will increase both employee productivity and the end-user experience to your suppliers and customers.

There are myriad technical connectivity services that exist in the marketplace today and while virtually every business in the world relies on computer connectivity at some level, the sheer number of options can leave even the most tech-savvy entrepreneur confused and frustrated.

ITbuilder’s intricate technical expertise is underpinned by a thorough understanding of business and commercial practices and applications. By cutting through the industry jargon and focussing our attention on making sure you and your staff have the connectivity they need, your business can operate at its optimum performance levels.

•    Local Area Network (LAN) – a LAN is a computer network covering a small physical area like an office or school. They usually have higher data-transfer rates ranging from 10Mbps to 10Gbps run over copper or fibre cabling. LANs are usually privately owned networks comprised of switch devices that can move many thousands of packets per second and can be segmented into numerous ‘virtual’ networks e.g. to separate data and voice networks.

•    Wireless or Wi-Fi – Uses high-frequency radio channels to connect your device to an available network without the need to attach a physical cable. Wireless LANs are deployed to enable free, roaming access to private networks. Wireless can also be used over long distances to provide high-speed (WAN) broadband connections where traditional carrier-based technologies do not reach.

•    Broadband/xDSL - Digital Subscriber Line. Commonly referred to as ‘broadband’, the range of xSDL technologies (including ADSL, ADSL2+, SDSL) is used to transmit digital information at high bandwidths across existing copper telephone lines.

•    Mobile (GPRS/UMTS) – 2G and 3G data services from mobile operators enable high-speed access to the Internet for people on the move. These technologies are also useful to set up temporary networks where fixed-line service may impossible to reach or too costly to implement for a short period. They also provide a backup option to fixed-line to provide redundancy where required.

•    VPN - An acronym for Virtual Private Network that provides a secure connection between two or more computers across a public network such as the Internet. Data is encrypted between participating computers ensuring that even if the data was intercepted, it could not be read by any computer other than those participating in the VPN. A VPN is commonly used to connect to business networks in different geographic locations or to enable mobile users to securely access resources on a private network.

It’s worth noting here that while the average consumer may well be seduced by the clever marketing techniques used by the largest players in the market – BT, Virgin, et al – with their promises of ‘ultra-fast’, ‘up to 20Mb download speed’ and ‘cheap and reliable’, their service offering differs wildly and is based on a number of factors.

ITbuilder will only offer you ‘best in class’ connectivity, that is by looking at all your separate connectivity requirements, your budget and your infrastructure, we will recommend to you what is, in our opinion, the class leading equipment, software or service provider and not simply the most expensive or fashionable.

By connecting the appropriate devices to robust and secure systems, ensuring each employee has access to the tools of their trade, ITbuilder can deliver a ‘virtual office’ to those whose jobs keep them out of the actual office.

For more information and to speak to ITbuilder about getting and staying connected, please contact us today.