What Is Managed WIFI? How It Benefits Your Business
In this advanced tech and on-demand world, employees need a secure and reliable wifi connection to complete their day-to-day tasks. Employees expect their organizations to provide free, reliable, efficient, and safe wifi access.
However, many companies still do not realize the importance of high-speed internet connection and the benefits that it can bring to their business. Moreover, the Internet is now not only the need of offices, but every modern-day human has developed a reliance on the Internet.
Whether it is a good or bad thing is another debate, but it is a fact that our reliance on the Internet is increasing continuously. You may have heard about managed wifi, a new buzz in the broadband industry.
You can find several connectivity options in the market, and managed wifi is also among them. But to find out whether it meets your business needs, you need to understand it. This article will describe what managed wifi is, how it works, and its benefits for your business.
What Is Managed Wifi?
Managed wifi is referred to as an outsourced wireless network connection. It is a process through which one can outsource their WiFI to any Internet Service Provider (ISP). It is usually used in shared spaces such as apartments, office buildings, and student hostels. This setup typically consists of wireless access points, switches, controllers, and extensive cabling.
Having reliable wifi is no longer a luxury and is becoming necessary for business and residential communities. With the widespread use of wifi, many devices no longer come with an Ethernet port. It makes having a reliable wifi connection essential for businesses. To better understand managed wifi, let’s first define unmanaged wifi.
Unmanaged wifi is the type most people are familiar with, where access points are used to connect to the Internet. These access points, whether found in homes or businesses, operate independently and are not interconnected, hence being referred to as unmanaged.
How Does Managed Wifi Work?
A managed wifi system offers a secure and seamless experience by automatically connecting your device to the access point with the strongest signal across an entire property. It is advantageous not only in homes or offices but also in areas like pools, gyms, or clubhouses within a property.
With managed wifi, your device stays consistently connected, ensuring you never experience signal loss or interruption. It simplifies staying connected across different areas of the property, providing a hassle-free wifi experience.
In addition, there are some key factors that you must know to understand why to choose a managed wifi system.
- An outsourced wireless connection mitigates the risk that your technology becomes outdated.
- The service provider manages this connectivity solution, so you do not need onsite IT support to install and monitor the wifi system.
- Managed wifi service providers often go beyond offering just managed wifi. They provide a comprehensive portfolio of services that your property can take advantage of. In addition to managed wifi, these providers offer Internet, video, phone, and security products and services.
- Managed wifi is easily scalable and ensures network connectivity can not hinder your business growth.
What Are The Benefits Of Managed Wifi?
A managed WiFI comes with several benefits. If you are still considering whether managed wifi is the right investment for your company, here we describe the most significant benefits to help you decide.
1. Cost Effectiveness
While unmanaged wifi may appear more cost-effective initially, it’s important to consider the hidden expenses associated with the time and effort your IT team invests in maintaining the wifi connection.
In contrast, opting for managed wifi is often a more favorable choice. Managed wifi providers offer comprehensive services that go beyond simple connectivity.
By entrusting the management and troubleshooting of your wifi to cybersecurity professionals who specialize in this area, you can save valuable time and resources for your IT team.
2. Safety And Security
Managed wifi companies prioritize safety and security as core aspects of their services. They make significant investments in cutting-edge technology to ensure the utmost security of their connections. By opting for managed wifi, you can benefit from their ongoing efforts to stay at the forefront of security advancements.
Without managed wifi, constantly upgrading your service, such as replacing routers with more secure options, would fall upon you. This task can be time-consuming and complex and require expertise in network security. Managed wifi relieves you of this burden by taking care of these upgrades and ensuring your network remains up-to-date with the latest security measures.
You can rely on their expertise and resources to handle the intricate aspects of network security, allowing you to focus on other critical aspects of your business.
3. Easy Scalability
Managed wifi allows for the easy addition of access points or wifi extenders in areas with poor internet connectivity. It is especially valuable for large-scale properties like apartments, warehouses, hospitals, retail stores, and offices.
The access points can be centrally controlled and handle a high volume of devices per access point. This scalability enables businesses to grow seamlessly and address connectivity issues, ensuring reliable internet access for employees, customers, or residents.
4. Increase Productivity
Internet disconnections can disrupt your team, requiring extensive external assistance and coordination across departments. Managed wifi frees IT professionals to focus on strategic projects, improving productivity.
It eliminates the need for complex network setups, saving valuable IT hours and minimizing the impact of downtime on employee productivity.
5. Detailed Monitoring and Reporting
Managed wifi services provide valuable insights into your company’s network usage. With advanced systems, providers can centrally control access points, monitor wireless performance, and analyze bandwidth consumption by different applications and users.
This analysis helps businesses optimize network performance and make informed decisions.
What Are The Downsides Of Using Unmanaged Wifi?
Using an unmanaged access point can lead to certain drawbacks. The internet signal gradually weakens as you move farther from the access point. However, your device stays connected to that weakened access point until the signal is completely lost.
When the signal weakens, your device searches for a closer access point. It’s important to note that even if a newer and stronger signal is available, your device may remain connected to the previous access point as long as there is some signal reception, even if it is weak.
This situation can result in slow-loading websites and intermittent internet connectivity.
Are There Any Drawbacks Of Managed WiFi?
While managed WiFi offers numerous benefits, it’s important to consider potential drawbacks. One such drawback is the loss of control over your WiFi connection. When you opt for managed WiFi, your on-site IT team may have limited troubleshooting capabilities, requiring your employees to rely on support from a third-party representative.
It can be convenient for smaller organizations without on-site IT staff, but larger ones might find it frustrating for their IT team. Additionally, the security implications of handing over control of critical internet services and sensitive guest data to a third party may raise concerns.
However, it is reassuring that reputable managed WiFi companies prioritize top-of-the-line security protocols.
Final Words - Managed Wifi
Managed wifi offers businesses a range of benefits that can enhance connectivity, productivity, and security. By outsourcing the management and troubleshooting of wifi to professionals, companies can save time and resources while enjoying a secure and seamless connection. Managed wifi simplifies staying connected across different areas of a property and allows for easy scalability. It also prioritizes safety and security, relieves the burden of network upgrades, and provides detailed monitoring and reporting capabilities. With managed wifi, businesses can optimize network performance, increase productivity, and stay ahead in today's tech-driven world.
