10 things to look for in a business Internet access service provider

Introduction

Internet solutions are the heart of any organisation today, powering everything from videoconferences to IP telephony. While they used to be the luxury of incumbents, businesses of all shapes and sizes now find enterprise internet as vital as other utilities.

With the emergence of digitisation, it is nearly impossible to imagine a world without a stable Internet connection. It empowers companies to connect and reach their focus audience faster and better, regardless of the hour and location. Therefore, forward-thinking companies that have realised and invested early in dedicated Internet access are already seeing exponential growth.

However, scouting for the right business Internet access provider can often seem overwhelming. Whether entrepreneurs are kick-starting a new business or looking to change their Internet vendor, considering more elements will help them make the correct decision.

This guide will walk readers through the various qualities they need to search for in an enterprise Internet provider.

Cost

While selecting the enterprise Internet packages, decision-makers often think about the subscription price or whether the plan is worth the investment. They must resolve these queries before reaching a conclusion.

For an Internet solution to find favour with organisations, it should strike a perfect balance between speed and cost. Users must devise and follow their budgets while choosing the right package. While the options are innumerable, there is no need to squander. Pay only for the required Internet speeds to keep the total cost of ownership (TCO) down.

Bandwidth

From video conferencing to cloud data backups, enterprises need high-speed Internet solutions (generally in gigabytes) for multiple critical purposes. On the contrary, slow Internet extends the duration required to finish tasks. Employees will have to wait for uploads and downloads to complete, webpages to load, and browser navigation.

Hence, companies must look for business Internet access providers offering speed that promotes productivity instead of hampering it. They must prepare a comprehensive IT budget and pick the most suitable enterprise Internet plan for their businesses.

Security

Today, organisations incorporate loads of connected devices, given the ever-growing digital economy, expanding the attack surface for cybercriminals to exploit. In such cases, separate instances of security software are no longer possible.  

Business owners must prefer Internet providers offering an all-encompassing security suite that safeguards their interconnected devices and systems from cyberattacks, including spyware, DDoS, and viruses. Besides, they need to ensure with the vendors that the data security wall remains intact 24/7 and is customisable according to business needs.

Support

Customer support is paramount for organisations that rely on the Internet for efficient functioning. The ideal business Internet access provider must deliver exceptional customer assistance all the time across various channels, including phone, email, or online chat. This implies that if any of the employees report, for instance, slow speeds or downtime, they can contact the service representative who will help the employee at each step toward resolution. Besides, organisations should know the support staff’s response time during network issues.

Routing

Service providers connect businesses with their employees and customers across continents over the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) via transit (paid) and non-transit (non-paid) links. Such links throughout the network are called routes. Companies must find out if their Internet solution vendors provide a blend of transit and non-transit links for an uninterrupted global network. 

Also read: Complete guide to Business Internet Service

Type of Internet connection

Businesses can choose from the following forms of Internet connection:

• Fibre-optic Internet: This is the fastest option; however, it is relatively expensive. Besides, it might not be available for companies operating in rural areas.
• Cable: It delivers connectivity over standard coaxial cables used on TV lines. Cables provide impressive Internet speeds and are available in more markets compared to fibre. However, the bandwidth on a cable connection is mutual. Business owners might witness slower speeds if several subscribers nearby are connecting simultaneously.
• Digital subscriber line (DSL): These connections transmit the Internet through telephone lines. They are highly available, cost-effective, reliable, and a good choice for small rural businesses.
• Satellite: This is an ideal connectivity option for rural enterprises with limited to no options and off-the-grid remote workforces. Unfortunately, satellite Internet is significantly slower and less reliable compared to a DSL connection.

Furthermore, users must remember that not all localities are compatible with certain forms of connectivity technologies. Hence, they need to check the availability of each connectivity suite. For instance, if an area is not fibre-ready, the service provider might suggest a satellite or cable connection.

Scalability

Internet needs could grow with time. Case in point, a firm might begin operating a small-scale home business and need an upgrade on the offered bandwidth. In addition, the firm could want extra services, such as IP telephony, to be included in its existing plan.

Ideally, if users plan to add more devices that can be internet-heavy, they will have to upgrade their existing current bandwidth. They must comprehensively review the business internet access provider’s various services before inking the deal. The portfolio should contain convenient packages that empower enterprises to scale up as and when their business grows.

Reliability

Customer support goes hand-in-hand with reliability. For enterprises that cannot risk internet disruptions, finding a vendor that offers a service-level agreement (SLA) should be a priority. This contract should incorporate assurances of seamless service or uptime (almost 100%), remedies offered for service breaches, and procedures for reporting issues.

Furthermore, continuously contacting customer care over poor connections frustrates organisations. They need top-notch service, and a good Internet solution provider understands that.

Future-oriented attitude

Digitisation is quickly transforming with emerging corporate demands. As such, an ideal service provider should understand that businesses will need better and larger enterprise Internet as they grow and expand. Case in point, IPv6 is the current protocol for IP addresses, and Internet providers that support it reflect their futuristic attitude - a notable trait to seek while discovering the best business Internet connection.

Availability

Availability is especially crucial to consider for businesses situated in rural areas or tier-2/tier-3 cities. Checking whether the business Internet access provider has connection points within the vicinity before requesting for deployment is always a sound decision.

While high-speed cables and fibre connections could seem enticing, organisations may not benefit from these additions if the vendor does not service their localities. Having said that, companies must check the availability of service providers within their area using a postal code finder or online zip code. Moreover, they can contact the vendor’s headquarters to confirm whether they deliver services in their localities and eventually compare some of their options.

Take the hands of a business Internet access provider you can trust

Tata Communications’ enterprise Internet services are a perfect fit for organisations that need symmetrical upload and download speeds for mission-critical data access. We assure our users of optimised performance by examining their online traffic and identifying the fastest route. The speeds of our feature-set Internet solution are not distance-sensitive; businesses can experience smooth on-net routing across geographies with a global ASN through over 240 points of presence (PoP). Our dedicated Internet access services keep an eagle’s eye on the corporate network traffic – people, systems, data, and applications – round the clock. Further, our experts monitor all the interactions, authentications, and transactions, shielding companies and their world-spanning strategies from the ever-evolving cybercrimes.

Understand more about Tata Communications’ businesses Internet services with a no-obligation interaction with our specialists.