Article summary: Weak network printer security lets attackers use these overlooked devices to move deeper into a business network or pull stored documents straight off the machine. A short list of configuration and maintenance habits closes most of that exposure without replacing any equipment.Read more
Article summary: When an employee leaves, their old computer often stays on the network forgotten but still connected and completely unmonitored. These ghost devices give attackers an easy entry point into your business because no one is checking them for updates, suspicious activity or lingering access credentials. A proper offboarding and device retirement process backed by ongoing network monitoring closes this gap before it becomes a costly breach. Read more
Reliable networking infrastructure is not a luxury for small businesses. It forms the backbone of operational productivity. Without it, small businesses can easily flounder to find direction in the vast digital landscape of modern business practices. Infrastructure can include wired workstations or wireless devices. All of these provide valuable functionality in today’s world. It is more important than ever to have a well-designed network capable of safeguarding data and providing scalability. Read more
Is your office network holding you back? It always seems to happen at the most crucial moment. You are on a video call with a client and the connection starts lagging or your deadline is today and your files won’t load. This leaves clients waiting for answers while your team struggles to manage things.Read more
We have all been in situations where a file won't upload, video calls hang mid-conversation or apps take longer to load. A slow office network not only tests your patience but also slows down productivity and costs the business a lot of money and time.Read more
A business network is the lifeblood of operations. It is the digital artery that pumps data through your organization. It enables everything from email to critical applications and cloud services.
When problems sever that lifeline, the consequences can be catastrophic. Communication is cut off and productivity grinds to a halt. Additionally, it can leave your customers hanging and dry up revenue streams. This is the stark reality of network downtime.
When downtime happens, it is important to identify the source as fast as possible. Understanding the issue can save you time, money and countless headaches. Let's get started on keeping your network up and running smoothly. Read on for six helpful tips to troubleshoot common business network issues.
1. Identify the Problem
Understanding the nature of the problem is the first step in troubleshooting. By gathering detailed information, you can narrow down potential causes.
Determine the Scope
First determine the scope of the problem. Is it affecting a single user, a group of users or the entire network? This helps you zero in on the cause and potential solutions.
If only one user has issues, it might be a device problem. If the entire network is down, it is likely a more significant issue.
Ask Questions
Ask users specific questions about the problem. When did it start? What were they doing when it happened? Have they tried any solutions? Gathering detailed information helps pinpoint the cause.
Check Error Messages
Look for error messages or alerts. These can provide clues about the nature of the issue. Document these messages for future reference.
2. Inspect Physical Connections
Physical connections are often overlooked. They can be a common cause of network issues. Check cables, ports and power sources. This can help you quickly rule out or identify simple problems.
Check Cables and Ports
Inspect all cables and ports. Ensure that cables are securely connected and undamaged. A loose or damaged cable can cause connectivity issues. Test cables with another device to confirm they work correctly.
Verify Power Sources
Ensure all networking equipment has power. Check power cables and adapters. Sometimes a simple power issue can cause network problems. Reset power sources if necessary.
Inspect Network Devices
Examine routers, switches and modems. Ensure they are functioning correctly and all lights show normal operation. Restart these devices to see if it resolves the issue. Sometimes a reboot can clear temporary glitches.
3. Test Network Connectivity
Testing network connectivity helps identify where the connection fails as well as whether the issue is device-specific or network-wide. Using simple tools and tests can provide valuable insights into the problem.
Use Ping and Traceroute
Use ping and traceroute commands to test network connectivity. These tools help identify where the connection fails. For example, if ping works locally but not remotely, the issue might be external.
Test Different Devices
Test the network with different devices. This helps determine if the issue is device-specific or network-wide. Does one device connect successfully while another doesn’t? Then the problem might be with the device rather than the network.
Check Wi-Fi Signal Strength
If using Wi-Fi, check the signal strength. Weak signals can cause connectivity issues. Move closer to the router or access point and see if the connection improves. Consider using Wi-Fi analyzers to identify signal strength and interference.
4. Analyze Network Configuration
Network configuration issues can often cause connectivity problems. Check IP settings, DNS settings and configurations on routers and switches. This can help you identify and resolve misconfigurations. Some of these are a bit technical. They might need the help of an IT services partner.
Check IP Settings
Verify IP settings on affected devices. Ensure devices have the correct IP addresses, subnet masks and gateways. Incorrect settings can prevent devices from connecting to the network.
Review DNS Settings
Check DNS settings. Incorrect DNS settings can cause problems with accessing websites and services. Use reliable DNS servers and ensure settings are correctly configured.
Inspect Router and Switch Configurations
Review configurations on routers and switches. Ensure there are no incorrect settings or misconfigurations. Check for any changes that might have caused the issue.
5. Monitor Network Performance
Monitoring network performance helps identify ongoing issues and potential bottlenecks. There are many tools you can use for this purpose. They also help pre-warn you of network issues.
Use Network Monitoring Tools
Use network monitoring tools to track performance. These tools provide insights into network traffic, bandwidth usage and potential issues. They help identify trends and pinpoint problem areas.
Check for Bottlenecks
Identify any network bottlenecks. High traffic or heavy usage can slow down the network. Consider upgrading bandwidth or optimizing traffic flow to ease congestion.
Look for Interference
For wireless networks, look for interference sources. Other electronic devices, walls and even microwaves can interfere with Wi-Fi signals. Use different channels or frequencies to reduce interference.
Ensure Security and Updates
Keeping your network secure and up to date is crucial for smooth operation. Regular updates and security checks can prevent many common issues.
Update Firmware and Software
Ensure all networking equipment has the latest firmware and software updates. Updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements. Regular updates help maintain a stable and secure network.
Scan for Malware
Run malware scans on all devices. Malware can cause various network issues including slow performance and connectivity problems. Use reputable antivirus software and keep it updated.
Review Security Settings
Check security settings on routers and firewalls. Ensure proper configurations and that no unauthorized changes have occurred. Strong security settings help protect the network from external threats.
Need Help Optimizing Your Business Network?
A reliable network is essential for business operations. Avoid costly downtime issues by working with our team to keep your network in top shape. We can put in place monitoring and other best practices. We will ensure your network runs smoothly and fully supports all your needs.
Contact us today to schedule a chat about improving your connectivity.
As businesses increasingly rely on technology to operate efficiently, business network problems can have a significant impact on productivity and profitability. From slow internet speeds to audio quality issues, network issues can disrupt daily operations and frustrate employees. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore common network problems businesses face and provide practical tips for troubleshooting and resolving them.Read more
In April 2020, about 50% of surveyed businesses had 81% or more of their employees working remotely. That meant buildings were sitting empty while companies were being run completely remotely.
Now that re-openings are occurring around the US, many small and large business owners in Connecticut and the rest of the country are contemplating what it would take to keep their business remote and close their physical office to save money on overhead.
Technology solutions have made things possible that most companies would not have considered in the past. One of these is the ability to eliminate a physical office and put that money saved back into their business.
Even before the pandemic began, companies like Apple and U-Haul were running their customer support departments through at-home workers. Many organizations are considering a permanent switch to a virtual office now that the initial shut down from the pandemic has started to lift because they realize that it CAN be done.
One big reason is the cost savings. It is estimated that for each remote worker a business will save approximately $22,000 per year.
Where do those savings come from? A number of areas contribute to the savings:
- Improved productivity
- Office space savings
- Savings on utilities and other physical office costs
- Travel/commuting costs
- Improved employee retention
- Reduced absenteeism
- Ability to hire Independent Contractors for Virtual Help which potentially reduces the cost of benefits and wasted downtime by paying for only what they need
- Business continuity improvements.
If you have been thinking about the boost in bottom line from lowering your overhead by closing your physical office, read on for the things you need in place to make that happen.
How to Successfully Transition from a Physical to Virtual Office
There are some core things you need to have in place to ensure your business can run virtually just as well (or better) than it did with a physical office location.
Virtual Office Address Service
One thing you lose when you close your physical office is your business address. You want to keep a professional address and also have a level of separation between your home and work life which is why using your home address for your business is not a good idea.
There are many virtual office address services you can use that give you a little more legitimacy than just a P.O. box. A virtual address typically will be to a physical office building that provides conference room rental, office rental and more.
It gives you a physical address so that if someone were to look you up on Google street view, it would be to an office park or office building that allows you to have mail handling services for your company. This also keeps your Google My Business listing as an effective tool.
Team Collaboration Tool with Video & Chat
Your employees need to have the ability to virtually “stop by each other’s office” and this can be facilitated with a tool like Microsoft Teams. It makes it easy to chat, share files, use team channeled messaging and video/audio chat.
Encouraging the use of short video chats and team video meetings keeps everyone feeling connected and like part of the team even though they are all working in different locations.
Cloud Productivity & Storage Apps
The cloud is what is powering the ability for companies to work remotely. You want to put in a streamlined cloud productivity suite that includes cloud storage.
Utilizing less app platforms will be better for integration, automation and the user learning curve. Platforms like Microsoft 365 and G Suite give you cloud storage and several productivity tools that all integrate and make co-authoring and online collaboration easy.
Device & Network Security
Even though the computers accessing your business data are now located in employee homes instead of an office, you still need to ensure they have protection to keep your data safe.
The best way to do this is through a managed IT services plan that provides multiple security and user benefits, including:
- PC health monitoring
- Managed updates
- Managed antivirus/anti-malware
- Web protection
- Helpdesk support
- Remote support
When it comes to network security, the best way to secure data transmissions on so many different home networks is to use a business virtual private network (VPN).
A VPN will encrypt all online sessions no matter how unsecure the Wi-Fi network might be and can be used on computers and mobile devices.
VoIP Phone System
Virtual company phone lines is a must for a business without a physical office. VoIP allows your phone lines to be answered from anywhere and gives a professional sounding experience to the caller.
VoIP also costs much less than a traditional landline phone system and you can easily add or remove users whenever you need to.
Clear Virtual Work Policies
It is important to have policies in place so employees will know what is expected of them now that you operate from a virtual office.
For example, set up work hours, break times, etc. just as you would at a physical office.
Also, create policies for communications that might not have been necessary when everyone worked at the same location. For instance, instruct employees to set a “status message” in your office communications app when they are away from their desk or on the phone.
Get Help Transitioning to a Fully Virtual Office
If you have been considering making the switch to a virtual office, Sound Computers can help you put the technology pieces in place to ensure a successful transition.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Call 860-577-8060 or reach us online.
There are any number of technology events that can put a business in danger from data breaches to hard drive crashes with lost data. Our dependence on technology means that if tech goes wrong, business often comes to a standstill.
Damages can be the loss of a few hours of operations to losing your business completely.
60 percent of small businesses that get hacked end up closing their doors within 6 months because they never recover from the losses.
The Connecticut businesses that are able to recover quickly from a disaster, data breach or other catastrophic event are those with a good disaster recovery plan.
A disaster recovery plan includes putting a safety net in place that acts as a business insurance policy. This includes data backup and recovery systems and the ability to recover your data to any device or cloud system so it can be accessed from anywhere.
Without a solid disaster recovery plan, companies can end up getting hit with unplanned outages that can damage their reputation and revenue for quite a long time.
Why It Is Important to Put a Disaster Recovery Plan in Place
Disaster recovery goes hand-in-hand with a business continuity plan. Many work-stopping events result in data loss. Most businesses can’t operate or properly serve customers without their data.
The ability to quickly recover data and get back up and running can often mean the difference between keeping your business resilient and facing a closure after a major event.
Here are reasons why having a good backup and disaster recovery system in place is so important:
Customers Can Leave After Just One Bad Experience
The longer your business is down and customers can’t reach you due to something like a ransomware attack, the more risk you run of losing their business.
33% of customers say they will switch from a company they use to a competitor after just one bad experience.
Getting operations back up and running as fast as possible after a downtime incident is vital to retaining current customers and closing new ones.
Cyber Crime is On the Rise
There are a number of different cyber incidents that can cause data loss and downtime. These include things like:
- Ransomware
- Phishing attacks
- Viruses
- Data breach of customer information
- Brute force attacks
- Worms and trojans
Over the last few months, the FBI has seen a 400% increase in reported cyberattack incidents due to the pandemic. If your company is not ready to restore your data after an incident, you could be facing days of downtime.
Weather Events Are Becoming More Unpredictable
The weather events we may have expected in the past are changing and causing communities to be hit with “100-year floods” and other unexpected natural disasters.
If you are not prepared for potential damage to your on-premises equipment and don’t have a cloud backup plan in place, you could be looking at complete loss of data due to an unexpected weather event without any way to restore it.
Cloud Account Takeovers Have Become a Main Hacker Target
If you think your data is completely safe in the cloud, you’re wrong. Data loss from the cloud occurs from many areas including hackers deleting files. One of the biggest issues is when a hacker takes over a cloud account through stolen login credentials. They can steal what they need and delete everything.
Credential theft has been on the rise and now cloud account takeover has become a major target of hackers. A recent data breach investigations report showed that:
- User login credentials has become the #1 data target in phishing emails.
- Password dumpers (designed to steal username/passwords) is now the #1 type of malware used in data breaches.
Human Errors Are Difficult to Predict
A major cause of data loss and downtime is human error. Users can accidentally overwrite files stored in the cloud or misconfigure security settings allowing hackers to breach an account.
Trying to migrate data on their own is also another way that human error can result in loss of business files and they are not always recoverable unless you are properly backing up all your endpoints and cloud data.
Equipment Crashes or Loss Can Come Out of the Blue
Employees are increasingly mobile these days which means your company data could be on a laptop or tablet that is damaged or lost. Hard drives can also crash out of the blue which will leave you without your critical data.
Backups always move to the top of the critical systems list after an incident has happened but that may be too late to recover it from a damaged device.
Protect Yourself with a Solid Backup & Disaster Recovery Plan
Sound Computers can help your company ensure that it is ready for anything with a backup and disaster recovery plan that keeps your company resilient.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Call 860-577-8060 or reach us online.
This era has put every single organization in the whirl of technology so now most enterprises are utilizing computer technology to run their businesses. In fact, a recent case study shows that we have over 2 billion computers in the world as of 2019. Moreover, we have 5.11 million unique mobile users too! Many companies have entire IT departments while others hire a professional or two to cater to digital needs.
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