4 Ways to Improve Your Wireless Access and Reliability
Nathan Hall, Network Infrastructure Consultant Sophicity: We put the IT in City.
Just as internet access is standard at nearly all organizations, Wi-Fi access to the internet is nearly at that same level of expectation. Most organizations rely on it internally and guests expect it. So many employees use untethered devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets—and those devices often work best with wireless access.
Simply buying a few retail wireless routers and setting them up yourself may not meet your needs. It’s not uncommon to see cities with spotty wireless access, slow wireless internet connections, and even a risk of data breaches through unsecured wireless access points.
If you’re struggling to provide quality, consistent, and reliable wireless access for your guests and employees, then you may want to explore these four ways to improve your situation.
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1. Look at your technology foundation. The root of many wireless issues goes deeper than your wireless equipment. You may want to assess your: •
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Internet service provider: Have you reviewed your ISP options lately? Your city needs a stable and reliable solution. Look at your uptime and make sure you’re getting business-class (rather than a consumer-class) service. Network equipment: Are your network systems able to handle your wireless needs? Your network includes switches, routers, and firewalls appropriate for your needs. Modernized hardware: You may have great wireless equipment but lack devices that can use it properly. Aging laptops will often have trouble connecting to wireless access points.
2. Make sure you’re using scalable, business-class wireless equipment. If you’re tempted to buy your wireless equipment at a
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