While WiFi technology has become part and parcel of the average office's connectivity, few can distinguish a good router from a bad one.
So says Shane Chorley, Vox Telecom executive head of network and operations, who notes that plugging a standard, off-the-shelf router into the office connection might provide access, but will lack the adequate security or reliability.
Surveys have shown that 32% of employees globally rely on more than one device during the average working day, which means WiFi connectivity could either hinder or enable employee productivity.
According to Chorley, standard WiFi routers, designed for home use, are simply not suited to the office environment. "They are not secured and aren't managed by IT, which can leave your network vulnerable. Increasingly, corporates find that they have to rely on a managed service provider to implement their WiFi networks in order to curb abuse or prevent security breaches," he notes.
Although most users are used to the 'plug-and-play' scenario, where they set up their home routers in the most convenient spot, an enterprise environment is much more complex, adds Chorley. There are numerous devices that can interfere with the user's WiFi signal and cause a system shutdown or a drop in quality - not just smart devices with their own 3G connections, but also run-of-the-mill appliances, such as microwaves. He points out that a managed service provider can prevent these lapses by conducting a thorough, physical frequency planning audit across the campus of the company.
"The provider can also assist the company with managing the connectivity of all devices. A standard router can only reliably support about 10 simultaneous connections - a managed WiFi solution will allow extensive connections, so that connectivity is reliable.
"It's been said that employees working on their own devices are more productive," says Chorley. A survey by Cisco has shown that the average employee gains more than 35 minutes per week when they switch from company devices to their personal devices - but in order to draw the benefit, the connection has to be constant. By placing intelligent access points across different buildings on an enterprise campus, workers can move between office buildings and remain on the same network, without having to constantly log into a network.
For Chorley, device management for new employees is also more efficient when using a managed service, as the IT department is able to automatically provision devices with wireless, wired and VPN settings, and download certificate and trust details - making it simple to handle large-scale mobile device deployments.
"It also improves visitor management - employees can easily and quickly create controlled temporary guest accounts for visitors, as opposed to simply sharing passwords, which could lead to security breaches," he notes.
A network management system employs a user-centric approach, identifying who is on the network, where they are accessing the network from, the mobile devices they are using, and how much bandwidth specific devices are consuming. Real-time monitoring, proactive alerts, reporting and troubleshooting can also assist companies with planning capacity, performance and identifying application issues.
Chorley concludes that off-the-shelf routers might work well at home, but companies cannot afford the risk that comes with using these in the workplace. "In order to draw the full productivity benefits from WiFi, it should not be bought as a product, but as a service."
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