Small Business Guide to Internet Services (Sparklight)

3 100 Mbps or More: If you have more than 10 users and devices, you should probably support at least 100 Mbps. But no matter howmany employees you have, if the internet is critical to your business success, you’ll want as much speed as you can get. If your business involves the heavy use of cloud-based applications, video or music streaming, video conferencing, online collaboration, internet- based telephone services, large graphic files, or frequent online backup, you should probably consider 100 Mbps or more. Similarly, if your business supports e-commerce, multiple locations, or a mobile workforce, you will probably want the highest speed connection you can afford. The highest bandwidths can improve speed, productivity and reliability, and provide your company with a real competitive edge. 30 – 100 Mbps: If your business includes 3 to 10 users and devices, you’re going to need more speed. Depending on how internet-intensive your staff and services are, you will want from 30 Mbps to 100 Mbps. This higher capacity will enable more extensive internet usage, larger file sharing, smoother streaming and greater online interaction. With these faster speeds, your company can comfortably handle more functions, such as robust cloud applications, multiple Wi-Fi devices, credit card processing and frequent online backups. 15 – 30 Mbps If your business consists of one or two employees that use typical internet functions throughout the day, then you can get by with an economical internet connection, around 15 Mbps. This level of performance will allow for web browsing, video streaming and some light-duty cloud-based applications. cha pt e r 1 : F i gu r i ng Out What You N e e d What Speed Do You Need? So, what speed (or bandwidth) does your business need? It basically depends on how many people you have and how they are using the internet.