Is Business Broadband Better Than Residential?
Do all businesses require business broadband? There are those who settle with a residential connectivity thinking of the savings it offers over the dedicated business service. The differences between residential and business broadband may not be too apparent, apart from the cost. But there are actually a number of key features included in business broadband packages that are essential to keeping your business on top of its game. In this article, we will discuss what business broadband is, the benefits of choosing business broadband, and why it costs more than residential connectivity.
What is business broadband?
In contrast to residential broadband which is the internet service used at home, business broadband, in a nutshell, refers to the specific internet connection dedicated to conducting business. Business broadband is not limited to the commercial building or workspace setting — if your home is set to be your office, you can also get business broadband installed at home. If you are running a business that requires connectivity for more than 12 computer units, a dedicated business broadband connection is a must.
What are the benefits of business broadband?
Compared to residential broadband, business broadband packages are more comprehensive. Here are the benefits of using business broadband:
1. Customer Support
This is one of the biggest factors that sets apart the business broadband from the residential. If your broadband connection goes down, you could risk losing revenue and damage your reputation. With dedicated customer service that is usually available 24/7, you can get back online as soon as possible. That’s in contrast to residential broadband providers, which is only open at select times and often leaves you stuck in a queue waiting to speak to an operator.
2. Service Level Agreements
Most business broadband providers often enter into a service level agreement (SLA) with their clients which guarantees they will deliver a certain standard of service – including speeds above a particular level, less outage, and a pledge to get your connection back up and running within a certain timeframe. A breach in agreement often entitles you to compensation.
3. Speed
While the download speed of business broadband is similar to that of residential broadband, you’re likely to find much faster upload speeds for business broadband connections. This is crucial because businesses often need to post things on the web, make video calls, and work on shared drives. Thanks to your SLA, you will also enjoy a much more reliable connection and get less downtime.
4. Security
Cybersecurity is a major issue for businesses because once compromised, it may lead to financial and reputational damage. That is why business broadband routers come with business-focused security software, including a VPN server and firewall, and filter content, that will not only protect your business but also ensure productivity among your employees.
5. Static IP
As a business, you will need a static IP address, something that doesn’t come with residential broadband. A static IP enables you to access your computer remotely, run a website, host any kind of server, or get emails directly.
Why is business broadband more expensive?
As a business owner, you will always consider your expenses. While it can be tempting to sign up for residential broadband over a dedicated business service because of the savings you can get, you could actually end up losing in revenue and damage your reputation if something goes wrong due to cyberthreats or once you’re unable to get a quick response from customer support.
If you want to cater to service requests faster, improve your workforce’s productivity, strengthen the security of your network, and eventually, stay ahead of the competition, we have the business broadband solution just for you.
Given these benefits, business broadband will always be a worth it investment.
