In 2019, every company has become a technology company. Besides data, digital services, and applications to make business growth and acceleration possible, minimal network speeds and bandwidth are integral to running operations and delighting customers. It goes without saying that time-consuming network performance problems are to be avoided like the plague.
Among the causes of network problems, improper cabling is not often discussed. Needless to say, physical cables and their configuration are a likely root cause of bottlenecks, sluggishness, spottiness, or even the complete downtime of a network. In other words, incorrect cabling is not to be taken lightly. Here’s what you have to watch out for.
When your ISP’s cable doesn’t meet bandwidth standards
The cable that connects you to the internet is the backbone of your network. If the cable from your internet service provider (ISP) doesn’t meet your business’s bandwidth requirements or if your business is trying to operate at higher network speeds, bottlenecks will result. Users will notice it, and your productivity, as well as business operations, will suffer as a result. Make sure that this cable is properly rated for the network capacity that your business requires.
When cabling doesn’t meet minimum performance and capability standards
Manufacturers rate cabling based on performance and capabilities. They also have to comply with performance standards set by organizations like the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). It’s important to understand these ratings and standards and select the appropriate cabling.
When cabling bandwidth doesn’t anticipate business growth
Your business will grow and so will your network bandwidth needs. It’s important to select cables that exceed your minimum standards in anticipation of future growth. Choosing cables that go beyond your current requirements gives your network some headroom. It allows your network to achieve higher speeds without having to completely upgrade cabling. Your network speeds can only grow as much as your cable rating allows.
When cables are actually manufactured poorly
Be a stickler for quality. Conduct adequate research about ratings and other cable standards. Don’t simply trust a cable because it has a “Category 6A” slapped on it. It may still not meet performance standards, have mediocre compliance levels, or have manufacturing flaws. Any of these cases will deliver substandard network performance levels and will be the cause of setbacks to business.
When network components have compatibility issues
When it comes to cabling, you can’t just mix and match. Manufacturers design and make components that work together for consistent performance. Problems will arise from combining cabling and connectivity from different manufacturers. For instance, jacks from one manufacturer, cabling from a second manufacturer, and patch panels from a third manufacturer will create glitches and compatibility issues.
You cannot invest in high-quality, high-performance cabling but you can combine it with cheaper components. Cabling in this situation cannot perform at its best when other components such as patch cords, plugs, jacks, patch panels are of lower quality or aren’t designed to support it. This is where cost cutting results in compromised network speeds and performance, such as signal degradation.
When your installer isn’t certified to work with a cabling system
Cable installation requires expertise. Make sure that your installers are properly trained and certified to work with the cabling system you’ve selected. Just like low-quality components, installers can be ill-suited, resulting in incorrect installation. Incorrect installation includes excessive bending, improper pulling, cables installed too close to noise sources, and incorrectly terminated or polished cables. All these can also lead to network performance problems.
When your IT team is overwhelmed
You rely on your IT team to handle your IT requirements. But given the vast scope of IT, it isn’t a far-off possibility that installing a structured cabling system isn’t one of their specializations. Your IT personnel has already much to manage: cybersecurity, hardware, software, and so on; they may not have crucial knowledge on the nuances of cable installation or how every component of a structured cabling system affects your organization’s network. It’s best to leave this to the real experts — certified installers.
As a small- and medium-sized business, you want expert IT professionals who care about your business goals and take away the burden of IT headaches away from your regular staff. A managed services provider (MSP) is one such partner that can expertly cover all of your IT needs and issues, especially regarding your network. Make sure that even the cables are never a cause for worry. Contact NetQuest to learn more.
Like This Article?
Sign up below and once a month we'll send you a roundup of our most popular posts
