The Best WiFi and Security For Small & Medium Business 2020. So what is the best WiFi for small businesses?
First off, let me tell you what isn’t. It’s NOT a $50 wireless router from Best Buy or Future Shop. It’s NOT those cheap wireless extenders promising unlimited range.
If you want great WiFi for your small business you need to spend a little cash. The same goes for any technology at your office or home for that matter as far as I’m concerned.
I work with small businesses every day and see this problem a LOT. My recommended brand of choice is Fortinet. With a Fortinet system, you’re getting a commercial-grade solution on a budget any small business can afford. Albeit a bit pricey, Fortinet or similar quality systems offer savings in the long term with robust features and long-lasting reliability.
What you need will change slightly depending on your office layout and design but in general, you just need to add more access points (as described below) in strategically placed locations in order to improve your coverage.
When installing a system like Fortinet you may need to replace your existing router. For many businesses, this will be a major upgrade. For those that already have a commercial-grade router in place, well, there are other options you can consider however it always makes for a more reliable solution if you have the same product brand end to end, especially when you have to call for support.
Make sure you get yourself the correct size router. Sticking with Fortinet as an example most offices of 50 or less can get away with a Fortgate FGT-60D.
A great wireless solution will also give you a ton of network security for your office. Web filtering, antivirus and anti-malware protection, sophisticated packet filtering and inspection, VPN capabilities and much more.
Next, you’ll need to choose the best type and quantity of wireless access points.
Now all of these options will need to be reviewed by your IT company to ensure the best selection specific for your business layout and coverage requirements however we typically install the FAP 221C, which is a ceiling mountable smoke detector like unit and the 24D (regular looking unit that can be placed anywhere) models in most locations.
The best part of a commercial-grade solution like Fortinet (and your IT people will love this) is that everything is managed from a single interface on the router. From the router login screen, you can see and manage all wireless access points and essentially your entire network.
if you want a solution that’s going to WORK reliably, spend the extra money, do it once and get the right products. Something that is designed to work for a business, not some junk that you thought was a great deal at a local big box store. It will cost you less money and stress in the long run.