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Choosing a wireless local-area network (LAN) to meet your small business' needs requires that you consider a number of factors related to the operation of your business and its network. Use the questions below to guide you through a wireless LAN needs assessment.
What is the size of your network?
Determine the number of wireless users your network will need to support, since this will impact the kind of wireless hub your business purchases. The smallest offices can utilise a home gateway, which combines a wireless hub with router capabilities for shared high-speed Internet access. Companies that need to support upwards of 10 wireless clients might opt for a dedicated wireless LAN access point, which is more powerful and designed for a higher number of users.
What is the physical layout of your office?
The physical layout of your office may influence the optimal design of your wireless solution. For example, the square footage of your space will determine the number of wireless access points you need in order to provide connectivity from all locations in your office. You'll also want to determine what your building is made of, as certain materials ?such as wood ?may support a greater range of connectivity than others. As you design a wireless solution, also keep in mind the level of flexibility you want to have when reorganising the workspace. Some locations ?such as showrooms ?may want to design a solution that allows for frequent layout changes.
What are employees' roaming needs?
One of the most common reasons for installing a wireless LAN is to free employees from network cables, allowing them to roam with their PCs around the office, into conference rooms and to other common areas?all while staying connected to a LAN. If you don't yet have a wireless network in place, your roaming needs may not be apparent. Do your employees frequently meet in places where network access would be beneficial? If so, you can utilise this feature to encourage connected collaboration. Similarly, employees who have frequent in-office client contact ?such as bankers, attorneys, or certain types of retailers ?can use this feature to add flexibility to overall customer support.
What are your business expansion plans?
Consider growth plans as you decide when and how to add wireless tools to your existing infrastructure. For example, if you currently use a wired LAN and want to roll out wireless solutions gradually, look for an area of your company that is experiencing rapid growth and try to consolidate team members so they can work off a wireless LAN. This will allow you to easily add new users to the network throughout the expansion.
Do you plan to relocate in the next two years?
If you're considering relocating your office in the near future, keep these plans in mind when deciding which wireless tools to implement today. For example, setting up a wireless LAN for new hires and investing in laptops with integrated wireless capabilities may be good first steps. These new set ups will be easier and less expensive to reinstall in the new location since they do not require cable installation.
How can your company improve the way it uses office space?
Look for ways that your solution can support more efficient office space use. For example, you might outfit telecommuters with wireless access and balance their "in-office" work schedules so they can share one desk easily. In this case, wireless access can be used to make it easy for them to connect to the network when in the office, free up space for other full-time office workers and reduce the amount of money your company spends on furniture and office supplies.
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