CONNECTIVITY IS EVERYWHERE

Cloud-based applications like Spotify, Netflix, Dropbox and WhatsApp are part of our daily lives.  Our desire for always-on communications makes reliable data connectivity a necessity in the digital age.

Every business also relies heavily on digital technology to run operations and meet customers’ needs.  Connectivity is a critical enabler for businesses of all sizes, giving them a competitive edge, by creating efficiencies, reducing costs and pioneering new products or ways of working.  To support an ecosystem of cloud-based services and infrastructure, the requirement for robust and well-engineered data services cannot be overlooked.

HOW CAN CLOUD CONNECTIVITY IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS?

Robust data connectivity is the key to giving organisations access to the cloud ecosystem. By putting communications services, applications and data in the cloud, a business can yield huge benefits:

• Greater scalability – quickly and easily scale provision to your specific needs. If you need to increase capacity or users at crucial moments, it can be done with minimal admin and zero disruption to other users.
• More manageable costs – most cloud applications offer monthly subscription services and you only pay for what you use. Moving from capital expenditure to operational expenditure leads to long-term savings and predictable outgoings.
• Greater redundancy measures – loss of service can be disastrous, especially for small businesses, leading to damaging loss of revenue and reputation. Cloud services typically have robust backup measures in place to mitigate any service loss or unnecessary downtime.
• Eliminate on-premise hardware – physical infrastructure onsite can be expensive to install and maintain. Cloud storage removes this capital outlay, with maintenance and upgrades carried out by the supplier.
• Productivity and efficiency gains – cloud services such as Slack, G-Suite or Salesforce increase efficiencies by housing everything centrally, saving time and improving collaboration and file sharing among employees, on mobiles, tablets or PCs.
• Get closer to your customers – embracing the cloud will allow you to provide a better service to end customers, whether that’s by delivering more convenient digital experiences or developing compelling products and services.

However, all of this rests on one crucial component: powerful data connectivity.

ENABLING MAXIMUM CONNECTIVITY WITH DATA SERVICES 

To realise the benefits of cloud services, a powerful data connectivity solution is critical. The types of cloud applications being used should be considered when choosing the right data services for your business. For example, are you planning to have capabilities such as voice delivered over the internet? Poor quality connectivity used for VoIP can result in low call quality or even call loss. Likewise, video conferencing solutions, fast becoming the norm, require sufficient bandwidth in order to function. When a customer is contacting you, it could be the difference between a profitable sale and harmful lost revenue.

The same goes for cloud-based business applications or data storage. Poor connectivity to a cloud CRM system could lead to failure in processing customer orders, while an inability to access data stored in the cloud could bring an entire organisation to a standstill.

The growth in the availability of connectivity services and the number of providers around has expanded the number of solutions on the market, with a range of options to suit a variety of budgets and requirements, regardless of the size of your business.

This means that businesses must do their homework when it comes to choosing a suitable provider. One size doesn’t fit all. Businesses should look for a provider who meets their needs by offering a range of cloud-based connectivity services, such as business broadband, ethernet and gigabit internet:

Business broadband

A business-only network ensures that your data doesn’t have to compete with consumer traffic.  The network is geographically resilient suiting businesses with multiple sites and locations.  Business broadband services should provide sufficient bandwidth and flexibility to support the size of the business and cloud services and applications used (i.e. Azure, Office365, G-Suite).

Ethernet

Ethernet can deliver highly reliable, fast and secure connectivity with the flexibility to scale.  Dedicated and uncontended ethernet services are suitable for cloud connectivity and can be used to consolidate voice and data into one connection.

Gigabit internet

Gigabit internet is the next generation of broadband internet service. It is typically delivered over fibre optic lines and provides speeds of 1,000Mbps, 100 times faster than today’s average broadband service.

Staff working in a range of ways, office based or remotely, can simultaneously access the network at peak times with no drop in speeds. This means it’s possible for everyone to do whatever they need online at the same time without waiting around for pages to load or content to buffer. We cover the key benefits of gigabit internet here.

Want to learn more?

Connectivity is the key to unlocking the future of your business. With so many potential suppliers to choose from, where do you start?

For all types of connectivity, businesses should look for providers who can deliver:

• A choice of suitable data access services that matches their needs now, and in the future
• Excellent resiliency and backup measures, with stringent SLAs and robust security

At Blackstar Solutions, we will work with you to understand your requirements and find a connectivity solution that meets your needs, today and in the future.

Contact Blackstar Solutions on 0333 1232123 to find out more.

Download the eBook here