Once you start your small business, interacting with various vendors will come as second nature. A category of vendors that you will definitely interact with is that one of internet providers Ontario. An ISP is a vendor who offers you connectivity to the Internet, ensuring you are part of the expansive world that is cyberspace.
As you may have already noticed since the inception of your business, choosing the right vendor is not as simple as choosing the cheapest one. In fact, many business owners have made the mistake of selecting a vendor based simply on price. Unless that is the only differentiator to measure your vendors, you should never use it on its own. And especially not when it comes to internet providers.
Internet Connection Types
There are many different terms that will be used by ISPs when giving you a quote. It is important to understand what they mean. There are two main categories of internet connection: high speed and high availability. High speed connections refers to connections such as cable and DSL which have high speeds but are not necessarily reliable or high in quality. High availability connections refer to those connections that offer an uptime of 99.99% or higher. Depending on how dependent your business is on internet connection, you can determine what you prefer: high speeds or high availability.
Speeds
You want connection that is able to support your users, be they customers or employees, even when the online traffic is high. Customers will not compromise on speeds in this day and age. Any site that takes long to load and any transaction that is frustrating to complete will be quickly discarded. In order to determine what speeds are appropriate, it is necessary to think of all the things you will be counting on the internet connection to do. Then discuss these needs with your identified internet providers Canada and choose speeds that work for you.
Availability
You will also need to consider how fast the connection you prefer can be availed to you by the ISP. Some connections might take longer to install, especially in newly constructed areas where lines of service are yet to be established. In such a case, you might need to choose a temporary connection and switch to another one later.
Redundancy
If you cannot afford to have even one minute of downtime at your business, you need to make sure that you have redundancy. Redundancy refers to the failover connection that takes over when your main connection line is down. In simple terms, redundancy means you have back-up in case anything happens to your main connection.
Cost Efficiency
While it is not wise to select a vendor based on price only, price is indeed a factor to be considered when choosing an ISP. Different internet providers will provide different packages that have been priced differently. Two diverse broadband connections offering different speeds might cost you less than a high availability fiber connection, and yet offer you the same peace of mind.
Take time to do your research before settling on an ISP, and always consult with a professional in instances where you need clarification.
