Technology infrastructure is crucial to any business’s ability to carry out its goals. Insidious cyber risks, the need to enable users to operate from different places, and the need to correctly structure business continuity and disaster recovery efforts—all of which present small and medium-sized businesses, in particular, with a daunting mix, have never previously existed.

The ensuing problems are undoubtedly complex, and they emphasize the value of strong, network equipment, without which almost every company’s operation would come to an immediate halt and would expose it to risks such as disruptions, outages, and losses.

How can small and medium-sized businesses position themselves to protect against cyber threats while continuing to enable users to carry out their responsibilities? Small and medium-sized businesses, in particular, must maximize IT networking investments while minimizing spending and addressing the myriad competing needs all organizations experience.

What Small Businesses Need to Know?

Even small businesses rely on network infrastructure to power a broad variety of services. It's crucial to first understand the types of network equipment and the functions they perform. Companies then need to determine network equipment best perform the relevant roles

This guide discusses all the important networking components and the function they perform.

Network Switching

Physical networks, which usually consist of cable connections, are used to link users to other resources and other users. Due in part to its dependable performance, ubiquitous Ethernet cabling is often used to link laptop and desktop computers, servers, and VOIP phones, among other devices.

Small and medium-sized businesses frequently rely on virtual local area networks, also known as VLANs in the IT industry, because organizations use the capability of as few devices as possible, including a single Internet connection and a minimum number of hardware components, not only for cost efficiency but also to simplify network topologies and the corresponding administration, support, and troubleshooting. VLANs allow for the support of a competing mix of network traffic, some of which (like voice packets) requires much higher priority handling than, for example, video packets, which can be buffered on a local system before starting playback to accommodate any momentary hesitations that might otherwise occur due to excessive network traffic or intermittent but short-lived delays.

However, inexpensive network switches often don't support the administration of such networks. As a result, small businesses should purchase business-oriented equipment from the following producers:

• Cisco
• Meraki
• Netgear
• Ubiquiti

 However, there are still more methods for consumers, computers, and networks to connect.

Wireless Connectivity

WiFi has become more than just a convenience for companies; small to medium sized businesses are now reliant on reliable wireless networks to link their mobile employees' laptops, tablets, and cellphones. Wireless connections are becoming more and more necessary for appliances like refrigerators and coffee makers, as well as surveillance cameras and WiFi-enabled VoIP telephones.

Like with other network equipment, a number of vendors focus on the SMB market with wireless hardware designed to be both economical and secure.

• Aruba
• Meraki
• Ruckus
• Ubiquiti

However, in order for wireless connections to be fully useful, they often also need Internet access. This gets us to the second group of network hardware that is required by almost any SMB.

Routing and Remote Connectivity

Routers are essential in establishing a connection between a company and its consumers and the Internet. The Internet is obviously necessary for cloud apps, VOIP phones, and email. But these tools also serve a crucial secondary function, linking the organisation's systems and data to sites and staff members working remotely.

The Internet and distant communications must be safe since cyberattack dangers pose existential hazards to enterprises. The purpose of firewalls is to stop unauthorized users from breaching a business defense system, corrupting data, compromising sensitive information, and causing failures, downtime, and outages.

A number of producers provide routers that suit the requirements and spending limits of SMBs, including:

• Cisco
• Fortinet
• Meraki
• SonicWall
• Ubiquiti

Routers are no longer complete without an essential companion: active security services.

Firewall Security Services

One of the tasks a business-grade firewall does is connectivity. All governmental entities, commercial companies, and nonprofit organizations should have professional-grade firewalls capable of operating active security services to identify and stop a wide range of malicious connection attempts at the network's perimeter.

A good cyber defense approach includes more than just the physical router. These devices now also need to have active security features that check data packets, Internet traffic, and connection requests to see whether they're legitimate, then immediately block any activity that may be harmful. Additionally, the firewall an SMB chooses should keep thorough log files, notify administrators when particular criteria are satisfied, and adapt to new threats when vulnerabilities are found.

Most small business-grade firewall manufacturers provide these security features. A small business should budget for two costs related to firewalls and the services that go along with them. The first is the cost of the router, which is normally a one-time price. However, many businesses now choose to include lease payments or subscription costs in larger IT support and service contracts. The real security services subscription, which is the second cost, is normally payable annually.

Businesses should focus on business continuity and disaster recovery planning after an active security services subscription is coupled with a small business-grade firewall, in case a crisis occurs. There is still a chance for catastrophes like floods, fires, earthquakes, and others, so plans for them should be in place.

Business Continuity

Hardware issues, ransomware attacks, and other catastrophes frequently plague small businesses and non-profit organizations.

The business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) defenses of A company may be strengthened by a combination of methods that are properly integrated and linked. A single compact network device, also known as a BCDR appliance, may backup crucial data to the cloud. These cloud-based backups may be saved as separate snapshots, allowing companies to restore operations from any place, even alternate sites, by simply downloading the necessary snapshot to the systems there. These appliances could also come with extra features to shield backups and snapshots from the encryption and damage that are frequent in ransomware and other intrusions.

Due to the segment's growing significance, small and medium-sized firms may now choose from a range of BCDR products and services, such as:

• Alto Dattto 3
• Appliances for Datto Siris 4
• N-Able Backup
• Unitrends Backup Appliances
• Zerto Continuous Backup

The installation of a hardened device that safeguards on-site data against fires, floods, and even earthquakes is another choice, especially for small companies. Protected storage discs housed in a reinforced enclosure, such as those provided by ioSafe, help guarantee that local copies of crucial data stay accessible. When dealing with locally linked backups, however, additional care must be taken to safeguard them against ordinary ransomware assaults, which may compromise and corrupt backup data as well.

Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS)

Blackouts have the potential to ruin delicate electrical circuits and make network equipment useless since network components are highly sensitive to even the smallest variations in energy. Consequently, operations may stop completely.

When correctly matched with the electrical specifications of the network equipment they power, battery backups, also known as Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), provide protection from frequent electrical problems and help networks power ongoing, dependable operations. Although generators are more often used for this purpose than battery backups, there are a number of solutions that are available that expressly target SMB demands, including versions provided by the following:

• Tripp Lite
• APC
• Cyberpower
• Falcon UPS