More Effective for Business: Wireless vs Wired

Businesses’ data needs are rapidly changing. Today, data security is a pressing issue. Unfortunately, the amount of dangerous threats are expanding as well and it is important to ensure that any technology moves you make don’t end up putting your business in harm’s way. This month, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of wiring up your computer network. 

The Wired Connection

The Pros

The pros of a wired network connection are mostly in the additional speed and reliability you see from hooking wires up. IT administrators have more control over which devices can connect to a network which presents opportunities to maximize your ability to maintain security.

Another benefit of a wired connection is that they are typically faster than wireless networks. The additional speed that your organization could see is improved further if your business has walls, floors, ceiling, and other obstructions that would typically cause more interference with wireless connections.

The Cons

One major problem wired networks have is that they don’t always allow for the type of cooperative working relationships that strong and powerful wireless networks deliver. By having all computing resources wired to network switches, intra-office collaboration suffers. 

The main problem with a wired strategy is that before you can take advantage of the security benefits and the speed, you’ll have to successfully connect everything. Any person that has tried to wire a connection across a busy thoroughfare knows that running cable and hiding wires is a major pain in the neck. 

The Wireless Connection

The Pros

Obviously, the major benefit of having a strong wireless network anywhere is that devices that don’t offer the option to be wired into the network, like smartphones, tablets, and many laptops, are able to be incorporated by users. With a strong wireless network, a business can see better collaboration, enhanced productivity, and deliver their customers better products. 

Another benefit is the additional productivity your business sees because of having a wireless network. Strategies like a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy can leverage your employee’s personal devices into gains in communication, collaboration, and productivity. Being able to protect your network from outside threats dictates that you have a strategy in place to do so.

The Cons

In many cases speed is cut in half. While Wi-Fi networks can still produce strong speeds, it’s not quite as fast as having a hard-wired connection. Over time the disparity will become noticeable, and on the surface, it will cost your business in productivity or even revenue loss.

Additionally, wireless connections are more vulnerable than wired ones. It’s easier for unauthorized individuals to get onto the network by hijacking the signal or gaining access to an unprotected network.

A wireless network can be one of your business’ greatest tools. For more information about networking your office, call the IT professionals at Washington Works today at 301-571-5040.