Three Connectivity Best Practices to Drive Small Business Success

Connectivity has never been more important for small business success. Over the last few years, small business owners have had to make significant changes for several reasons, including the pandemic, remote work, inflation and supply chain disruptions, all of which directly impact connectivity needs. And while business technology is not one-size-fits-all, understanding the different connectivity products and services that are out there can help business owners achieve their desired outcomes. 

For small businesses looking to drive business success, Comcast Business has put together the following best practices and solutions as a starting point for small businesses looking to improve their connectivity:

1 | Integrating the Right Infrastructure 
Fast and reliable Internet is one of the main components of business infrastructure, especially now, as businesses increasingly communicate and serve customers digitally. Many organizations are comfortable managing their own network, but they can still benefit from outside help managing connectivity. Comcast Business delivers flexible ways to co-manage or fully manage business solutions.

Depending on the size and daily tasks required of the small business, an Internet speed upgrade may be worth considering. Comcast Business high-speed business Internet is adjustable to small business needs, with fast and flexible installation, customer support and various package options to ensure a speedy connection.

WiFi is not only an important part of business infrastructure, it can also be a great tool to enhance and personalize marketing efforts by gaining customer insights. A dynamic WiFi landing page that includes useful information – such as business hours, contact information, links to social channels and upcoming promotions – can provide an in-depth understanding of customer behavior, helping to draw customers back for repeat visits and streamline marketing efforts. 

2 | Ensuring Network Bandwidth and Flexibility
As small businesses evolve and expand over time with more employee devices and files being transferred, it is crucial to choose an Internet provider that can provide enough bandwidth and is flexible to ever-changing needs. Not only does Comcast Business deliver Gig-Speed Internet – faster speeds to more devices than ever before – we have worked with businesses of all sizes, from small companies to large enterprises, to provide flexibility and reliability that can quickly respond to increased usage and any other business needs.

Whether due to natural disasters, power outages or cyber threats, small businesses must also be prepared for whatever is thrown their way. Therefore, it is important for small businesses to have the proper solutions in place to stay connected. Cloud-based services can provide flexibility and ease to daily work life. These services are scalable as businesses grow, offer access to data anywhere and everywhere, and increase collaboration. Comcast Business Connection Pro is one example of a solution that can enable businesses, teams and customers to stay connected – even with unexpected network disruptions. 

3 | Preventing Cyberattacks, Worry Free 
Small businesses may not have the cybersecurity resources of larger companies, which means they are often an easy target and can be exposed to even more threats. Safeguarding the network is essential, especially with the increased vulnerability to cyberattacks.

To start, business owners can conduct training on a regular basis, show employees how a cyber breach at the company could follow them home, and build awareness around real cybersecurity threats as they occur. Additionally, while often overlooked, regular system backups – at least once a week is highly recommended by small business cybersecurity experts – prevent a total loss of information during a breach, and measures such as firewalls, passwords and end-point protection are all great ways to protect a business. 

Solutions such as Comcast Business SecurityEdge can provide a critical layer of protection for all devices on a network. This powerful solution works seamlessly to block threats like malware, ransomware, phishing and botnet attacks, while securing connected devices and preventing users from accessing compromised websites. Businesses can also see network threats in real-time, helping to minimize the threat and downtime of an attack. 

Over the past few years, technology has proven to be even more essential for small businesses to thrive. Technology solutions that ensure reliable connectivity are an investment well-spent for small businesses and offer peace of mind so companies can focus less on network issues and more time on their business. It is important to take the time to find technology solutions that truly match business needs as navigating success in this unprecedented environment requires updated technology. For businesses that may not know where to start, working with an external partner, like Comcast Business, is a great first step that can accelerate deployment time and make it easier to incorporate best practices and avoid integration pitfalls.