Business Internet Providers: Decoding the Best Internet Features for Businesses

Best-in-class Internet can help your small business succeed in more ways than one. By streamlining internal operations, offering customers convenient WiFi access, and more, business Internet connections can be a huge benefit for your brand.

But that’s all dependent on you choosing the right Internet service provider for businesses. It can be tough to know which Internet partner is right for your brand, especially since there are many managed Internet offerings to pick from. Today, let’s take a look at what you should look for in a small business Internet service provider.

Do You Need an Internet Provider for Businesses?

When it comes to business Internet, you have two options: take care of everything yourself or outsource that work to a trusted third party. The latter option – called managed Internet service – is a great choice for brands that want to focus more on their primary business models and operations.

When you work with an Internet service provider for business, you trust them to give you everything your brand needs for smooth, reliable Internet activities, like:

• A WiFi network and equipment, like modems
• Internet security monitoring
• IT staff for initial setup and troubleshooting
• And much more

Simply put, it’s often wiser to work with a dedicated business Internet provider so you can prioritize your target customers. But putting such an important operation in the hands of someone else means you need to be 100% sure you’re partnering with the right company.

What to Look for in a Small Business Internet Service Provider

Fortunately, you can get the ideal Internet service from a reputable provider by looking for different features, factors, and service offerings. Here’s a breakdown.

Fast Speeds

Naturally, you'll want lightning-fast Internet speeds for your employees and your customers or patrons. But how fast is fast enough? That depends on how many people will likely be using your business Internet network at once.

On average, here are the Internet speeds (in megabits per second or Mbps) you should target for different network usage levels:

• 100 Mbps for 10 or fewer users
• 300-500 Mbps for up to 25 users
• 1 gig or 1,000 Mbps for more than 25 users at once

The faster your Internet, the greater the number of people who can use it simultaneously while downloading, uploading, and streaming media. To achieve those speeds, you’ll want to make sure your business Internet network is the right type.

Fiber optic Internet is the ideal Internet type overall for its stability, symmetrical upload speeds and download speeds, and maximum speed potential. Rather than transmitting data with electrical signals traveling through coaxial copper cables, fiber Internet uses light pulses flowing down flexible glass wires that are buried underground. Since the cables are insulated from extreme weather events, fiber Internet is more reliable than alternatives.

Bottom line: make sure your business Internet provider can provide your enterprise with fast enough speeds, preferably through a dedicated fiber Internet plan.

Stellar Customer Service

Naturally, you’ll also want your Internet service provider to provide you with top-notch customer service. Sooner or later, you’ll have a troubleshooting problem you need to work through. Things will go more smoothly if the customer service team is responsive, polite, and knowledgeable.

Analytics Tools

The best business Internet providers offer in-depth analytics tools for their clients. Armed with these tools, you can gather meaningful data about your network’s users, like its customers, to determine things like:

• How much usage your site is seeing
• Number of visitors
• And so on

All of that data can be funneled into your marketing or business optimization efforts, plus lend you insights about whether you need to expand your Internet offerings in the near future.

Up-to-Date Cybersecurity

It's more important than ever to make sure your business's network is protected from digital threats like malware and ransomware. When you work with a reputable business Internet provider, they’ll handle all your cybersecurity needs, like monitoring, updating your network firewalls and antivirus software, and responding to digital intrusions.

This is a particularly important thing to look for in a business ISP if you regularly collect and store your customers’ data. Certain regulations can impose heavy fines and penalties on businesses that don’t take care to safeguard that data, so be sure to research an Internet service provider’s security offerings and practices before working with them.

Scalability

You should also look for scalability in a business ISP. As your business grows, you may need to expand your Internet resources by offering faster WiFi to customers, adding more POS terminals or employee computers to your network, or something else entirely.

In these cases and more, scalability is an invaluable asset. If your business Internet service provider can quickly grant your business more bandwidth, supply better equipment, and deliver other resources, they’ll make it easier to pursue higher business targets and accommodate new customers visiting your brand for the first time. No business wants to have to turn away potential customers because its Internet isn’t up to the task, after all.

Other Features to Look for in an Internet Provider for Business

In addition to the things above, your business might benefit from an Internet provider that offers other features or services. Some examples include:

• WiFi hotspots for customers
• Bundled phone and TV service
• Business email accounts

Regardless of what exactly your business needs, ask plenty of questions and do extensive research so you know exactly what a business ISP can bring to the table.

Conclusion

The right Internet service provider for your business will be cost-effective, comprehensive, and reputable. That's why Shentel Business is the ideal option for your brand, whether you're just starting out or are looking to scale up your operations in the near future.

With custom Internet solutions, voice services, analytics tools, and much more, we’re well-equipped to provide your business with every Internet service it needs from day one. Request a consultation to learn more about how we can assist your business through quality fiber Internet.