Business broadband, DIA, or mobile?

The race for a more agile WAN is on. Business applications continue their move to the cloud. Companies are turning to SD-WAN to gain flexibility and centralize the management of their connectivity. And while some global enterprises still opt for a hybrid WAN approach – combining their traditional MPLS with internet transport – a good bunch is choosing to fully rely on internet-based WANs for their global infrastructure. 

But even within the internet world, there are choices to be made. Shall I go for business broadband or a dedicated line? Would mobile be good enough for my sites?

Of course, we all wish for a magic bullet that combines 100% uptime, maximum speeds, and the lowest cost; but that’s not how things work. However, understanding your needs will prevent you from spending more money, time, and resources than necessary. So, what do you need to know?

Five considerations for choosing your access technology

1. What are you connecting?

For your business’ internet needs, a good place to start is your business line and your applications’ criticality. Are you connecting your users to typical office applications, or are we talking about time-critical applications where each second makes a difference?

If your business applications are latency-sensitive, looking at Private Connectivity and low-latency alternatives is best. This is typically the case for trading companies, financial institutions, or when real-time applications are at the heart of the business. Know it’s also possible to split your traffic between private and public internet (DIA or business broadband), depending on application and use case.

2. Lead time and availability

Business Broadband and Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) are quite popular among enterprises. Both are widely available, but you cannot assume they always are, especially in remote and suburban locations.

Always make sure the technology you require is available at your site locations, and decide how long you are willing to wait for the connection to be ready. Deployment times will vary by country or, even, by municipalities within a country. Consider that paperwork (i.e. building permits, site surveys) and construction work might be required when needing to lay new fiber.

3. How big is your estate?

The range of users and devices within a business significantly shapes the bandwidth and technology requirements when choosing your type of internet access, whether that is Business Broadband, DIA, or Mobile. Modern companies are a blend of hybrid workers (Sally, from sales), office staff (Robert, from HR), and manual operations (Pamela, from Logistics). These hybrid work setups require robust yet flexible connectivity for seamless collaboration and communication across various locations – how else will Pamela inform Sally we are low on stock?

In contrast, an environment dominated by manual labor – think manufacturing – might prioritize reliability and consistent access to operational systems and machinery over high-speed connectivity for a multitude of devices.

Understanding these distinct user and operational needs is fundamental in determining the optimal internet solution for your business’ efficiency and productivity.

4. SLAs & support

The Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and support you choose for your internet service will ensure your uptime and connectivity are as reliable as your morning coffee.

So, when you’re in the process of evaluating internet providers, don’t forget to look into their SLAs. Broadband Internet Access (BIA) vendors often operate on a best-effort SLA, emphasizing cost-effectiveness but potentially compromising uptime. Often, it also comes without 24×7 support – only offering a consumer-grade customer support experience – and only in the local language. In contrast, DIA and Private Connectivity typically offer more robust service levels with guaranteed uptime and dedicated 24×7 support, though specifics can vary based on country regulations and individual vendor offerings.

Understanding these SLAs and support structures helps align your internet choices with your operations and business continuity needs.

5. Set your security levels

We must, of course, talk about security, the elephant in every (board)room.

SD-WAN and SASE offer security capabilities at the edge, which are sufficient for most applications and businesses. Other businesses, however, might require a much higher security level, especially when dealing with payments, transactions, or personal data, such as information between patients and health providers. For these cases, DIA can offer a more secure connection than shared internet, since the bandwidth is dedicated to one specific business, or private point-to-point connectivity for an even more secure alternative.

No such thing as one-WAN fits all

Even within the same business, the requirements and needed technologies may differ per site (because of location, user profile, number of users to connect, etc.). The good news is that you have options to choose from. Mixing and matching internet alternatives is not unusual – nowadays, it is the norm. Better yet, you don’t need to do this alone.

GNX, your partner for global connectivity

GNX offers comprehensive, tailor-made solutions and expert guidance to help businesses navigate the complex world of global connectivity.

And that’s not all. With our platform, GNX+, you’ll gain access to our network of thousands of ISPs to help you shop, source, and compare different options yourself. Just like booking an airline ticket or a hotel room online, GNX+ shows you all available services, with pricing, availability, SLAs, lead times, etc. – with full transparency right at your fingertips.

But wait. It gets better. Once onboard, GNX+ provides a clear view of your entire network setup, including management and support functionalities, and the ability to scale and modify services as your requirements change. It’s everything you wanted from a connectivity platform. And more.