There are plenty of decision you need to make when setting up your computer network for your business. There’s the modem, the router, the firewall and even accessories such as printers and scanners. That’s before you even move onto hardware such as laptops and desktops. But one, often overlooked, aspect of your computer network is your connection. It’s a vital addition to your computer network that helps your computers access online network. Read on to discover the differences between wireless and wired connections.
The wired connection
The wired connection is usually where you have ethernet cables connecting your computers to the network, allowing rapid data transfer. To set this up, you’ll need connectors to physically transfer the data.
Pros
The main advantage is that you tend to get additional speed and reliability from connecting wires. Alongside this, you also get to control exactly which machines are allowed to connect to your network. 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.
Cons
One problem is that a wired network is messier. Unless it’s set up pristinely then you could end up with cables everywhere. It’s also more difficult to promote collaborative work from different locations if everything hinges on being physically connected to the network.
Wireless connection
A wireless network uses wireless connections between network nodes to enable machines to connect without using cables. If you are looking for how can you boost your cell phone signal, you can consider antenna to boost cell signal.
Pros
Collaboration is improved significantly in a wireless network. Devices such as phones and laptops can connect easily to the network, boosting productivity. To add to this, employees will be able to bring personal devices into work and still connect to the network. As a result they’ll be more familiar with their equipment which will also boost productivity.
Cons
Your network will most likely be slower. 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. Furthermore, wireless connections are also more vulnerable: It’s easier for unauthorized individuals to get onto the network by hijacking the signal or gaining access to an unprotected network.
There are many pros and cons to both a wireless and a wired network. Ultimately, it’ll depend on the dynamics in your business and what you need from your network – wired will be quicker and secure, while wireless will be more collaborative.
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