Why fiber internet is great for your small business

Small businesses might be smaller than you think. In fact, 89% of U.S. small businesses have fewer than 19 employees. While big businesses make headlines, small businesses can play a huge role in local economies all over the country. And they need a business internet solution that works as hard as they do. But what is the right option?

Thanks to ultra-fast speed and strong reliability, fiber internet provides small businesses with the power they need to stay connected with customers, process sales and run their operations. Here's how it can help deliver results for your business.

Meet your need for speed

Small businesses often have big data requirements. Whether you're transferring massive files or leveraging bandwidth-hungry cloud-based applications, you need a small business internet solution that can offer ultra-fast upload and download speeds.

Fiber internet offers speeds of up to several gigabits per second. A symmetrical connection means that the upload and download speeds are the same, as opposed to options that offer fast download speeds but slower upload speeds. With fast, symmetrical bandwidth, you don't have to worry as much about data bottlenecks when transferring large files back and forth, which can help reduce wasted time in your workflows. Symmetrical speeds may also help your business leverage real-time applications—such as video conferencing, voice, streaming or emerging artificial intelligence-based programs—which can enhance the user experience.

Reliability you can count on

When time is money, every second your internet is down can impact productivity. Your business relies on internet connectivity to process sales, serve customers and empower employees to be productive. Reliability is just as important as speed when evaluating your small business internet options.

Fiber internet can offer strong network reliability, which can help provide connectivity when you need it most. A reliable connection can help you reduce the risk of unexpected downtime that might keep you from taking payments, accessing your cloud-based software or holding important virtual meetings.

Help protect your data

Small businesses are often targeted by cybercriminals with attacks like ransomware. Compared to big businesses with dedicated security teams, small businesses have fewer resources at the ready to help defend their network, making them easier prey.

A later generation fiber internet router with strong built-in security controls makes it simple to create password-protected access to the network so that your employees or authorized users can connect to your network while cybercriminals can be kept at bay. If your business offers Wi-Fi access to customers, you can easily create a separate guest Wi-Fi network so that they can connect to the internet without ever accessing your internal business systems.

Save money and drive ROI

Every dollar matters. When comparing your small business internet options, you may need to consider not only what you spend on connectivity but also the value you get for your money.

The monthly cost for fiber internet can be competitive with other business internet options, allowing you to keep your small business internet costs low. In addition to superior speeds, some providers offer unlimited data so that you can use even high-bandwidth applications without throttled connectivity. Fiber internet delivers the long-term value you need to achieve a higher return on investment (ROI) compared to other business internet solutions.

Prepare for anything

Your small business internet connection must support both today's needs and tomorrow's growth. With the right internet connectivity solution, you can have confidence in scaling operations, exploring new connectivity use cases and adopting new technologies so that you can stay competitive.

Fiber internet can easily scale alongside your business as you hire more staff, attract more customers, add new locations or expand your use of technology. With speeds up to multi-gigabits per second and strong reliability, fiber internet can also help you leverage innovative technologies such as cloud computing, video conferencing, automation, AI and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Improve collaboration and remote work

Many small businesses now rely on collaboration and remote work tools to connect with employees and clients across the country. To manage a distributed workforce and clientele, you need an internet connectivity solution that can help ensure seamless communication, team collaboration and access to the tools and data required for employees to do their best work.

Fiber internet makes it simple to leverage modern cloud-based software solutions. With these applications, you can make your data and business software accessible to employees wherever there is fast, reliable internet access. By giving on-site employees the speed and reliability they need to do their best work with these applications, you can enable them to more easily collaborate with remote colleagues and clients when uploading files, participating in virtual meetings or collaborating on documents in real time.

What to look for in a fiber internet provider

Not all providers are created equal. When choosing your internet provider, here are a few things to look for to ensure you get the best value and service:

• Speed. Fiber networks come in a variety of speeds, ranging from 200 Mbps up to several gigabits per second. Make sure you select one that offers ample bandwidth and unlimited data for the applications you use day to day, along with anticipated high-bandwidth use cases such as video, cloud and AI.
• Symmetrical speed. Some providers offer high download speeds but slow upload speeds. Choose a provider that offers equal (or close to equal) download and upload speeds to power applications that share data back and forth in real time, like video conferencing.
• Reliability. Look for providers that offer reliable internet so you can stay productive and keep the sales flowing.
• Security. Choose a provider that offers a late-generation router with strong built-in security controls so that you can help protect your network from day one. Depending on your business and the types of data you work with, consider providers that offer add-on security services to help further secure your network without the cost of hiring an external security provider.