What is dedicated internet access?

A business owner's guide to bandwidth ROI

For many internet users, the types of internet connections available are limited, confusing and explained in technical jargon. The best option is one that aligns your business needs and demands with what’s available. Whether the connection is shared or dedicated is often not considered when choosing a home internet service, yet it’s critical to the performance of your business applications. Many home users are satisfied with “best effort,” shared internet where performance can be impacted when multiple customers are trying to access the internet at the same time.

Shared Internet access allows customers to get high speeds at a low price. In some cases, shared access can present performance problems with slowdowns during peak usage periods. However, most businesses can’t afford slow internet or connectivity issues. Under-performing internet can lead to poor user experience, missed deadlines and worse.

This is where dedicated internet access comes in. With dedicated access, a set amount of bandwidth is available for your business, and is not shared with other customers. You are provided specific performance metrics that cover, for example, high availability and low latency.

Common internet access types

Shared internet access— More than one business is using the same connection. It is usually delivered as:

DSL (digital subscriber line): This is internet over existing telephone lines. It’s widely available, distance sensitive and affords low speeds.
Business-class cable: This is internet over coaxial or a hybrid fiber/cable network. It’s widely available, reliable and provides higher speeds than DSL.
Fiber-based internet: This is internet over gigabit passive optical networks (GPON). With it, a single fiber from the service provider serves multiple customers. It is affordable and fast, offering higher speeds than cable and DSL. Learn more about the differences between fiber and cable internet.

Dedicated internet access— This is a connection, delivered via Ethernet or private-line circuits, that isn’t shared with other customers. While it typically comes at premium prices, it provides business-grade features and higher speeds than many shared-access alternatives. Performance is backed by robust SLAs (service level agreements).

Internet dedicated access: Key considerations

Businesses in need of high-performing internet often choose dedicated internet access. The consistent, high-quality performance of dedicated connections delivers fast upload and download speeds, as well as quality-of-service (QoS) options. It gives your key business applications and network traffic the priority they need.

For some businesses, the higher recurring costs associated with this type of connection may not be feasible. However, businesses that choose dedicated internet access frequently find that costs are balanced by peace of mind, improved collaboration and performance SLAs. These benefits help keep them ahead of the competition.

When evaluating whether the return is justified, consider these factors:

How variable are your bandwidth needs?

If you have huge spikes and lulls in traffic, you’re likely paying for a lot of unused bandwidth. Scalable, bandwidth-on-demand models offered with dedicated internet access will help you solve this problem. With your own dedicated connection, you can scale up as needed to accommodate, for example, a new product release or an event. Then you can dial back.

Are strong service-level agreements (SLAs) important to your business?

Some businesses require specific service levels that shared access models can’t consistently provide. Dedicated Internet comes with stringent SLAs and QoS options.

Do you need a WAN (wide area network) that securely supports your apps and services on a single platform?

If so, look for fiber-optic connections that deliver lightning-fast speeds and support large pools of mobile or remote users on multiple devices. The carrier that offers all-fiber connections also should provide a range of Ethernet options to enable business continuity, a variety of speeds and flexible configurations. You should be able to build your preferred network for running IP- and non-IP-based services at your discretion, easily transport data in several formats, and connect Ethernet or private IP circuits to a single access point.

If your answers to the questions above suggest that dedicated internet access represents a strong value proposition for your business, look for a provider that is well known for high-quality and high-speed connections. Ask about options that will help deliver dedicated bandwidth while simplifying switching providers. You should be offered a choice of plans that can be tailored to your specific requirements for security, scalability, simplicity and reliability.

How Verizon can help

Verizon provides reliable, secure connectivity based on business application requirements. Features of Verizon Dedicated Internet Access include QoS, static IP addresses, domain-name services, and Dynamic Network Manager. This tool lets users view and manage important aspects of their circuit for greater visibility and control. Dedicated connections are complemented by competitive pricing, broad coverage and SLAs that are among the most rigorous in the industry.

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