Cisco Blog > Small Business
Wireless VLANs can boost network security and protect business assets by segmenting traffic
Small business networks don’t have to be basic. In fact, they should apply some advanced networking technologies to their networks to get the same benefits as large enterprises, such as virtual LANs (VLANs). Just like larger companies, smaller businesses can use VLANs to bolster security, increase usability, and improve network performance. And with a wireless VLAN, you can segment wireless traffic on your network into groups that keep certain types of traffic separate from the rest of the traffic on your network.
A LAN is defined as all the devices that connect to each other in the same broadcast domain, whether that’s a wired or a wireless network. A VLAN uses software to create a virtual network of devices that are assigned to a broadcast domain; a wireless VLAN is like a separate, mini network within your wireless LAN. You can set up one or more wireless VLANs to support different groups of users, depending on their needs and the risks inherent to your company.
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Tags: guest access, networking, small_business, virtual_LANs, VLANs, wireless_networking
Q: I have a business with 150 employees and am looking into upgrading some of my IT hardware. When evaluating products, the availability of a service contract is sometimes mentioned. If the hardware I’m purchasing already has a warranty, why would I need a service contract? Aren’t they the same thing?
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Tags: service contract, service plan, small_business, warranty, warranty small_business
Regularly checking your WLAN for vulnerabilities will help keep your network safe
Network security is a never-ending task; it requires ongoing vigilance. Securing your wireless network can be particularly tricky because unauthorized users can quietly sneak onto your network, unseen and possibly undetected. To keep your WLAN secure, it’s important to stay on top of new wireless vulnerabilities. By regularly performing a vulnerability assessment on your wireless network, you can identify and close any security holes before a hacker can slip through them.
With a WLAN vulnerability assessment, you’re figuring out what your wireless network looks like to the outside world on the Internet. Is there an easy way in to your network? Can unauthorized devices attach themselves to your network? A WLAN vulnerability assessment can answer these questions—and more.
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Tags: small_business, wireless networking, wireless security, WLAN security
An advanced wireless access point can bolster wireless security and improve network access
Most people have come to expect wireless network access almost everywhere they go, especially when they are at work or elsewhere. After all, if they can check their email on their smartphones from Starbucks, why shouldn’t they be able to do the same in a conference room at the office? Luckily, adding wireless access to your existing network isn’t difficult—but you must make some choices. You can opt for a basic wireless access point (WAP) for wireless network connectivity. Or, you can choose a more advanced small-business wireless router or WAP that adds sophisticated capabilities to your wireless network.
At their most basic, WAPs simply connect wireless devices to your local network through a standard wireless signal such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. A WAP connects to your router, which connects users’ devices (including smartphones, tablets, and laptops) to the network and the Internet. But WAPs can also bolster your network security, provide users with better network access throughout your building, and give you additional installation flexibility.
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Tags: networking, small_business, WAP, wireless_access_points, wireless_networking
Has your company outgrown its network? Are you anticipating business growth? Or are you simply looking to upgrade your infrastructure? If so, the following tips can help ensure that you build the right network.
The first step toward building the right network involves forecasting how your business will grow. You should consider whether there will be employee growth and brainstorm what networking infrastructure you will need to meet your company goals. You should also investigate which technologies are becoming crucial to business (such as cloud computing). By choosing the right solutions the first time, you minimize the decisions that need to be remade in the future. Additionally, you prevent your network from breaking down as more users seek access, reducing support and upgrade costs.
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Tags: building network, network, right network, small business
Support contracts provide the ultimate peace of mind and help protect your technology investment
Running a small business without a support contract is like performing a high-wire act without a net. If you don’t have the expertise in-house to restore your failed network pronto, you could fall flat on your face with your customers. That’s why you need to be able to call on a team trained to keep your network running smoothly.
A service plan is much more than warranty. Your service contract goes above and beyond a warranty by entitling you to a variety of expert technical assistance resources and online tools to help you quickly solve problems. Certified engineers can provide advanced configuration and deployment support via telephone or online chat—or both—to get your business up and running quickly. Contracts also include ongoing upgrades so you always have the latest and most reliable software versions available.
Here are four ways to get the most out of your service contract:
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Tags: service contract, service plan, Small Business Support Service, small_business
Reduce the risk of compromised company data by securing users’ smartphones
Once upon a time, a mobile phone was just a phone—you made and received calls on it, and that’s all. It posed zero risk to the security of your network or your business. Now, a mobile phone is so much more than just a phone. It’s a personal assistant, a portable game player, a digital camera, and most importantly, a full-fledged computer—and these smartphones definitely pose a security risk. Just like a laptop, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices can connect to your network, which means they could compromise your company’s data or leave your network vulnerable to attack from a hacker. You wouldn’t leave employees’ laptops unsecured, so why would you take chances with their mobile devices?
For the most part, the same security measures you ascribe to the computers on your network in the office should also be applied to mobile devices that have access to your LAN. Just like desktop PCs and laptops, all mobile devices need software protection to guard against malware and other attacks. Smartphones and tablets should have a firewall as well as antispam and antivirus software installed, such as the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Solution and Norton Smartphone Security offering.
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Tags: malware, mobile_devices, security, small_business
Q: My company has been trying to figure out how we can do better at connecting our remote users to our main site, as well as making our other location seem like it’s right next door. Any advice?
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Tags: ask cisco, Cisco Small Business, communications, firewalls, remote, remote users, routers, small_business, switches, unified communications, video, Voice
We saw what happened when William Wallace upgraded to the Right Network, but how about Paul Revere? Equipped with a Cisco Cius tablet and a reliable wireless connection, Paul can quickly communicate the impending British invasion to fellow Patriots. There’s no need for a midnight ride when you’ve got the Right Network.
Watch the video!
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Tags: Cisco, Cius, mid-market, midnight ride, networking, patriots, Paul Revere, right network, small business, wireless
Before you take the leap into unified communications, make sure your top choice will meet business and users’ needs
Despite its inception as enterprise technology, unified communications (UC)—with its convergence of voice, video, and data communications on a single IP-based network—offers small businesses several benefits. Users can easily make a call, send an email or instant message, or launch a voice or video conference through a single interface on their computers. In addition, UC can help- keep mobile workers more closely connected to the rest of your employees and enable better collaboration among everyone in your company.
Companies are recognizing these benefits and turning to UC more and more. In fact, according to research firm AMI-Partners, small to medium-size businesses in the U.S. are expected to double their spending on UC solutions by 2015.
If you’re among the many small businesses planning to add UC to your network, you may be shopping around for a solution right now. Before you decide, you’ll want to take these five considerations into account:
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Tags: converged_networks, small_business, UC, unified_communications
Plug PoE devices into your network for easy, anywhere electrical power
Have you ever needed to plug in a new phone, but you were all out of electrical outlets? Or maybe you’ve tried to install a wireless access point close to the ceiling, but no outlets were nearby. When you first start building your small business network, powering up hardware is the least of your worries. But after you’ve laid some cables and maxed out even your power strips, you may find outlets a precious commodity. Power over Ethernet (PoE) is the easy way to get around wiring when you need electricity for new devices. PoE provides a way to deliver power over your network to a variety of network-attached devices.
PoE allows electrical power to pass over standard Ethernet cables along with data traffic. Hardware equipped with PoE can be plugged directly into the network for a power source—no wall socket necessary. There’s a wide range of these network-attached devices that provide PoE support, including switches, wireless access points (WAPs), IP phones, video cameras, point-of-sale devices, and more.
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Tags: networking, PoE+, Power_over_Ethernet, small_business
Many small businesses opt for wireless networks; they provide the connection you need and are easier and less expensive to set up than a wired network. But that convenience can cost your company in compromised security and lost data if the network isn’t appropriately encrypted.small_business, wireless, wireless network, WLAN, security
Although most wireless LAN (WLAN) equipment comes with many settings preconfigured, encryption isn’t one of them. In this latest installment of Mythbusters, we explain why the encryption protocol you choose—Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)—makes a difference.
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Tags: security, small_business, wireless, wireless network, wlan
A password manager can encourage users to adopt unbreakable passwords
As users, we know that we should use complex, secure passwords that aren’t easily guessed words from the dictionary like ”admin” or personal dates to protect our systems. Nonsensical words and phrases that substitute digits and symbols for letters, such as ”45Monk3y t1m3 fun!,” are the most secure. But we also know how difficult it can be to create several unique, strong passwords—and even harder to remember them all.
To encourage employees to create passwords that are hard to crack but easily remembered and used, you can provide them with a password management system. Password management is both a standard company-wide policy for developing passwords, and, for many companies, a password manager application you add to your security arsenal as part of your small business security policy.
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Tags: passwords, password_management, security, small_business
As a small business owner, there’s no end to the questions you need to address—and you may not have the answers for all of them. Where technology is concerned, we can help. Ask Cisco is a new series in which we answer a question from small business owners like yourself about networking-related issues that have you stumped.
As always, we’d love to hear from you about the new series. You can post your thoughts in the comments section below.
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In this final installment of our four-part customer testimonial, we take a look at Valley Sleep Center’s relationship with Invision Technology Solutions. The Cisco certified partner took the time to educate Valley Sleep Center employees about the latest technological innovations while also understanding their needs to build the right network. To further optimize the buying experience, the partner helped Valley Sleep Center utilize advantageous Cisco financing options. As a result, the company was able to upgrade affordably. We hope you enjoyed this customer case study. What can the right network do for your business?
Part One of the Valley Sleep Center
Part Two of the Valley Sleep Center
Part Three of the Valley Sleep Center
Watch Part Four>>
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Tags: Cisco, Cisco certified partner, Cisco financing, Cisco Partner, Invision Technology Solutions, right network, sleep clinic, solution, Valley Sleep Center, voice over IP, voip
