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Small Business and The Data Network.

The Network is important to businesses of all sizes.  In the not-too-distant past, the idea of a computer network, especially for a small business, was a novelty and while it would be nice, it was largely unnecessary.  Many transactions were done on paper.  Phones, and not email, was the primary way many businesses communicated with their customers. 

Email, online banking, credit card terminals and transactions, have all become critical for most every profession.  Even the smallest business relies on its network.  If you have a waiting room, customer WiFi may be even a critical component of keeping your customers coming back.  Yet, many small and medium-sized businesses don't take the network seriously until it isn't working or they have a compliance issue to deal with.  The stock cable modem router and an AP and switch from your local electronics store will do, right?

The truth of the matter is this approach is costing the business owner too much time and leaving them without certainty as to whether it's setup correctly or in a secure fashion.  The small business owner has plenty to do without worrying about making sure their customer WiFi isn't a security risk for the rest of their business.
Stop spending so much time tinkering with your business technology!  Focus on what you are in business to do.
A business, at any size, needs to be doing more than just "getting online."  Intrusion Prevention, Malware filtering, segmenting the business from their customer WiFi, all need to be considered.  These tools of the enterprise are accessible to anyone who knows where to look.  

So where do you look?  I  highly recommend that any business owner find a reputable company that can advise and design a solution that can give them the peace of mind they need.  Whether you are a realtor,  a tax accountant, or maybe a dentist, you are a professional at what you do.  You wouldn't recommend that your friends and family just go ahead and perform their own root canal until their business is a little bigger.  Find a professional for your network.  It will cost you a little more than the DIY approach, but it can bring the support system you need to your network. 

Just because you are going with a professional doesn't mean you need the latest enterprise solution either.  For a switch, firewall, and a couple APs, along with annual licensing you could easily spend upwards of $10k, but you don't have to.  There are a lot of options that are more suited to smaller businesses.  I personally like Cisco Meraki or Ubiquiti's Unifi.  There are trade-offs for both, but either solution can offer you a decent solution that includes wireless, VLANs to segment, firewalling, and IPS.  Both can include an easy to use video surveillance system too. 

Many local networking specialists can offer you a managed service too.  This means you can even structure your network as an operational (opex) expenditure instead of a capital (capex) expenditure and you get a built-in support contract with a service level agreement.  This is a great option of you want to go the full "hands-off' approach to your network. 

You should be a professional at your area of expertise, focus on bettering your business.  And you should find a professional for your network too. 

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