The world is built on small businesses.
Start-ups are popping up all over the place and disrupting the way the world works.
From Fintech to Femtech, Global enterprises to grassroots projects, Startups are making waves.
But the cost of starting a business is rising.
The workloads faced by startup workers is hard enough, but not having the right resources available can lead to all kinds of trouble.
But Aruba Instant On is bringing enterprise WiFi to smaller businesses all around the world. They are cost-effective, small and mighty.
Why Is WiFi Important To Startup Businesses?
In a recent study by The Economist, workers who say their employer used mobile technology well “are typically more productive, creative, satisfied and loyal”.
But what does that mean?
Utilising effective WiFi strategies means that workers can move around. Workers can jump into impromptu meetings and brainstorms, wherever they want to be in the office.
Workers can go where they feel inspired. Or they can go to be next to the person they need to work with.
If a project needs a quick brainstorm, or two colleagues who sit in different offices need to collaborate, work can move to a more convenient place. Phone or Skype calls are great, but nothing beats face-to-face interaction.
This flexibility allows for better productivity and more efficient processes. Efficiency increases profitability.
Staff are happier when they can get work done with ease. Happy staff are more likely to remain loyal to your company. Lower turnover means less time and money going into training new staff.
A stable network with reliable WiFi means everybody wins.
8 Considerations For Setting Up Your Office WiFi
Like everything, the key to successful WiFi is in the planning. Before you start your WiFi upgrade, there are 8 key things you need to consider.
1. How Will The WiFi Be Used?
Working out how staff, guests and IoT devices will use your WiFi is the key to your setup.
For instance:
- Are you going to have a high volume of guests?
- Are you going to need security cameras?
- Will the office run with smart bulbs?
- Will staff be video calling over WiFi?
- Will PDQ or other payment machines connect to the WiFi?
As more and more programs move to the cloud, internet access is going to be key. Even programs like Word and Excel regularly need internet connections. Skype and video conferencing systems require a high-quality internet connection and can be demanding on bandwidth, but a jumpy or laggy connection comes across as unprofessional.
When it comes to Startups, time is money. Staff are usually wearing many different hats and juggling a lot of work. When faced with limitations or delays in technology, it can tip an office to explode.
Taking everything into consideration will help you plan out your system. It’s always best to take a staff survey and find out what they need to complete their tasks.
2. Choosing the right solution
Picking the right solution for your startup will be vital to your success. Installing WiFi systems can be expensive, so you want something that will last for a long time and scale with your business.
You’ll want to ensure you have a system that can be easily managed and maintained, as this will help keep down the cost of IT maintenance in the long run.
You’ll also want a system with no surprises – no hidden costs or extortionate licence fees.
3. Security
GDPR. The biggest reason to pay attention to security.
Your WiFi connection will have sensitive information flying through the airwaves, so you’ll need to ensure that your solution has security covered as standard.
4. Guest WiFi
While guest WiFi can be a security concern, not having it can be even worse. If a guest comes to your business and needs WiFi access, putting them on your main WiFi gives them access to your network.
Having a secure and reliable guest network can give your business a professional edge, especially if you have a custom, branded login page. As a small startup, these little details can provide brilliant first impressions.
5. Do You Need To Hire Installers?
Depending on in-house skills and confidence, it is possible to install a network yourself. Some companies make it very easy to install their solution, whilst other companies make it incredibly difficult and require an expert.
6. In-House Or External Consultant To Manage The Network?
Many businesses rely on external consultants or agencies to manage and maintain their systems. But some would much rather manage their network themselves.
For startups, avoiding necessary costs is vital. Picking a system that is easy to manage will be critical. You’ll need a system that can be monitored remotely, so if anything did go wrong, it can be spotted early and often fixed remotely too.
7. Reliability
Network outages can be costly to a startup. Any time wasted can mean lost revenue. You’ll need a reliable and robust system that can cope with high demand.
Preferably, you go with a trusted brand, rather than an unknown.
8. Scalability
Your network is going to need to scale with your company. Startups can take off at a lightning speed entirely unexpectedly. You may have staff in multiple locations. You might be hiring a lot of temps in a short space of time.
You’ll need to look for WiFi solutions which scale with your business and are quick and easy to setup.
Introducing Aruba Instant On
Aruba Instant On is a game-changer in the startup space.
These cost-effective access points bring Aruba’s enterprise-grade technology into reach of startups.
The Aruba Instant On series has a massive amount of features which cover all of the critical considerations for startup WiFi.
Built With Startups In Mind
The system is designed for Small Office/Home Office (SoHo) and startups in mind. These are excellent entry-level system which comes in a variety of styles and uses.
The Aruba Instant On WiFi solutions can support up to 25 access points and 100 active users. It can cover a single location or multiple branches.
Aruba Instant On access points support 802.11ac Wave 2 WiFi, which gives your users a fast service even with multiple mobile devices on it.
Smart Mesh Technology
They also come with Smart Mesh technology, meaning access points can go wherever there is power but you don’t have to run a wire back to a switch. Just fire up the access point and it will connect to the network.
This technology also helps protect your network. If one access point goes down, another will pick up the extra space, meaning much less disruption when moving or maintaining points.
Security
Aruba Instant On includes WPA3 and WPA2 security standards. They also come with Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) security standards to protect your open or guest connections.
In addition, Aruba falls under the HPE umbrella, which means you can be sure that these access points are up to HPE’s standards.
Simple To Deploy And Manage
Aruba have made the Instant On as easy to install as possible. The Instant On can be set up in minutes with their simple-to-use mobile app.
All you need to do is plug in your access point and follow the instructions. This makes it easy to install in-house so that you can cut down on installation costs.
Ongoing management is easy too.
Aruba Instant On access points come with a free app so that you can monitor the network from your mobile. It can also be viewed on Desktop if you prefer. You can view the dashboards remotely, meaning you can keep an eye on the network wherever you are. While it sounds scary, it can help your peace of mind when far away from the office.
Setting Up Your Guest Network
Aruba Instant On access points make it simple to set up a secured guest network.
They have a customisable splash page which you can add your branding to, which helps you set a great first impression when you have important guests or customers in your building.
You can also opt to remove the username and password aspect, meaning guests can log on with ease.
What Access Points Are In The Range?
The current range of Aruba Instant On access points contains five access points in three different categories:
- 1 x desk mount
- 3 x wall/ceiling mount
- 1 x outdoor mount
The versatility of the range means any type of small business can be covered inside and out.
Desk
The AP11D desk mount access point is perfect for businesses who can’t or don’t want to drill into the walls, such as in listed buildings or rented offices. This access point can also be attached to the wall if your need changes later down the line.
Wall/Ceiling
This range has three access points in it.
The wall and ceiling mount access points are best for covering large areas.
Outdoor
The AP17 is designed for harsh outdoor environments and is perfect if you have outdoor areas, such as patios or balconies. The access point is designed to cope with rain, snow, hail or extreme temperatures.
Roundup
Aruba Instant On is a great way to bring WiFi to your small business. It’s cost-effective, easy to install, simple to manage.
If you are looking to install or improve WiFi at your startup, browse the range or speak to our friendly team of experts.
