COVID-19 didn’t change the workplace as much as you might think.
The transition to distributed work was inevitable, and businesses were looking at making the shift long before the pandemic. The virus only moved up the timeline.
The reality is that even then, we were living in a connected world. The quality of a business’s network was foundational to its success. And the Internet of Things was gradually reshaping both the role of technology in the workplace and our relationship to it.
Businesses of all sizes use sensor technology to collect valuable data from customers and staff alike, analyzing that data for potential opportunities and improvements through cloud software. Organizations support greater collaboration and productivity through digital tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. And leadership has long considered how remote staff could securely access the systems and resources necessary to work from anywhere.
Most companies were, in other words, already digitizing the workplace, perhaps without even realizing what that meant.
And in doing so, many made an exciting discovery. Modern technology has leveled the playing field - the gulf between major corporations and smaller organizations has never been smaller, and in many cases, the fact that a start-up can adapt more effectively to market trends actually gives it a considerable edge over its larger competitors.
Of course, all this is often dependent on the strength and reliability of a business’s network. Connectivity, after all, is the lifeblood of a modern business regardless of size, and in the absence of connectivity, the business simply cannot grow.
And therein lies the problem. Small businesses (SMBs) in particular often face a long list of challenges from a network management perspective, including:
- Talent shortages. It’s no secret that the technology sector is in the throes of an ongoing skills shortage. Experienced network administrators are, like other IT professionals, in short supply and high demand.
- Network scale. Many small businesses do not initially build networks with scalability in mind. As a business's size, endpoints and resource demands grow, infrastructure often struggles to keep up. Performance suffers, and everything becomes increasingly complex, cumbersome, and unreliable.
- Management and configuration. Modern computing demands are often simply too intensive for manual management, especially with a smaller IT team. Your personnel may find themselves forced to choose between troubleshooting and security, risk management and lifecycle management.
- Security. Today’s IT personnel cannot simply focus on what’s within their organization. They must be capable of securing data wherever it resides, whether on a corporate server or an employee’s home PC.
- Bandwidth. The proliferation of connected devices, cloud software, and smartphones have created an exponential surge in demand for network resources, and your network must be capable of scaling to meet this demand.
- Vendor lock-in. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of less-than-reputable vendors that would like nothing more than to lock a business into a restrictive contract. And that, in turn, can limit the devices, software, or systems that business can use, restricting growth in the process.
- Cost. An SMB's IT budget is often comparatively limited, and network management is frequently an unexpected cost associated with digital technology. Some businesses may find themselves unable to keep pace.t
It is apparent why the type of networking tools found within your SMB can be among the most significant barriers to its growth. It’s a seemingly impossible scenario. On the one hand, you need your network to be capable of scaling, both with surges in demand and overall growth.
On the other, your IT department is simply underequipped — and likely too understaffed — to make this happen.
The good news is that you don’t need to deal with any of this on your own. Aruba is here to help you take your business to the big leagues, without breaking your budget, meaning you can ensure your infrastructure works for you, rather than against you.
Aruba’s smart, scalable, intuitive networking hardware will keep your business in the fast lane, supporting all your digital, cloud, and IoT needs. With full support for Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, Aruba Wi-Fi and multi-gigabit switching empowers you and your employees to effortlessly deploy, scale, and manage your network through a single pane of glass. More importantly, it does so while protecting your people and assets with enterprise-grade security.
In short, with Aruba, you’ll enjoy enhanced performance, better security, and simpler network management. You’ll free up your IT department to focus on matters beyond troubleshooting. And that, in turn, will allow you to support new, more varied business initiatives and ultimately set your business up for growth and success.
Networking technology shouldn’t be complicated - it should enable business growth rather than restrict it, and entrepreneurs should be able to focus on driving their passion rather than struggling with their network. Find out more here.
