Small Business Computer System Setup 101

Good computer network design is vital for every business. Computers keep everything running smoothly, from the smallest home-based businesses to the largest corporations. If you’re starting a new business or expanding your current one, you may need an information technology expert to help you lay out the ideal computer network design for everything you need in an efficient office space.

Top Considerations When Choosing a Computer Network Design and Systems

A small business computer system setup will typically include:

• Computer hardware – This includes any purchased or installed hardware. Hardware includes CPUs, RAM, hard drives, optical drives, and other devices.
• Software – The software used on the computer system should be compatible with the operating system being used on it. This is essential because software can be expensive, and incompatible programs can cause problems when trying to run them on different systems.
• Operating system – Many different operating systems are available at home or in a workplace environment. When choosing an operating system for your small business computer system setup, consider what type of programs will often be used by employees.
• Infrastructure – These are the physical elements that comprise the network: hardware such as servers, switches, routers, and cabling, including fiber optic cable.
• Topology – The physical layout of devices on the network; how they are connected.
• Routing – How packets travel through a network from source to destination; data packets are forwarded from one device to another across a series of interconnected networks or subnetworks.
• Wireless connectivity – This includes how wireless devices connect and access points (AP) within a wireless local area network (WLAN).
• Network security – Measures taken to protect against unauthorized access to confidential information or attacks on data integrity (e.g., viruses) or availability (e.g., denial-of-service attacks).

The computer network design process may be formal or informal and completed by one person or a team with varying experience levels. For example, suppose you’re a small business with insufficient talent resources. You may hire the services of a local managed IT team like SkyViewTek to help you define network requirements, select appropriate technologies and equipment, install equipment, and test the network to verify that it meets requirements, and document the design for future reference. Visit their website at https://www.skyviewtek.com to learn more about their services.