With the growing number of remote workers in the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for high-speed internet has been at its all-time high. Regardless of the industry, you are working in, you will need a reliable internet connection to perform your tasks efficiently. However, what would you do if you experience an unannounced network outage but have an upcoming meeting in less than five minutes? What would your employees do if there’s suddenly no internet connection?
If you’re still asking yourself if you need to get an internet backup for your business, both remote or on-site, then the answer is a big yes. Even though the internet service provider for your business has always been reliable, you can never tell when you will have a network outage that could cost you your entire business. Moreover, most companies are operating with cloud-based software as a service (SaaS), video conferencing, and file storage. While these cloud storages are surely convenient for business operations, it is highly dependent on a reliable internet connection.
Indeed, taking advantage of the cloud will greatly benefit your operation. It could boost employee productivity and efficiency due to the accessibility of data. However, the biggest downside is that during a network outage, your workloads, conferences, and even telephone calls will be completely inaccessible, negatively impacting your company’s overall productivity.
In this guide, we’ll talk you through everything about backup internet connection, as well the best internet backup for businesses this 2022.
What is a Backup Internet Connection
Internet connection plays a massive role in the success of your business. Unfortunately, even the most reliable internet service provider can experience network outages at some point. So, regardless of the reason, may it be a disconnection on your end or an issue on your ISP, a sudden network outage can cost you time and money. The duration of time without service is also called downtime.
To avoid suffering the consequences of downtimes, you have the option to have an internet backup for business. This backup service is a safety net that will only be triggered unless your primary connection experiences an outage or a failure. While you might think it’s an unnecessary expense, having it accessible will minimize your losses.
Types of Faults Internet Connections Can Experience
Even though every company looks for the most reliable wireless provider they can have, the possibility of network fault is still possible. Unfortunately, not having a secondary provider can negatively impact your business during an outage. Here are some of the most common internet connection faults you might experience:
- Client Location Issues
An internet outage can be caused by a loss of power or equipment failure on the customer’s premises. With battery backup or generators, power outages can be quickly resolved, and equipment replacement can be completed within hours with an active support agreement.
- Internal Network Problems
An internal issue arises when a failure happens within your internet service provider’s (ISP) network. Companies can usually fix these kinds of problems in a matter of hours. But sometimes, it could take days or weeks.
- Infrastructure Incidents
A fault might occur if a construction worker digs up a service cable or destroys subsurface wiring. It could also be from acts of nature, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and more. Long outages at an exchange center might also lead to infrastructure collapse. Because these failures require more extensive repairs, they can take many days to resolve.
- Account Errors
A communication or payment problem can cause a malfunction on occasion. It’s critical to double-check that you’ve paid all of your bills and that there are no outstanding balances. The time it takes to fix account difficulties varies depending on the issue and whether or not there was a misunderstanding.
Top Internet Backup for Businesses 2022
The internet service providers listed below are not in any particular order. However, we’ve determined that these five companies are worth being on our list based on a few key aspects: regional availability, service speeds, user ratings, cost, and contract flexibility.
- Spectrum Business
Spectrum Business’s internet plans are contract-free, compared to other companies with one- to two-year contracts. They currently offer three download speeds: 200Mbps, 400Mbps, and 940Mbps, starting at $44.99 per month. So if your company is growing rapidly, you won’t have to worry about long years of contract and possibly facing early termination fees. Moreover, Spectrum is available in 41 US states, including Hawaii.
- Verizon Fios
Verizon is one of the leading wireless internet providers in the country. Moreover, it has ranked the highest customer satisfaction for small to medium businesses for six years. Verizon Fios Business currently offers five internet plans, with speeds ranging from 75Mbps to 940Mbps, priced at $69.99 to $244.99 per month.
Verizon’s contracts are all two years long, with an early cancellation cost of 35% of the base monthly charges for the remaining time. Verizon Fios Business, on the other hand, Verizon Fios Business is exclusively available in certain metro regions throughout nine East Coast states. However, they also offer a variety of phone and internet bundles, including a Visa Prepaid Card worth up to $200.
- Comcast Business
Comcast Business Internet is currently available in 39 states across the country. Offering the highest internet speed among its competitors, Comcast is also one of the most preferred internet backups for businesses. They currently offer four business internet plans with speeds ranging from 25Mbps to 300Mbps. Comcast offers two-year contracts with high early termination fees. Also, keep in mind that their fastest package may not be available everywhere.
- AT&T Business
AT&T offers a few business internet packages at different speeds and prices. Business owners who prefer the highest internet speeds can choose from their three dedicated internet service packages, featuring speeds of up to 400Mbps. However, they will need to pay extra for those super-fast internet plans. The availability and pricing also vary between locations.
Conclusion
Having an internet backup for your business is necessary to maintain smooth operations. You have to keep in mind that even though you have the most reliable internet for business, outages or failures might still happen. If you’re planning to look for dependable backup internet for your business, you might want to consider the four ISPs we’ve included on our list.
