Hopefully, you already know what a router does. That little box from your ISP is basically a delivery module. It delivers the internet to your location and provides a point of access. By using an external dedicated device, multiple devices can share the same network, allowing one connection to serve them all. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about this little device. However, it is just as complex as any other digital device and its management can be somewhat technical. That is why businesses need to ask themselves if they might need to use a managed router.
What Is A Managed Router?
This is a router that is owned and maintained by a third-party company. They take responsibility for all aspects of its operation, including the configuration of settings and the hardware itself. This can be a good thing because it frees up your IT team to deal with more important issues.
It is also important to understand the difference between a router and a switch. A switch connects various devices (like computers, printers, etc.) to create a network. This enables the different components of the network to communicate effectively. A router, on the other hand, is the device that connects that custom network to the wider internet. Some people still refer to their router as a “modem,” but this is an outdated term. Modems are meant to work with dial-up internet, and no business should be using that for anything important.
In many cases, home routers will contain switches, further blurring the lines between the two. This is why your home router probably has multiple ethernet ports. However, business-grade routers tend to be a little different. Most of them are just routers, meaning that the switches have to be added through extra hardware. Again, this is where a managed service can help by contributing knowledge and expertise.
Why Do People Choose Managed Routers?
People choose managed routers for a number of reasons. First of all, some choose to employ these services in order to take some of the work off an overburdened IT team. A managed router service will mean fewer issues for them to fix. Thus, they can concentrate on improvement and optimization rather than just putting out fires all day.
Another good thing about managed routers is the fact that you can often achieve better performance. Needless to say, the quality and speed of your internet connection have a lot to do with the quality and speed of your router. Managed routers tend to be of higher quality, as it wouldn’t be worth the trouble to customize and manage a cheap router. Thus, many companies find that they experience an increase in network speed when they switch to a managed router.
As you might imagine, one of a router’s tasks is to distribute network traffic among multiple devices. This includes prioritization of those processes which are deemed to be more important. Unfortunately, however, an AI cannot always make the best decisions in terms of network efficiency. Expert human management, on the other hand, can take all the factors into account and manage your network traffic in the most practical and convenient way.
Security And Performance Monitoring
Some people feel that router management is best done internally. While this may seem like a way to save money, there can be hidden costs. You see, managed router services do more than just manage your router settings and update them when necessary. If they only did that, those services wouldn’t really be worth the money.
As it happens, managed router services can also provide a lot of monitoring options. Technicians can monitor everything from internet traffic to online transactions. Obviously, the two main goals here are improved network performance and better security.
Although cybercrime has become a virtual epidemic, it can usually be prevented by close monitoring. Like a good guard dog, the managed service provider should always be on the lookout for anything suspicious. Likewise, they should also always be on the lookout for ways to make the network run more efficiently. If not, then it’s probably time to switch providers.
Conclusion
Chances are, your business does need to use a managed router. Unless you are only running low-security and low-performance functions, you can get a lot of benefits from a service like this. The router is one network component that is often neglected, mostly because it does one simple job and not much else. Thus, it’s easy to take those functions for granted. If you are looking for managed router services or just some good tech advice, you can call PCH Technologies at (856) 754-7500.