Does a small business need a local network? Is there a necessity to spend considerable amounts on purchasing computer equipment, salaries for maintenance personnel, and licensing for software?
The author has communicated with various categories of small business owners and managers, mostly young individuals (mostly LLCs). Opinions expressed were diametrically opposed, ranging from those who believe that a local area network is a panacea for business development without which everything will fail and luck will not be on their side, to those who view a local network as a heavy burden and a "headache" for business leadership.
In this article, the author will attempt to explore the pros and cons (certainly not all, but the most obvious ones) of using local networks. The goal is to understand and convey to readers the main purpose of the narrative – is a local network always necessary for a small business?
After reading this article (if you make it to the end) and before forming your opinion on the author's competence in this publication, please keep in mind that the author is not a researcher, does not run a company, and is not the founder of an LLC. The author is a third-year student in the part-time education program at Saint Petersburg State Technological Institute, trying her hand at writing an article as part of an assignment in one of her courses.
To answer the question of whether a small business should or should not have its own local network, the author will consider enterprises with at least 10 employees.
There is no point in considering LLCs where there is only one employee – the general director. Why would they need a local network? After all, even financial reporting in such a company is handled by an accountant hired with their own computer and software. Such a general director may even not have a computer at all, let alone specialized software.
In writing this article, the author will consider companies that predominantly operate in the service sector. This includes insurance companies, real estate agencies, and accounting service firms.
The main task, according to the author, is not to develop and build a local computing network for a specific enterprise, but to determine whether there is a need for such a network at all. What obstacles stand in the way of creating a network and upgrading it?
It is important to immediately clarify that a local network consists not only of network hardware but also of the software and employees of the company that operate this network.
Many interviewees (regular employees and management) believe that a local network is necessary; it facilitates work, allows access to specialized software, and helps manage company documentation.
The only significant problem, as many see it, is the high cost of equipment and software for a local network.
As for the 'hardware' for the network, the author believes there is no need to chase after cutting-edge technologies or constantly buy top-tier equipment from elite manufacturers. Each company roughly understands how many workstations it needs when being established and during its operations. Therefore, when creating a local network, laying cables, installing outlets, and purchasing equipment, the author suggests planning for a 25% reserve in capacity. This will allow the company to operate without issues for several years. It is necessary to maximize the use of existing equipment before purchasing new, more powerful hardware, again with a margin.
There is no need to buy Internet service with 'crazy' speeds right away; it can always be increased by raising the payment to the provider. However, it is essential to monitor what employees are doing on the network and limit their Internet access when necessary. It should not be allowed for some employees to play 'advanced' games that consume large amounts of bandwidth while other working specialists experience inconvenience due to low network speed. It would be even worse if these players 'catch' viruses online and create problems for the company's software.
If the company's situation improves, profits will rise, and there may be a need to increase the number of employees. At that point, consideration can be given to upgrading the network or creating a new, more powerful one. The author believes it's essential to find a middle ground—there's no need to strive for the absolute latest technology, but working with very old and inadequate equipment is also not advisable.
Software should be approached in the following way. The author believes that it is better to use an open-source operating system than Windows or Mac OS. Without going into the details of how the manufacturers of these proprietary operating systems monitor their users, let's focus solely on commercial aspects. Linux operating systems can be installed on servers personal computers as well; they consume significantly fewer resources. Furthermore, software from leading companies is often developed to run on Linux. There's no need to constantly wait for companies to discontinue support for their products, as happened with Windows XP and Windows 7, while also paying considerable amounts for licensed software.
The only area where one should not cut costs is on antivirus software and essential applications for the company (for example, 1C: Accounting). These programs will protect your computers and ensure the company's operation.
It’s important not to install counterfeit software. This not only poses a risk for virus infections, hacking, or complete software destruction but can also create legal troubles. For this reason, it is necessary to prohibit the use of personal computers by employees in the workplace, even if they are not connected to the local network.
If government authorities monitoring software usage catch a company employee off-site with a personal laptop containing unlicensed software, this will be a violation, but the company will not be implicated. The employee will be held responsible (administratively or civilly), but the fines and claims will not be excessively large, although they will still be significant. The individual will bear the responsibility alone.
However, there will be a real problem if an inspection reveals the use of unlicensed software on either work or personal computers, especially at the employee's workplace. Fines and lawsuits will be quite substantial. In addition, criminal liability may also arise.
According to the author, two main principles should be followed in the company when using software: do not skimp on the details and trust, but constantly verify.
The third component in organizing a quality local network is a competent and well-trained staff. Not only system administrators need to have a good understanding of the principles of network organization and operation. All employees who work on computers should have a general understanding of the network.
If the company plans to use computers with open-source software, employees must be able to use it. The use of Windows OS is more a matter of habit, a trend, and an established stereotype. Transitioning from Windows OS to Linux OS should not be difficult for advanced users who (the author hopes) work in every company and should constitute the majority. If this is not the case, then either those employees will need to be retrained, or let go, or licensed Windows OS will have to be purchased. In any case, the choice always lies with the owners and management of the company. However, it is essential to consider the fact that a computer specialist who is eager to learn is much easier to train in the company's specific field than an employee who does not wish to learn to work well with computers. This is the author's personal opinion, which he does not wish to impose on anyone.
After trying to understand the necessity of creating a local network for a small company and the possibility of ensuring its quality operation, the author came to certain conclusions.
First of all, a local network is necessary for a small company. It facilitates and accelerates the work of employees, helps management monitor the work of subordinates, and stay informed about the company's successes and problems.
Secondly, organizing the operation of a company's local network and maintaining its functionality can only be achieved through a comprehensive solution to three main problems – it is essential to have functioning equipment, quality software, and trained personnel. One cannot improve some aspects while neglecting others, as this will not lead to good outcomes. It is necessary to focus solely on improvements and do so holistically.
Source: habr.com
