Setting up a network for your business is incredibly easy in 2023. Depending on the size of your company and the connectivity requirements, you can easily set up a network that allows your employees to share resources like printers or scanners and connect to the internet.
Most small and medium-sized businesses connect with the internet to run websites.
Many others use it to run tools like Software as a Service (SaaS) — and many more are likely to join that trend by 2030, as projections show the global market size may reach a value of $702.19 billion, according to a report from Allied Market Research.
With that in mind, it’s essential to consider what service you need for your business. While devices can connect to the internet with WiFi, establishing a local area network (LAN) that locally connects devices can increase security and improve performance.
Of course, to establish a network between devices and users, you need the right equipment.
The good news is that this equipment has a small footprint, so you don’t necessarily need a dedicated room or extra space to accommodate networking devices in 2023.
In this article, we’ll provide the following:
- An overview of standard network equipment you may need.
- Tips for determining network types.
- Suggestions for solutions as you move forward in setting up your network.
Looking for more on optimizing your network? Check out these articles:
- The Ultimate Guide to DHCP Spoofing and Starvation Attacks
- What Is Public Key Infrastructure and How Important Is It?
- Telnet Versus SSH: How SSH Works and Why It’s Better
Your Guide to Common Network Equipment
A handful of equipment can form a network between different devices used for running your business.
Depending on the network setup, you may only need a few of them.
Switch
A switch enables sharing of resources and information between devices in a network.
Computers, servers, printers, and other devices can all connect to a switch. From there, they can share files, messages, and other data.
For small local area networks (LANs), switches are enough to form a network of devices.
Hub
A hub is similar to a switch but has limited capabilities, so switches are used more frequently. While a hub also connects different devices within a network, it broadcasts information to all devices, including the one sending. Switches only broadcast the signal to the intended destination device, saving resources and maintaining privacy.
Router
Routers can be considered an extension of a switch as routers can connect devices to form a network, but they can also connect switches and their connected devices to form one network.
Routers can help create networks in a single location or branch out to multiple locations.
More importantly, routers are essential for enabling internet connectivity to network devices. You can connect wireless routers to a wide area network (WAN) link provided by an internet provider. Then, it can provide WiFi connectivity to all the devices within its network.
Access Point
An Access Point (AP) provides wireless connectivity to end-user devices on a network. It’s similar to a router, except it doesn’t have wired connectivity, so devices can only connect wirelessly.
Businesses can use a combination of routers and access points for larger wireless networks to increase coverage.
Server and Storage
Depending on the network scope, servers can also be part of the network. While many businesses pay to use servers from providers to house their data, many larger enterprises opt to equip their networks with local servers for faster data access and more robust security.
Similarly, networks that handle large amounts of data also require storage equipment for that data. Different users need to store and access data, so keeping it locally within the network can be a viable solution.
Network Adapter
A network adapter is hardware that allows a device like a computer or a printer to connect and communicate with other devices on a network and is hardware essential to make the wired or wireless network connection.
Computers today come with built-in network adapters and their corresponding drivers, so you don’t necessarily need to buy this hardware.
Determine the Network Type
The first step to setting up a network is determining whether you want a wired, wireless, or hybrid network. The type of devices you’ll need will depend on the network setup type.
Wired Network
Wired or ethernet networks are less common nowadays but can be used to create smaller networks. These networks require cabling for communication between devices and several other devices.
PivIT provides extensive cabling and optics options for small businesses to enterprises with large-scale servers.
You’ll also need a hub, switch, or router that connects with the different devices in the network via cables.
You will need to equip all the devices with an ethernet network adapter for ethernet connection compatibility. Most computers have built-in ethernet network adapters.
Wired networks can provide high speeds of data transfer. However, these networks are cumbersome to implement because of all the wiring. The cost can quickly increase if you set the devices up in different rooms or floors.
Wireless Network
Wireless networks are much easier and cost-effective to set up as no cables are involved. The data transmits through wireless signals with speeds as high as 600 Gbps.
To set up a wireless network, you need a wireless router that can transmit signals to appropriate devices within the network. This router can share the internet connection with network devices and allow communication between devices.
A wireless network adapter is necessary for devices to connect to the router and the wireless network. Most devices, including peripherals with wireless connectivity, have this adapter already installed.
You may also need wireless repeaters or extenders to extend the signal range if the devices are outside the router's range. Alternatively, you may need another router.
Hybrid Network
Hybrid networks leverage wired and wireless connections, combining both benefits. For such a network, you’ll need hybrid switches, routers, and hubs that can transmit signals wirelessly and through ethernet cables.
Such networks can wirelessly connect to desktop computers via ethernet and other devices like laptops, tablets, or phones. You can use a wired connection where more security and faster speeds are required.
More Network Types: LAN, WAN, and SD-WAN
Besides configuration, networks classify as LAN, WAN, or the more modern software-defined WAN.
Small businesses with a single location only need equipment to create LAN, which covers a limited area with wired, wireless, or hybrid connections. Within a LAN, devices can communicate and connect to the internet via a router.
If your business expands in multiple locations and you want to create a single network to connect these locations, you’ll need equipment to create a WAN. That way, the local networks from different locations can all be integrated into one network wirelessly to facilitate efficient communication.
SD-WAN is the latest in network technology, leveraging software to manage network resources more efficiently. It can help incorporate cloud applications within the network and enable remote employees to access the business network.
Here are 6 questions to ask yourself when considering SD-WAN technology.
Try PivIT, the Solution for All Your Network Equipment in 2023
PivIT is an infrastructure provider with a global footprint and a massive network equipment inventory from dozens of vendors.
With expert knowledge and guaranteed fast delivery, you can find switches, routers, servers, storage, and cabling solutions under one roof.
PivIT also carries modern equipment necessary for implementing a customized SD-WAN architecture, should you consider taking that path.
Short lead times are the most significant benefit of using PivIT for network equipment procurement. Lately, lead times for IT equipment have become notoriously long due to supply shortages and will continue to be long in 2023. As PivIT maintains a massive in-house inventory, it can ensure the equipment you need gets to you whenever and wherever.
Setting up a network is easier than ever in 2023, but there are still important factors to consider while you do so. Utilize PivIT’s expert knowledge today, and get that network up and running!
