Internet connectivity isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. While residential internet is sufficient for personal digital use, enterprise internet is designed to support the complex connectivity needs of modern businesses.

Enterprise business connectivity is the foundation for business productivity and innovation. Although business internet solutions come at a higher cost than residential plans, they offer advanced technical and service features needed for optimal business performance. 

Business internet solutions are specifically built to deliver fast, dedicated, secure, and reliable connectivity. This can benefit businesses and operations of all sizes, supporting everything from video conferencing to running cloud-based applications. 

How does enterprise internet differ from residential internet? And how do you choose the right solution for your organization? Here are some of the key benefits that an enterprise-grade connection can bring to your business.

Fast, symmetrical speeds

One of the most notable differences between enterprise internet and residential internet is speed capabilities. Residential internet speeds are suitable for activities like streaming movies and browsing digital content. Businesses, however, often need to support data-intensive operations like cloud computing and real-time data processing. It is common to find enterprise internet solutions with speeds 100 times faster than residential internet plans. 

For the fastest speeds available, you’ll want fibre optic technology, which has the capacity to support even the most advanced and demanding connectivity needs.

Most enterprise internet solutions also offer symmetrical speeds, providing equal upload and download speeds. Activities like backing up data, uploading files to the cloud, and video conferencing all benefit from the symmetrical speeds of enterprise fibre internet.

When deciding on a business internet provider, look for a fibre optic network provider who offers a symmetrical connection with a full range of speeds so you can easily scale as your business grows. 

Dedicated connection

Enterprise internet provides Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), an exclusive, high-speed connection used only by your organization. A specific amount of network capacity is reserved for your organization’s use. Even during heavy network traffic periods, your connection will not be affected or interrupted, which is essential for maintaining mission-critical operations.

Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) also allows your business to seamlessly scale and accommodate new users and applications, while still maintaining fast, low latency connectivity.

In contrast, residential internet involves sharing the same network resources with your neighbours. In times of peak network traffic, you may experience a slower or interrupted connection.

Look for an ISP who provides a dedicated connection with guaranteed bandwidth and burstable capability, so your business has consistent, high-performance connectivity.

Service Level Agreements (SLA)

When even seconds of downtime can impact your business, you need to ensure that you can rely on your internet connectivity.

Enterprise internet solutions come with a contractual commitment that guarantees specific performance standards your internet service provider (ISP) must meet. An SLA typically includes provisions for bandwidth, uptime and availability, and mean time to repair (MTTR).

Your SLA will also outline compensation provisions if the terms of your contract are not met. This may include discounts, service credits, or an early contract termination.

Compared to residential solutions, enterprise internet provides an assurance of service that will protect your business in the event of any unexpected issues.

If your provider does not back up their service with a comprehensive SLA that includes guaranteed performance standards and clear compensation provisions, it’s likely time to explore alternative providers.

Priority customer support

If you have ever reached out to your residential internet provider for support, you have probably experienced lengthy wait times and multiple transfers. For business connectivity issues, immediate support is crucial in order to minimize downtime.

With enterprise internet, you can expect priority support. Enterprise internet providers typically have a dedicated team to support business clients. They can quickly troubleshoot issues, preventing costly business disruptions. These teams also often have specialized technical knowledge about specific issues that affect businesses.

However, even among enterprise internet providers, customer support can still vary. Look for a telecom provider who offers 24/7 support and prioritizes the customer experience.

Greater redundancy and security

Downtime and outages can result in lost revenue and damage the reputation of a business. To mitigate risks, enterprise internet is designed with multiple redundancies, including dual connections, redundant routers, and backup power systems. This robust infrastructure ensures high reliability, availability, and performance.

To protect sensitive company data and safeguard against breaches, enterprise internet also employs advanced data security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption.

Residential internet typically lacks the essential redundancies and security features needed for uninterrupted connectivity and data protection.

For enhanced redundancy and security, opt for a facilities-based ISP. Since they have control over their own network infrastructure, your business will benefit from direct access to a reliable and secure connection.

Static IP addresses

Every device on a computer network is assigned a unique internet protocol (IP) address, allowing it to communicate with other devices. Enterprise internet offers the advantage of a static IP address, also known as a fixed or dedicated IP address. A static IP address is essential for hosting critical applications like servers, VPNs, and other enterprise-grade applications like VoIP.

A static IP address also enhances website and email hosting by streamlining DNS management and simplifies the configuration of SSL/TLS certificates, email servers, and web applications.

Residential customers are typically assigned dynamic IP addresses, which can change frequently and do not offer the same consistency and reliability that businesses need.

When evaluating enterprise internet solutions, ask providers about their static IP address options to ensure you can securely host critical applications and services.

Find the right enterprise internet provider

While consumer residential internet is sufficient for personal use, consumer-grade connectivity is not designed with the performance, security, and reliability that every business needs. Enterprise internet requires a larger upfront investment, but it ultimately delivers the necessary features to guarantee that your business stays connected, competitive, and can operate without interruptions.

Not all Internet Service Providers offer the same business solutions or service. When selecting a provider, choose a partner that offers 24/7/365 support, a comprehensive SLA, and advanced security features.

Hiboo Networks, a Hydro Ottawa company, is the National Capital Region’s new fibre network provider, exclusively serving businesses in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. We offer a true alternative to businesses looking for a connectivity partner with both state-of-the-art technology and expertise into the local business landscape.

With solutions for Enterprise Internet, Enterprise Ethernet, and Wavelength Services, our team can design a connectivity plan tailored for your organization. Connect with a local network expert today.