Starting a business in this age is quite different from the past. We now have technologies that have made our lives much easier, both on professional and personal levels. Unfortunately, most of these tools rely on the internet to work—the main reason why many business owners ask the question… do I need to get internet backup for my business? No matter the size or the complexity of your business, the answer relies on your business operations.Is Internet Backup for Business Required for Startups?
As a startup, we know that you have a lot of doubts in mind. In this article, we’ll be helping you assess if an internet backup for business is right for you.
What Is an Internet Backup for Businesses?
Backup internet for businesses, or failover internet, is a secondary internet connection that is designed to provide redundancy in case your primary connection fails. Nowadays, if your internet goes down, your business might go down with it. That’s the main reason why big companies have been paying for failover internet for so long.
In 2020, Open Gear conducted a survey that determined how much losses companies had due to internet outages. 31% of the respondents answered that they lost more than $1.2 million due to network downtime. Would you like that for your business? Definitely not.
Should Startups Get an Internet Backup for Their Business?
As we’ve said earlier, it depends on your business operations. It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer because your business’s budget is at stake. Meaning, if you don’t need it, you don’t have to pay for it. You can just use that fund for more important matters that can help grow your startup. To determine if you should get a backup for your wireless service, we’ve come up with this simple guide that can help you assess if it’s worth getting.
- Check how internet-dependent your day-to-day operation is.
Even though we’re in the digital age, not all businesses heavily rely on the internet for their business operations. For example, your startup business is all about selling stuff online. In this case, internet downtime would directly impact your sales and customer satisfaction. However, if your business is a local bakery that primarily relies on walk-in customers, the impact of an internet outage might be less significant, which doesn’t show the need for a failover internet.
- Assess how often your business area experiences network outages.
Knowing how often your area experiences network downtimes or outages can help you decide if a backup internet for business is worth investing in. Of course, this decision is on top of the initial consideration of your reliance to the internet. If outages often happen in your area, you should consider having failover internet, even if you don’t heavily rely on the internet.
Keep in mind that even if you have the best fiber internet plan or the top internet provider in the country, outages are inevitable. There are several online tools that can help you check the outages in your area, like Downdetector. These tools are very easy to use so don’t worry.
- Consider the risk of losses.
If your business relies heavily on the internet, even a brief outage can have a significant impact on your operations. Make sure to weigh the potential costs of downtime against the cost of backup internet. If the potential losses outweigh the cost of the backup, it’s likely a worthwhile investment.
- Look into different types of backup internet.
If the cost of the failover internet is what’s stopping you from getting one even if you like it or need it, you can look into different types of backup internet. You can choose between different options like mobile hotspots, secondary broadband connections, or even satellite internet. Each comes with its own cost, speed, and reliability that may align with your needs.
Final Thoughts
Having an internet backup for business is surely an edge for startups, especially if the business is heavily-reliant on high-speed internet connection. Before making your decision, make sure to assess your startup’s needs and check if you have some funds to spare at this stage. Good luck, and we hope that this guide has been helpful in understanding the importance of failover internet for businesses.
