Increasingly around the New York City subway, you’re starting to see signs that say “This station is now connected to WiFi.” Beyond installing basic cellular antennas at metro stations, the Metro Transit Authority is looking to go the extra mile by adding open Wi-Fi networks that can be joined at metro stations throughout the city. The New York subway is not the only one in action. Walk into any library or Starbucks in town and you will be presented with a free WiFi option with very few questions.
The questions in this case generally mean an acknowledgment of the service or the willingness to see an ad from a sponsor of that particular network, but the concept here is clear. With each passing fiscal quarter, the barriers between your device and an accessible WiFi network are breaking down. Even mobile phone companies are beginning to realize that there could be a market to make the mobile phone industry more competitive.
Given these trends, it’s safe to say that your business will look Neanderthal if you don’t have an accessible WiFi network for your employees. This applies to companies of any size, from Fortune 500 institutions to small startups. In today’s economy, everyone carries a mobile device, either employer issued or employee brought in, so the unavoidable fact is that you NEED good WiFi in your office. In fact, beyond a WiFi network for your employees, it could be very good for business relationships to have a public WiFi network that can be used by guests and personal devices. These little touches can go a long way toward moving your company’s image in a more legitimate and professional direction.
Of course, no effort in the world of online connection is without risk. It seems like every week there is a news about a data security breach. This week it’s all about banks. If not properly secured, your WiFi network can be a major point of weakness in your IT security strategy. When setting up your network or networks, NEVER leave them as open networks. It is important to always ask for a password, even if you want it to be simple for your guest network. Second, while it can be a hassle for your users, it is important to have a schedule to rotate wireless passwords so that legacy devices cannot stay on the network and hog valuable bandwidth. From there, your business can decide how complex and inclusive it wants its WiFi network to be. It can be as simple as internet access or fully integrated behind your firewall, allowing greater mobility for your users. Regardless of what form your network takes, it is an expense of doing business today. You really don’t want your users running to the subway to check their email … do you?
