"A typical IT budget can be cut by up to 30% but producing an adequate IT plan..." | More information

Excellent IT Networking Strategies

Excellent IT provides the following networking solutions to create a new Business Network.

Offices with Structured Cabelling

Many offices are already equipped with 'structured cabling'. Structured cabling avoids the need to trail wires across the office floor to peoples' desks; the cables are hidden under floors, in walls and through ceilings, and networking sockets are placed close to desk areas. If you are moving to a new office with structured cabling, half the work is done, the next step is to choose the networking devices needed to connect computers together, get connected to the outside world and manage printing requests. You should also check what type of cabling is installed to ensure that it is able to handle your network transfer speeds.

Offices without Structured Cabelling

If your office does not have structured cabling you have two choices:
Design & Install structured cabling, in order to build an Ethernet (wired) network
Implement a wireless network - no need for cabling to work areas. Look at our wired vs. wireless page to help you decide whether to build a wired or wireless network.

The third option of running an Ethernet network without hiding the cables using structured cabling is available, but trailing wires across an office is not recommended and may not meet health and safety standards.

Business Networking Products

Cabling

For wired networks, it is important to ensure you have (or choose) the correct cabling to meet required data transfer speeds. UTP (Unshielded Twisted-Pair) is the most commonly used cabling for Ethernet networks; commonly used UTP is referred to as Cat-5, Cat-5e or Cat-6. Fiber Optic cabling is used selectively for bandwidth demanding connections.

VPN Firewall Router

Connect your office network, securely, to other geographically distant networks and the Internet via an ISDN or broadband connection.

Network Cards & Adapters

Connect laptops and desktop PC's to a business network using either wired or wireless adapters that slot into your computer via USB, PCI or Cardbus (PCMCIA slot on laptops).

Swithches

Enable multiple computers, printers and other network-attached devices to be connected together using cabling, to transfer information, including emails, files and printer requests.

Print Servers

No need to dedicate a PC to manage print requests and queues, use a print server device instead.

Wireless Access Points

Used for extending Ethernet (wired) networks where cabling cannot reach or to provide instant connectivity for mobile staff. Also used to 'boost' a wireless signal across a building to ensure network coverage for all employees.