What to look for in a business internet provider
Every business has different internet priorities. Smaller teams typically focus on affordability, reliability, and ease of use. As businesses grow, scalability, uptime, and bandwidth management become more important. Enterprises prioritize custom solutions, top performance during peak usage, advanced security, and seamless integration.
Here’s what to focus on based on your company’s size and structure.
Select your business size: Up to 20 employees | Up to 200 employees | 200+employees
Select your business size:
1–20 employees: Small business
- Speed that fits your workflow: Choose speeds between 100–500Mbps to support email, point-of-sale, cloud tools, and video calls.
- Simple pricing: Look for flat monthly rates, no hidden fees, and short contract terms.
- Bundled services: Packages with phone, security, or mobile can help lower costs.
- Support availability: Choose providers with 24/7 customer service and live agent access.
- Installation timeline: Fast setup matters when your business can’t afford delays.
- Wi-Fi coverage: Ensure you have enough range to support your space and devices.
- Backup options: A basic LTE failover can keep you online during outages.
20–200 employees: Growing business
- Higher speeds or fiber options: Choose 500–1,000Mbps (1Gbps) to support multiple users, cloud apps, and remote work.
- Symmetrical speeds: These are essential for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), file sharing, and uploading data to cloud systems.
- Service level agreements (SLAs): Look for guaranteed uptime and clear repair timelines.
- Scalable plans: Your internet should grow as your team and needs expand.
- Support options: Consider providers that offer on-site help, a dedicated rep, or access to a business tech team.
- Network security tools: Look for built-in protections like basic cybersecurity, web filtering, or bundled security services.
- Separate guest networks: Guest networks are important for retail and other client-facing businesses.
Need help finding an internet plan for your growing business? Find answers and free expert help on our support page.
200+ employees or multiple locations: Enterprise business
- Dedicated fiber or Ethernet: Look for 1–10Gbps speeds with private, non-shared connections.
- Redundancy and failover: Use multi-line or multi-site backups to maintain uptime.
- Custom SLAs and performance metrics: Look for guarantees around latency, jitter, and packet loss.
- Cloud readiness: Ensure your network can support SaaS platforms, virtual desktops, and large-scale cloud collaboration.
- Advanced cybersecurity: Implement tools for threat detection, intrusion prevention, and firewall management.
- Static IPs and VPN support: Include secure internal access and remote team connectivity.
- IT consulting and integration support: Utilize expert guidance for everything from onboarding through full network optimization.
- Branch office connectivity: Use SD-WAN or managed networking to support multi-site operations.
We provide no-cost professional consulting for enterprise internet solutions. Visit our partner page for free expert advice.
Pro tip: Be sure to verify service availability!
No matter your business size, it’s important to verify service availability in your area and check contract terms for things like early termination fees or auto-renewals. Look for providers with strong customer support, especially when it comes to outages or technical issues.
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Looking to build your company’s Wi-Fi network?
We tested and reviewed a handful of wired routers and Wi-Fi access points from Cisco, Zyxel, and more. Be sure to check out our list of the best routers and access points for business if you need a few ideas.
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Key terms and definitions
- LTE failover: Backup internet that switches to a cellular network if your main connection fails.
- Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): Technology for making phone calls over the internet.
- Service level agreements (SLA): A provider’s written guarantee for service quality, uptime, and repairs.
- Web filtering: Blocks unsafe websites, limits non-work browsing, and prevents online threats.
- Static IP: An internet address that stays the same instead of changing.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN): A secure connection that hides online activity and protects remote access.
- SD-WAN: Manages multiple internet connections for better speed and reliability.
- Dedicated Internet Access (DIA): A private, guaranteed-speed connection just for your business.
- Intrusion prevention: A security system that detects and blocks suspicious activity or attacks on your network in real time.