Setting up the Network

We have created an example of a Small Business Network Setup Diagram and we will discuss it in detail in the next section.

Internet connection

For Small office Network Setup, you need to identify the type of Internet in your company. If it's a really small business, you can settle for a router or cable modem designed for home use. But if it is a medium-sized company, you may need a complete T1 line or at least a split T1 line. The T1 connection comes with a large box and many wires. Some of these connections also have an integrated firewall system.

Firewall configuration

For any company, it is important to properly configure a firewall to protect corporate data and privacy. It is also the DMZ that separates the private Ethernet network from your office from the global public Internet network (More information on the Internet vs. Ethernet). To design a network infrastructure, you need to complete an appropriate firewall configuration. Otherwise, your company's valuable resources can easily be stolen or lost. Although it is not possible to establish a firewall for your network immediately, get a router with an integrated firewall system.

Access to the wireless network

Top right in the network configuration for Small Businesses Network Design, you can see a wireless router. Some companies, like coffee shops, offer their customers and their customers free wireless access. If it is the same case with your company, you need to consider the location and configuration of the router. Without proper configuration and security, people could hack network space and start using the Internet for free while paying. To set up a wireless network for small businesses, follow these steps:

• There should be only one Ethernet cable for input on the wireless router
• Do not connect work computers to the wireless router
• The Ethernet input must pass through the firewall as shown in the configuration diagram
• Nothing on the wireless network should interfere with the work network
• You can request web authentication from clients and clients to access the wireless network to restrict unauthorized devices. Your firewall service will allow you to do this
• You can make two different connections over the wireless network: an open connection for clients and a WPA2 connection for work computers

If you configure two connections on the wireless router, you will be able to protect your computer network for small businesses because it will completely isolate the corporate network from client devices.

BAckend server

This section deals with server configuration for small businesses. The company's point-of-sale (POS) software will run on this server. There are several varieties of POS software such as futures. You need to install this software on your company's "server computer". The role of this dedicated computer is to work as a server for the company. It is recommended not to use the computer for reasons other than this. If the server computer is inserted for other purposes, the private information of the company could be violated. Another reason why you should avoid using this computer for any other purpose is that if you surf the Internet on this computer, it will slow down the entire office network. Install the best antivirus and firewall on this server. You can connect an inverter to this computer for better and smoother performance.

Monitoring

Business means transactions and this requires monitoring, particularly financial transactions. A video surveillance system can also help you in a police case if the situation arises. You can also install the monitoring system on your own, as well as configure it for your home. Monitoring can be connected to the POS server to monitor each transaction. You might ask yourself how much surveillance you need to maintain before you can overwrite the data on the surveillance images. Try to keep one month of monitoring before overwriting it, so you can report on your monthly work and your transaction. Monitoring also helps to provide many networking solutions for small businesses.

Front-End Stations

Employee workstations are the top positions. These stations are dedicated to working and nothing else. A workplace policy must be developed to prevent external devices from connecting to front-end stations, as these devices may contain malware without their owners' knowledge. This is really important because of the front-end stations directly access the server and the malware can enter the system through one of these stations and corrupt the entire configuration.

Network Memory

You can configure the NAS (Network Attached Storage) for automatic data backup. You can set the backup interval. If your company regularly processes important data, you should, of course, keep this data. Follow these steps for the workplace network:

• Create a local copy for the data
• For backup, use an external hard drive or NAS device. This is useful when the primary hard drive fails or a system recovery is required
• Keep an option for a third copy in a secure location where you can store data in the event of a disaster such as a fire or a flood. You can use the cloud storage service like Carbonite or Dropbox
• Be sure to encrypt the data using an encryption program
• Configure your server with the hard drive using RAID 1. This will reflect all your server data
• Now you can easily restore data if your hard drive fails. Just connect a new hard drive to the server and it will update automatically

Ensure Total Security on Desktop Computers

Since you are in a company, you will need to continuously share software and files. It is, therefore, necessary to ensure that the data is always protected. Even with good design for the office network, your data is not secure unless it is encrypted and the software is out of date. If the network is vulnerable to spyware, malware, adware, phishing, botnets or spam, the entire company is constantly threatened. Here's how to protect your office network:

• Enter strong passwords for encryption using WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol)
• You can set access for authorization and impose restrictions on a particular employee, if necessary
• Use a VPN to remotely access computers
• For wireless users in addition to employees, create a guest account
• Make sure that security, virus protection and network software are always up to date
• Make the accessibility of the router limited

We discussed the configuration diagram of the Small Business Network Setup Guide. This is a Small Business Network configuration project and does not apply to larger offices. The network plan will depend on the type of company, the amount of storage space sufficient for employees, the budget and the needs of the network. Make sure you have followed our entire plan and have not omitted any details during the installation of the network, as this would cause a malfunction. But it is unlikely to happen because it is a simple and basic project that any network provider can establish. However, we recommend that you seek the assistance of an IT professional to ensure optimal safety and performance.