The remote work model has quickly become embraced by many companies and organizations, becoming the norm for tons of professionals.
It has various benefits and can be much more efficient with the right remote working strategies in place, but it is only as efficient as the internet speed available.
Without adequate speeds and strong enough connections, delays in communication and reduced overall productivity are inevitable.
Fortunately, most of us have access to a decent connection, but today, we’ll talk you through all that you can do to ensure a stable and fast internet connection.
Implementing the tips provided for optimization will help make sure you have speeds that are dependable enough for productive remote work.
Internet Speed Assessment
Before you begin to tweak your set-up, you need to assess your current speed and identify any weak points. It might even be necessary to upgrade if things are drastically underperforming in the first place.
Internet Speed Test Tools
An internet speed test tool can run a quick test to assess your current upload and download speeds. The average American household uses a minimum of 564 Mbps in download speeds and 31 Mbps in upload speeds.
The absolute minimum required for light remote work is going to be at least 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads.
Remote work that involves more demanding activities, such as live videoconferencing or dealing with large files, might require far more to stay efficient.
The Roles of Latency and Ping
Your data transfer time is dictated by the latency and ping times on your network.
Video calls and cloud applications require low latency to function without interruptions and delays.
Router and Network Setup Optimization
Your first steps toward speed improvements begin with setting up your router and network. Let’s explore some ways to optimize things on this front.
Router Positioning
Something as simple as your router placement could be to blame for a lower-than-ideal internet speed. Here are two tips
- Choose a central location, away from walls and obstructions;
- Remember, other electronic devices can potentially cause signal interference.
A Wired Connection is Best
It might seem outdated, but a wired Ethernet connection provides the best solution in terms of stability.
Ethernet connections are direct and, therefore, have lower latency, making them faster and more dependable than Wi-Fi.
Of course, nomadic remote workers may not always have that luxury!
Router Firmware Updates
Make sure your router has the latest firmware updates installed. They not only help with security but sometimes have performance-enhancing patches that improve overall stability for better speed.
Bandwidth Management
Your connection could also be suffering due to bandwidth allocation. Other programs and connected devices could be taking priority and hogging the bandwidth without your knowledge.
Background App Limits
Remember to check which apps are running in the background. Some can be demanding with bandwidth and run all the time, such as cloud backups and searches for automatic software updates.
Work-Related Traffic Management
See if your router has Quality of Service (QoS) settings and use them as a tool to prioritize the work-related applications you need.
Unused Devices
Make sure any devices that aren’t in use, such as Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other mobile devices, aren’t connected to your network.
Consider Making Upgrades
It could be that you need to consider upgrading somewhere. It could be something as simple as considering a better internet service plan or investing in a more modern router.
Upgrade Your Internet Service Plan
Upgrading to a higher-speed package with your Internet Service Provider is a quick fix with benefits.
Providers don’t like to lose customers either, so check in and find out what is available to you if your current plan does not meet your needs. You may even find they offer up a discount.
Look at Alternative ISPs
It is also never a bad idea to research the competition and see if there are any alternative ISPs that can provide something better.
Get A Better Router
Modern internet speeds are dramatically different, so the tech you have might not be up to the task. If you have an older router or modem, it might be time to invest in a new one.
High-performance routers have better ranges, which improves their overall speed capabilities. Investing in one can drastically improve a remote work setup.
Security and Privacy Without Sacrificing Speed
Security is just as important as the speed of the internet connection, especially if you deal with anything sensitive for your remote work.
There are tons of cybersecurity and privacy tools, but sometimes these security measures can lower speeds without the right optimization.
VPN Speed Reduction Advice
If you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect your data transmission with encryption, you may find that it reduces your internet speed as the traffic is encrypted and redirected.
This could be down to misconfiguration. Searching ‘what is my IP location right now‘ is a common way to discover any routing inefficiencies or VPN misconfigurations.
If privacy and security are concerns, then we recommend forking out the extra for a high-speed VPN provider with plenty of server locations.
Unauthorized Network Intrusions
Always check to see what devices are connected to your network; monitoring can help keep your remote work secure.
Another great tip is to regularly update your Wi-Fi passwords to ensure that no unauthorized person is using your bandwidth.
Conclusion
If you need high speeds, then you might find your setup requires a few tweaks.
Start by assessing your current speeds and then start optimizing the situation through router placement, updates, and strategic bandwidth management that prioritizes work-related activity.
Sometimes, upgrades are needed, so reach out to your ISP and their competition and consider better hardware if it comes to it.
With all the advice laid out above, you should be able to work seamlessly and remotely.
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