Insufficient bandwidth? 10 ways to optimise office bandwidth usage

1. Analyze network performance

Optimizing bandwidth usage begins with understanding current network performance. Without insight into network activities, optimizing bandwidth is unattainable. Evaluate whether the current network performance supports seamless use of all IT applications within your organization. Has the network sufficient capacity to allocate and reserve resources for applications or data streams? How do users and customers experience the performance of IT elements?

Technologies like Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) assist in measuring network performance. Additionally, various specialized tools are available to provide clearer insights into network performance. Focus not only on the present but also plan for future needs. 

2. Remove unnecessary data from the network

A significant cause of insufficient bandwidth in many organizations is the presence of redundant data on the network. This includes outdated information still stored in systems and unused applications that consume bandwidth by downloading periodic updates in the background. Establish a clear policy determining which applications, websites, and services are accessible via your corporate network. Implement (black)lists to manage bandwidth-intensive services and websites effectively.

3. Optimise WAN Traffic

Optimizing your Wide Area Network (WAN) traffic is another effective method to prevent low bandwidth. Compression reduces the amount of data transmitted over networks by decreasing file sizes. Caching stores frequently accessed information on local servers, effectively reducing the required bandwidth for WANs. Routing traffic through WANs further enhances bandwidth usage optimization.

4. Utilise cloud computing solutions

Cloud computing aids in optimizing bandwidth usage by offloading data-intensive functions to online platforms and applications specifically designed to deliver efficient services.

6. Schedule backups strategically

Backups and updates are essential for every organization but can consume significant bandwidth. If these operations are not scheduled strategically, they can affect application performance and network availability. Plan backups and updates during strategic times, preferably outside regular working hours. Centralize updates, for instance, by using a WSUS server to download all updates and then distribute them to all computers.

7. Implement QoS for bandwidth optimisation

Quality of Service (QoS) is a technology suitable for optimizing bandwidth usage. If certain applications require a specific (minimum) amount of bandwidth, QoS can be configured to reserve the exact bandwidth needed for a particular application. QoS reserves this bandwidth only when the application is active.

8. Identify 'Heavy Users'

Not all employees use the internet equally. Some are heavy users, while others consume less bandwidth. It's beneficial to identify which individuals within the organization use the most bandwidth and understand the activities leading to high usage. This enables collaborative agreements on optimizing bandwidth usage. 

9. Scan for malware

Malware can significantly consume bandwidth by turning computers into bots. Regularly and thoroughly scan networks, applications, and systems for malware to prevent such malicious software from causing insufficient bandwidth.

10. Apply Load Balancing

Load balancing reduces the risk of low bandwidth by using multiple connections to distribute demand and bandwidth usage efficiently. Through organized distribution, all channels experience reduced and equal loads, minimizing the bandwidth allocated to each application.

About Eurofiber

The techniques, advice, and measures discussed above assist in optimizing bandwidth usage within your office. If you have further questions or require advice from a specialized party well-versed in (business) connectivity, Eurofiber is here to help. 

We collaborate with you to determine the exact bandwidth you need and assess your speed requirements. Whether rapid data access and transmission are crucial, certain data streams must not be transmitted over the internet due to privacy concerns, or geographically separated connections (redundancy) are of interest, we are ready to address all bandwidth-related challenges. Our fiber-optic network is exceptionally suited to meet all your connectivity needs.