Ways to Increase Office Internet Speed

Do you remember when your downloads, file transfers, and websites seemed faster than they are today? Over time, your speeds may seem to slow to a crawl. But there are lots of tweaks you can make to optimize Internet speed in your office. Here are ten tips for how to increase Internet speed regardless of your small business network setup.

1. Reboot your modem and router. This may seem obvious, but is usually, all you need to do to improve Internet speed. Unplug the device, wait a minute or two, then plug it back in. It might take a few minutes for everything to get up and running again, so be patient. Often, a simple restart is all you'll need to return to the speeds you're used to. (It doesn't hurt to reboot your computers from time to time, either.)
2. Run regular virus and malware scans.There are many high-quality programs that scan your computer for malicious software which can slow down Internet speed, or worse. Your company may already subscribe to one or more of these services, so be sure to check with your IT department or manager to make sure your computer has antivirus and anti-malware installed and is configured properly. It's recommended that you run these at least once a week. Most can run on a schedule, so you won't forget. If you leave your computer on, you can even run the scans in the middle of the night!
3. Run an Internet speed test. Before you consider bandwidth optimization, first find out what Internet speeds you're actually achieving. Cable ONE Business offers an Internet speed test available online. When you conduct the Internet speed check, take note of the time of day. You might want to consider running speed tests from more than one website, as well as on more than one computer—and even possibly during more than one time of day. When you have a good idea of the speeds you are getting, compare the numbers to the service you're paying for. If they don't match up, call your internet service provider.
4. Check devices on your network. Another way to optimize business internet speed is to ask whoever takes care of your small business network setup to assess how many devices are connected to your network. Unauthorized users may be sharing your bandwidth.— Kicking unauthorized users off your business network can free up bandwidth for employees and customers.
5. Upgrade your computer. Like just about everything else, computer performance degrades over time. Older computers won't be able to process faster Internet speeds as well as newer models with better hardware components.
6. Check for data caps. Some Internet service providers limit the amount of data you can upload and download. If you exceed your data cap during any given billing period, sometimes providers will throttle—or deliberately slow down—your internet speeds. If you have this kind of business Internet plan, you'll need to be careful about your Internet usage.
7. Upgrade or replace your modem and router. As discussed in #5, you probably already knew that older devices don't work as well as newer ones. That's also true with your Internet hardware. Even if your modem and router have given you reliable service for years, they may not be performing as well as they did when new. You may be able to optimize Internet speed by replacing this hardware. Check your Internet service bill; if you're renting the equipment, you should be able to replace it for little to no additional cost.
8. Use a wired connection wherever possible. The best bandwidth optimization method is very simple: you'll get faster speeds if you're physically connected to the Internet. Business Wi-Fi networks are convenient, but wired is faster. Whether you have a desktop or a laptop, plug it into the network as its primary Internet connection—if you need to bring your laptop into a conference room or other location, switch to Wi-Fi.
9. Clear your browser cache. The method for clearing your Internet browser cache varies depending on the browser you use. You can search on the Internet to find instructions for your specific browser. Your browser cache stores files that help load web pages faster, particularly those you visit often. But when the cache gets overloaded, it can affect browser performance. Opinions differ on how often this should be done, but it doesn't hurt to do this once or twice a year.
10. Upgrade Business Internet service. If you've already run speed tests as recommended in #2 and performed the tweaks suggested in this article, and you're still wondering how to increase Internet speed, it's likely time for a new Internet plan. Cable ONE Business offers a variety of flexible, scalable plans—you won't pay for more than you need, and you needn't worry about data caps. Our ultra-reliable, state-of-the-art nationwide network gives you an alternative to the phone company or regional providers with 24/7 business-grade support services to keep you up and running. Contact us today and we'll help you find an internet plan that's right for your business.