Before homebuyers invest large sums of money to purchase a new home, they pay someone to inspect the home from top to bottom to evaluate its condition. The inspector crawls around and looks in places that the average person wouldn’t even know exist. One of the most important aspects of the inspection is determining the condition of the home’s foundation. A cracked or unstable foundation is usually a strong indicator that the house is not in good condition and that frequent problems in the future are likely. For many homebuyers, an unstable foundation is a deal breaker that suggests that the home is not a smart investment.

For businesses, investing in Information Technology (IT) is a lot like investing in a new home – it can be a very smart and lucrative investment – but you’d better make sure your investment rests on a solid foundation. In the IT world, that foundation is the physical infrastructure of the local onsite network of the business. We often say that it’s everything from port to patch, and also everything from the patch panel to the Internet. It’s the wires in the walls and the hardware in the closet. It’s the switching gear, routing gear, firewalls, Wi-Fi, et cetera.

These fundamental components of an IT setup are absolutely essential to the quality and performance of the overall network. In fact, bad wiring, a simple problem to fix, is frequently the root cause of many IT problems. But, just like I’m sure there are some lazy home inspectors that skip over some hard-to-reach areas, you’d be surprised how many IT companies overlook the “wires in the walls” and the “hardware in the closet.” This is especially true when a business moves into an existing space where the wiring is already in place. Many IT providers will often assume that existing wiring is up to code and in good working condition – and this is not an assumption you want your provider to make when you’re investing a lot of money in an IT network that could ultimately make or break your business.

A quality IT provider will take ownership and responsibility for your IT system from start to finish; that kind of accountability begins with making sure your IT network is supported and powered by a reliable infrastructure. If your IT provider is handling the original wiring and setup in your building, make sure it clearly understand your business’ operations and needs, and has the experience to properly install the system you need for optimal performance. If your provider is leveraging existing infrastructure, it is critical that it is very thorough in inspecting, testing and labeling every line and network jack. All lines should be running properly, should meet electrical safety codes, and should be wired in a way that maximizes office aesthetics by minimizing exposure. Surge protection, battery backup and cooling capacity should also be tested. If any part of the network is not running properly, your provider should bring it to your attention and recommend a plan for making the necessary corrections. If your office needs wiring, I recommend you find a company that offers a strong warranty on the infrastructure because if the job is done right with the right equipment, infrastructure should rarely be a problem.

The cabling and wiring required for building a strong foundation for your IT operation is truly a specialty. Protect your IT investment and your business by making sure your infrastructure is set up right from the get-go. Don’t cut corners – be sure this critical step is handled by expert professionals. If you’re looking for a reputable company you can count on for quality commercial cabling and wiring, AcoustiCreations is an excellent provider right here in the local Wilmington area.

Shaun Olsen is the CEO and President of CloudWyze. CloudWyze was created to help businesses focus and perform at their optimal level by crafting and executing custom technology plans for businesses of every type and size. To learn more about CloudWyze, visit www.cloudwyze.com. Shaun can be reached at [email protected] or 910-795-1000.