No matter what business you’re in, Internet connectivity is at the heart of how you get work done. However, not all businesses are created equal, and as such, not all Internet connections work for every business.

When choosing Internet services for your business, the first step in the process is to decide whether you require Shared or Dedicated Internet access. Both are viable business options, but figuring out which one is best for your organization will be based on your current and future network-related needs.

It’s important to recognize that Shared and Dedicated Access refers to the Internet connection itself and not the delivery of service through technologies like Fibre, Wireless, Cable, or DSL. Delivery methods could be categorized as the second step in the decision-making process.

To help you choose the right Internet access for your business, we have outlined the main differences of each option below.

Dedicated vs. Shared Internet Access

Shared Internet Access (SIA)

means that more than one business is using the same connection. The overall backhaul bandwidth is shared among all business subscribers up to a specified level. Shared Internet is a reliable and economical solution that is ideal for many organizations, depending on your business needs and usage demands.

When you are assessing your options, it’s important to recognize that when your Internet connection is shared with other businesses, you may receive less bandwidth during peak business traffic periods. For instance, if a business subscribes to a 100 Mbps shared Internet connection, it might get 100 Mbps of bandwidth 80% of the time but may receive less bandwidth during peak usage periods when other subscribers are using the connection. For these reasons, some businesses may choose a dedicated connection.

Dedicated Internet Access (DIA)

is a direct Internet connection through a private line that isn’t shared with other businesses and guarantees bandwidth at all times. So, if a business subscribes to a 100 Mbps dedicated Internet connection, it will always have access to 100 Mbps of bandwidth.

Dedicated connections offer more security and high availability, ideal for businesses with sensitive data and more advanced IT needs such as cloud services, web hosting, large VoIP deployments, or connecting workstations over a VPN or wide-area network.

At Execulink we like to use the “Highway” analogy to explain the difference. If you think of the Internet as a highway, Shared Internet would be like sharing the road with several other vehicles. The more you share with, the more your speed may fluctuate. And just like rush hour traffic, there are times of the day when your Internet may be slower due to the number of users sharing the bandwidth.

With Dedicated Internet, your business enjoys an open highway where you are the only car on the road. You can maintain a solid speed and a secure, reliable connection.

Benefits of Shared & Dedicated Internet Access

Shared Internet Access

• Reliable, economical solution: Because the connection is shared between multiple business customers, the cost is spread out.
• Variety of Internet service connection options: The majority of ISPs like Execulink, offer shared Internet connections that can be customized for your business.
• Flexible bandwidth speeds: Shared connections typically range from 16 Mbps to 1 Gbps.

Dedicated Internet Access

• Increased Reliability:  With dedicated Internet solutions, organizations and providers agree to a service level agreement that guarantees a minimum level of downtime and network reliability.
• Security: Dedicated Internet access is a private line that runs directly to a business location, ensuring security through individual business usage.
• Performance: Maximum business performance can be achieved through dedicated network connections because they are dedicated to only one business, giving them consistent bandwidth with high availability.
• Scalability: Dedicated Internet connections offer a solid high-speed connection with flexible bandwidth options so they can be customized and scale with your business.

Which option is best for your business?

In short, to determine whether a Shared or Dedicated Internet connection will be the best fit for your organization you need to take into consideration your business needs, budgets, and network demands. If you have a small business with limited IT or network funds available, then a shared connection may be the right fit to provide Internet at a lower cost.

On the flip side, if you have an organization that utilizes high network bandwidth through cloud applications, video conferencing, VoIP phone systems, or handles sensitive data, private dedicated Internet access will provide a much higher upstream than standard Internet services and a more reliable, secure and stable connection.

A skilled representative from Execulink Telecom can help you perform a needs assessment and recommend the best options for your business. To learn more about Execulink Business Internet Services, speak to an Execulink Business Representative today.

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