5 Questions To Ask Your Network Provider To Ensure Uptime

This article is written by Mike Underdown, president and CEO of Crosstown Fiber.

As businesses increasingly depend on digital infrastructure for seamless day-to-day operations, the resilience and reliability of their networks become progressively crucial. Network disruptions can paralyze operations, impact customer satisfaction, and lead to substantial financial losses. To confirm your network can support your operational demands and future growth, you need to dig deeper into what your provider offers and ask these five critical questions that can guarantee uptime and performance.

1. How diverse is the network route?

Your data’s path to its destination is fundamental to the network's reliability and performance. Ask whether the network employs diverse routes or relies on a single pathway. Networks with multiple redundant paths offer greater security and uptime, minimizing the risk of a single point of failure. As Gartner highlights in its “Top Trends in Cybersecurity for 2024” report, the high likelihood of disruptions stresses the need for resilience-oriented investments.  Understanding the network's routing and redundancy capabilities is essential in maintaining continuous service even during unexpected disruptions. Companies can also request a KMZ map, a zip-compressed file that stores map locations viewable in various GIS systems, to ensure network routes are truly diverse from one another.

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2. Is the network designed for optimal efficiency with redundant capabilities?

The architecture of a network can greatly influence its efficiency and robustness. Topologies such as ring, star, or mesh designs provide varying levels of redundancy and fault tolerance. For example, a ring topology can provide an automatic rerouting capability if a connection fails, whereas a mesh topology offers multiple paths for data, enhancing reliability. Discuss with your provider how their network design aligns with your operational needs and how it can support high-volume traffic with minimal latency to ensure optimal performance and reliability. The availability of 5G wireless backup at the access points also ensures continuous connectivity and reduces the risk of costly network outages.

3. How scalable is your network, and can you upgrade the fiber quality?

Business growth often demands more bandwidth and faster speeds, making scalability a critical factor in choosing a network provider. Inquire about the company’s network capacity for future expansion and the ease of implementing upgrades. Modern fiber optics, known for their high bandwidth speeds and low latency, should be upgradable to accommodate increasing data demands and technological advancements. Ensuring your network is scalable will prevent it from becoming a bottleneck as your business grows. For companies seeking the highest control over their network, unlit fiber is an optimal solution. It offers near-limitless bandwidth, and capabilities are dictated by the switching and routing gear used to light the network.

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4. What data centers and cloud onramps do you have direct access to?

Proximity and connectivity to data centers and cloud services can significantly impact your network’s performance. Direct connections to major data centers and cloud onramps reduce latency and enhance the speed and reliability of your services. Verify if your provider has direct access to the major hyperscale cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, which facilitate smoother operations and better service delivery for cloud applications requiring real-time processing and high availability. This connectivity is vital for maintaining an efficient and reliable digital platform.

5. What are your SLAs and processes for reporting issues or outages?

A clear understanding of your provider’s Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) is essential. These agreements define the expected uptime and response times for resolving issues. SLAs detail the compensation you may be eligible for if there are any service failures. Additionally, it’s crucial to know the procedures in place for reporting problems and managing outages. Providers with robust incident management and transparent communication protocols can help mitigate the impact of any network disruptions, resulting in more continuous business operations.

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By asking these questions and gathering the details needed to assess a network against your business needs, you can more deeply understand your network provider’s capabilities and ensure they align with your company needs. A well-structured and reliable network that provides redundancy and is backed by service level guarantees not only supports ongoing operations but also provides a solid foundation for future growth and technological advancements. As digital demands continue to evolve, having a resilient and adaptable network infrastructure will be a key driver of success for any organization.

About the Author

Michael Underdown, President & CEO of Crosstown Fiber, has over 30 years of experience in telecommunications infrastructure. He previously served as COO of Comdesco Group, Inc., focusing on fiber network and data center construction management and consulting. He founded Chicago Fiber Systems, demonstrating his commitment to industry advancement. Underdown's extensive background spans strategic leadership in operations engineering, market development, real estate, and financial consulting. He specializes in new market and channel sales development, leveraging his diverse experience to drive company success.