Just Lost Internet in the Building – What Does a Small Business Do?

• Share on
• 
• 
• 

We’ve all become so reliant on the internet in business that losing connectivity can be, well, pretty frightening! Halted operations, disrupted communications, and severely hamstrung productivity. The consequences can be dire. 

However, with the right approach, you can quickly minimise the disruption. 

This guide to internet outage solutions will provide practical steps to:

• address immediate issues, 
• troubleshoot effectively, 
• find alternative solutions, and 
• implement preventative measures.

In short, everything you need to ensure your business stays connected even when the unexpected happens.

Immediate Actions to Take

1. Assess the Scope of the Outage

•   Identify the Issue: Determine if the internet issue is isolated to a single device or if it affects the entire building. This helps in narrowing down the potential causes.
•  Communicate with Staff: Quickly inform your team about the issue and gather information on who is affected.

2. Estimate Downtime

•    Evaluate the Situation: Based on initial checks, estimate how long the connectivity might be out. This allows staff to switch to alternative solutions without unnecessary delay.
•    Provide Guidance: Inform employees of the expected downtime and suggest immediate actions or alternative tasks.

3. Check Physical Connections

•    Inspect Cables and Routers: Ensure all cables, routers, and modems are securely connected. Loose connections are often a simple- yet overlooked- cause of outages.
•    Verify Power Supply: Make sure that all networking equipment is powered on and functioning properly.

4. Restart Equipment

•    Reboot Devices: Restart routers, modems, and any affected devices. This can resolve many temporary connectivity issues.
•    Sequence the Restart: Turn off the modem first, then the router, wait for a few minutes, and then power them back on in the same order.

Taking these immediate actions can help identify and often resolve the problem quickly, minimising downtime and keeping your business operations as smooth as possible.

Facing an internet outage and need some expert help? Contact Operum Tech!

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Contact the Internet Service Provider (ISP)

•   Report the Outage: Call your ISP to report the issue. Provide details such as when the outage started and any troubleshooting steps you’ve already taken.

2. Check for Local Outages

•    Use Mobile Devices: Use a smartphone or other mobile device with cellular data to access your ISP’s status page or an outage map. Websites like Downdetector can also provide real-time information about service disruptions.
•    Social Media and Forums: Check social media platforms and forums where other users might be reporting similar issues. This can provide additional insights into the scope and duration of the outage.

3. Perform Network Diagnostics

•    Run Diagnostics Tools: Use built-in diagnostics tools on your computers or network equipment to identify potential internal issues. Tools like Windows Network Diagnostics or macOS Wireless Diagnostics can help pinpoint problems.
•    Analyze Error Messages: Pay attention to any error messages or diagnostic reports generated. These can provide clues about whether the issue is with your ISP, your network hardware, or your internal network configuration.

Taking these troubleshooting steps can help you determine whether the issue is with your ISP or within your internal network, guiding you toward the appropriate solution and reducing your downtime.

Alternative Solutions During the Outage

1. Use Mobile Hotspots

•   Set Up Hotspots: Employees can use their company (or personal) smartphones as mobile hotspots to maintain internet access for critical operations. Ensure devices are configured for tethering and that data plans can handle the increased usage.
•   Distribute Hotspot Devices: If available, distribute dedicated mobile hotspot devices to key personnel to keep essential functions running smoothly.
•   Prioritize Essential Tasks: Use mobile data selectively for essential operations to manage bandwidth effectively.

3. Temporary Work from Home/Coffee Shop Arrangements

•    Remote Work Option: Allow employees to work from home if they have a reliable internet connection. 
•    Local Alternatives: Got a Costa or Starbucks (other coffee shops are available!) nearby with wi-fi access? This can be a workable temporary solution.
•    Co-working spaces: Many co-working spaces now do a daily rate for people to work in. Do you have one nearby? 

4. Utilise Offline Work Methods

•    Offline Tasks: Identify and encourage tasks that don’t require internet access, such as drafting documents, organising files, or planning upcoming projects.
•    Sync Later: Employees can prepare work offline and sync their progress once the internet is restored.

These alternative solutions can help your business maintain productivity and operational continuity even during an internet outage.

Preventative Measures for the Future

1. Invest in Redundant Internet Connections

•   Secondary Connections: Consider installing a secondary internet connection from a different ISP. This redundancy ensures that if one provider experiences an outage, your business can switch to the backup connection seamlessly.
•    Automatic Failover: Implement automatic failover systems that switch to the secondary connection without manual intervention, minimising downtime.

2. Implement Backup Solutions

•    Cloud Services: Utilise cloud-based services for data storage and essential applications. Cloud services can be accessed from any location with internet access, providing vital flexibility during outages.
•    Regular Backups: Schedule regular backups of critical data to cloud storage to ensure data integrity and availability even if local systems are affected.

3. Regular Maintenance and Monitoring

•   Scheduled Checks: Perform regular maintenance checks on your network hardware, including routers, modems, and cables, to prevent potential issues.
•    Network Monitoring: Use network monitoring tools to keep an eye on network health and performance. Early detection of anomalies can help prevent major disruptions.

Implementing these preventative measures can significantly reduce the risk of internet outages, ensuring your business remains resilient and operational even during unforeseen disruptions.

Key Takeaways

1. Immediate Response: Assess the scope of the internet outage and check physical connections.

2. Troubleshooting: Contact your ISP, check for local outages, and run network diagnostics.

3. Alternative Solutions: Use mobile hotspots, company mobiles, or allow temporary work-from-home arrangements.

4. Preventative Measures: Invest in redundant internet connections, implement cloud-based backup solutions, and conduct regular network maintenance.

Losing internet connectivity can be a significant disruption for any small business, but with the right approach, you can minimise the impact on operations (and your blood pressure!) 

Preparedness is key, and these strategies ensure your business is ready and resilient.

For expert advice and support in implementing these internet outage solutions, contact Operum Tech today.