The Hex Files
Networks and Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi, firewalls and the connections every office depends on.
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Networks and Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi, firewalls and the connections every office depends on.
- Explainer
Why guest Wi-Fi and staff Wi-Fi should be separate
Visitors need internet access. They do not need a path to your file server, printers and payment systems.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Why is the Wi-Fi slow?
Slow Wi-Fi is usually not about internet speed. Coverage, crowding, old equipment and building materials cause most problems.
1 min readRead - Explainer
What a firewall actually does
A firewall decides what traffic is allowed in and out of your network. It is also one of the most targeted devices you own.
1 min readRead - Explainer
What a VPN does, and when you need one
A business VPN connects remote staff securely to systems in the office. With more in the cloud, many businesses need it less than they used to.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Printers, cameras and smart TVs belong on their own network
Devices that rarely get updates should not sit on the same network as your computers. Separating them limits what an attacker can reach.
1 min readRead - Checklist
Working on public Wi-Fi safely
Hotel, airport and coffee shop Wi-Fi is mostly safe for modern websites, with a few important exceptions.
1 min readRead - Explainer
What happens when your internet goes down?
With phones, files and apps in the cloud, an internet outage can stop a business cold. A second connection can take over automatically.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Why internet calls break up, and how the network fixes it
Choppy or robotic calls are usually a network problem, not a phone problem. Here is what causes them.
1 min readRead - Explainer
One network for a whole building
Property owners can offer tenants and visitors Wi-Fi as part of the building, with separate, fair-shared networks for each.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Why cabling still matters in a wireless world
Good Wi-Fi depends on good cables. Access points, desks, cameras and printers all perform better with a solid wired backbone.
1 min readRead - Checklist
A safer home office network
Working from home means company data passes through a home router that may not have been touched since it was installed.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Fixing Wi-Fi dead spots
Some rooms always have weak Wi-Fi. The fix is usually where access points are placed, how many there are and what is in the way.
1 min readRead - Checklist
How to run an internet speed test that tells you something
A speed test is a good first step when the internet feels slow. Where and how you run it makes a big difference to what it shows.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Power over Ethernet: one cable for data and power
Power over Ethernet sends electricity and network data over the same cable, so access points, phones and cameras need no separate power outlet.
1 min readRead - Explainer
What is a VLAN?
A VLAN splits one physical network into separate virtual networks, so guests, phones, cameras and staff computers do not all share the same space.
1 min readRead - Explainer
What is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN uses software to manage several internet connections and office links as one, choosing the best path for each kind of traffic.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Why a home router is not enough for a business
The router from the internet provider or the electronics store is built for a home. Businesses need more control, security and support.
1 min readRead - Explainer
DNS filtering: blocking bad sites before they load
DNS filtering checks every website address before your computer connects, and blocks the ones known to be dangerous.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7: what the numbers mean
Each Wi-Fi generation handles more devices and more speed. Whether an upgrade helps depends on your devices and your building.
1 min readRead - Explainer
2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz: why Wi-Fi has bands
Wi-Fi uses different radio bands. Lower bands reach farther; higher bands carry more and get less crowded.
1 min readRead - Explainer
What a network switch does
The switch connects the wired devices in your office to each other and to the internet router. When it struggles, everything does.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Fast internet can still feel slow
Internet speed is about how much data fits through. Video calls and phones also need low delay and a steady connection.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Your firewall and Wi-Fi need updates too
Attackers target network equipment because it is often forgotten. Firmware updates fix the flaws they use.
1 min readRead - What to do if
The office internet is down
When the internet drops, a few quick checks tell you whether it is the provider, the equipment or something inside the office.
1 min readRead
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