The world we live in today has become increasingly connected. Not long ago, most people only had a desktop computer and maybe, a laptop computer that needed access to the Internet or maybe a network-connected printer. In just a few short years it seems that every device in our lives can now communicate with other devices, store data on some remote location, automate some process, or allow us to communicate with each other in new and exciting ways. In fact, it is estimated that the number of connected devices will exceed 50 billion by the year 2020. It is not an exaggeration to compare a home’s network to the digital “backbone” of your home that all other home technologies rely on.
This means that the Wi-Fi and the local area networks (LANs) within people’s homes have become substantially more robust in a very short period of time. It also means that consumers may have negative experiences using networking hardware not engineered for today’s higher bandwidth demands and the massive increase in the number of devices. This article explains why an enterprise-grade network is a MUST in every luxury home.
If You Had to Choose: Water or Internet?
Most people today would rather live without water for 24 hours than try to live without Internet access for the same amount of time.
And they’d willingly sacrifice their laptop or desktop computer in favor of a robust network connected to their mobile devices, smart TV, and streaming audio and video services. The Internet is not just for surfing the Web or checking Facebook anymore. Increasingly, it powers mission-critical systems in homes, from door locks and climate control to high-tech home entertainment systems. (And if you don’t think entertainment is critical, try being stuck in a power outage with a surly teenager.)
Large businesses have had critical network needs for many years. Their requirements have typically been based on a need to ensure that the network is robust, secure, and scalable. Today’s best home technology integrators are using similar networking hardware, setup, and monitoring to deliver networking technology that meets the demands of today's users at home.
Why You Need an Enterprise-Grade Network
When you are looking for a home technology integrator for a project greater than 2,000-square-feet (which describes most of the professional installations today), it’s important to find one who understands the importance of an enterprise-grade network.
Additionally, the integrator must have the capabilities to deliver the components and services that make up an enterprise-grade system - either through their in-house staff or through a third-party networking provider. An enterprise-grade network deployment fulfills the following requirements that are not available with most consumer-grade home networks. Keep reading, there is a section dedicated to explaining the ins and outs of enterprise-grade networking components and what you need to know to ensure the network in your home is as secure and reliable as possible.
Extended Wi-Fi Range and Bandwidth
Do family members often stream video in far-flung locations of the house or across your property at the same time? Do you run bandwidth-hungry applications such as Video over IP (think accessing surveillance camera video or watching the same video content on several TVs simultaneously) for business or personal use at home? Do you host large parties in your home and want to provide your guests with the convenience of reliable Wi-Fi? Do you want your home’s Wi-Fi to reach distant areas of your property, such as poolside, beachside, or on a nearby sports court?
Homes constructed in the 1950s and 1960s typically maxed out at 2,000-square-feet. But today’s luxury homes start at 3,000-square-feet or bigger. Home technology integrators regularly work in homes of 5,000-square-feet and larger. An HTA Certified integrator who works at the Luxury & Estate levels may regularly install systems in homes from 10,000-square-feet up to 100,000-square-feet.
Enterprise-grade products are designed for buildings of similar sizes and designed to accommodate a greater quantity of users. Any time you need Wi-Fi coverage to extend greater than 2,000 feet, you need multiple Wi-Fi access points, which are standard practice with enterprise-grade systems.
The vast majority of customers outfitting their homes with a new Wi-Fi network do not want a product that will have to be pushed to its limits just to reach across their home. Instead, they want a product designed for their space, or larger, so it can easily perform in their home environment.
Scalability to Grow with the Customer's Needs
Of course, not every residential project spans dozens of acres. But, regardless of the size of the home and property, the bandwidth requirements and the number of devices on the network will only continue to grow as new technology becomes available.
For instance, who would have imagined Internet-connected refrigerators or doorbells ten years ago? We can only guess what’s next – or how much bandwidth it will require. Today’s networks need to scale with clients’ needs.
Enterprise-grade equipment is constructed to be perpetually scalable, and if properly engineered, there will be limited downtime during an upgrade and a much lower risk of catastrophic network failure.
What Goes into An Enterprise-grade Network
It takes some very specific elements to fulfill the above requirements for an enterprise-grade technology experience. Many manufacturers claim to make enterprise-grade hardware. But if those components are not paired with enterprise-grade programming from experienced engineers and remote service and support, you may not get all the benefits of a full-fledged enterprise-grade solution.
Let’s discuss all three elements of enterprise-grade networking solutions for today’s homes, so you know what to look for when choosing a home technology integrator to install and service your network.
