Which router should I choose for a small business?
Routers for small businesses
A router for a business, or so-called business router, especially for a small enterprise can paradoxically be a more functional and technologically advanced device than routers dedicated to larger-scale businesses. This is because a small business does not typically have a server room where it can locate many network devices performing its functions, nor an IT department to configure and support them. The best routers for companies with several or more employees must be a kind of network "combos", combining all the required functions in a single device, while characterized by user-friendliness and easy configuration, which could be carried out even by an ordinary office worker without specialized IT knowledge.
Key features of the business router
Professional business routers should be richly equipped on the hardware side. The performance of business routers needed to support high-speed, gigabit Internet connections will be provided by a powerful processor and a stockpile of operating memory. The redundant capabilities of the hardware platform further allow for future feature development via system software updates.
Depending on the type of Internet connection, the router should have a suitable modem built-in: xDSL, cable, fiber optic or mobile (LTE/5G), or have a high-speed, preferably dedicated WAN Ethernet port for connecting an external modem.
On the local network side, the device must offer at least a multi-port gigabit Ethernet switch and a wireless access point, preferably Wi-Fi 6 with support for WiFi mesh , which will greatly simplify the configuration and automatically optimize the operation.
Firewall in a business router is one of the more important software features. To ensure the required level of security, it should offer not only the usual NAT address translation, but also a set of mechanisms Stateful Packet Inspection, actively regulate network traffic, handled by the router. Security in business routers, in what are more advanced devices, may also include a content filter to protect users of the corporate network from their own, more or less conscious, dangerous behavior.
In a corporate environment, the VPN virtual private network support built into the router will come in very handy. VPN routers allow easy, fast and secure remote working. It is possible, for example, to connect via an encrypted channel from your laptop or phone to your corporate network and use the data stored there from any point in the world. VPN routers for businesses also make it possible to connect remote networks, such as those in company branches, into a single entity completely as if they were in one building.
Advanced routers for small businesses, such as the FRITZ family of devices!Boxes have extremely useful features in such an environment, such as the ability to connect a USB drive to the router and create a secure network drive based on it, for storing important data.
An absolute rarity for FRITZ routers!Box is the fact that they have a built-in PBX for analog / ISDN handsets, DECT wireless handsets, and at the same time, at the router level, they support VoIP Internet telephony.
Comparison of popular routers for small businesses
Interactive overview of FRITZ router models!A box on the AVM website allows you to quickly choose the right model for you:
Whether our goal is simply to wiFi router for fiber optics whether you have more specific requirements and you want a business router with WiFi 6 , a clear overview will allow you to quickly choose the right solution.
