Managing Internet Installations
In these times, very few businesses operate without Internet access. While there are many Internet Service Providers (ISP) to choose from, there are some things that you should be aware of.
Many times I have seen the ISP show up at a business, install the equipment, and be on their way too quickly. Some of these installers are not cognizant of the fact that businesses often have different requirements than the typical home user. As an example, remote access may be needed. This may be used by your support company to access your systems for maintenance. It may be used for remote access to your systems when you are not in the office.
Whatever the reason, for security purposes, remote access is almost always disabled in the default setup. That means, that either, you, the ISP, or your support company needs to setup remote access. In my experience, it is better if your support company does it. To accomplish this you need to have the login credentials (username and password) for your router. I have found the installers do not leave this information with you the customer. So, at a minimum, make sure that you get the router login credentials when the ISP installs your equipment.
Another common problem results when there has been a connection problem, and the ISP works on the connection. Too many times, The technician will go on-site, and resets the equipment. They may not check for any special requirements and setup configuration changes you needed. This can mean that your remote access is turned off again. Your systems may not even be able to connect to the Internet if you are using static IP numbers to permit remote access in house.
To minimize these concerns call your support company before the ISP technicians leave. That way, all of your required setup can be tested while they are still there.
Dave.