Network cabling is at the heart of the connectivity which drives businesses in today’s digital age. It is a fundamental part of office systems, enabling computers to connect to the internet and powering communication between nearby computers in the building. The quality and effectiveness of network cables will affect the speed in which data is transferred between devices, meaning that without a good cabling set up, you are not going to have the connectivity you require. Untidy office cabling can cause many technical and safety problems for your business. Not only is it a safety hazard, it can cause overheating, poor network performance, expensive repair costs and confusion during routine maintenance. Since a business’ overall efficiency and productivity are therefore at risk if problems arise with network cables, it is crucial to have a cable solution which is right for you.

The number of devices you want to be connected to the office’s network will give you an idea of how many cables are needed. Constraints in terms of office layout, such as the location of the sever room and the number of walls, will demonstrate any compromises you need to make when installing network cabling. If you are considering expanding your business in the future, you might want to choose a cabling set up which is flexible and allows for changes. As office cabling varies between each business for these different reasons, it is essential that every aspect of installation is carefully thought out beforehand.

If you want to ensure that your office’s network cabling is installed, maintained and managed efficiently, take a look at the following tips:

As the saying goes, fail to plan, plan to fail. When looking at your network cabling it is important to plan every aspect, right from the cables themselves through to the logistics of the installation. It’s important to plan the installation for when the office is quiet, when there are no clients in and minimal staff members. If you are moving to a new office, ensuring you have considered all the requirements and structured the layout fully will aid in getting the best network cabling for your business requirements.

It can become difficult to keep track of cables running through walls and across several rooms if they are not properly marked.

By categorising groups of cables of the same type, it will be quicker and simpler to troubleshoot connectivity problems. Using different colours for cables with certain purposes means cables can be rapidly identified and checked if a network issue arises.

Knowing exactly where each cable originates and where it is intended to go proves very beneficial. Since office networks require a multitude of cables to work effectively, not labelling the network cables will be problematic if you need to disconnect any cabling or relocate your office. Labelling the cables will therefore avoid costly wasted time, as well as the uncertainty of where to reconnect cables.

Cables which are too long for the connection they are making can cause unnecessary issues. Some types of cable provide greater signal at shorter lengths. This will make the maintenance of cables easier and reduce the amount of time needed to rectify any connection problems. It will also help to keep your office tidier, compared to cables which are tangled and winding around the data server. If you do not want to cut cables in case you move or reconfigure your office in the future, you can secure them with cable ties to prevent safety hazards and keep them looking tidy.

 

Whilst these tips will help ensure that office network cabling is properly implemented and continues to be efficient, in reality the process can be far trickier. It is therefore useful to have professional assistance with your networking needs.