Almost half (46%) of businesses reported feeling frustrated about WAN (Wide Area Network) connectivity issues and could see a drop in productivity as a result, a new survey reveals. The survey also shows that businesses with between 10-49 office locations are more likely to experience network problems than other organisations, with 29.5% and 31% of employees reporting WAN frustrations respectively. 

Connectivity issues are also more likely to impact mid-level employees, as just 14% of workers who reported feeling frustrated were at a senior level, including managers, seniors, supervisors, directors and CEOs. Over half (55%) of senior-level employees who reported frustrations were managers, while 23.5% were directors and just 3.1% were CEOs. Security engineers are most likely to be extremely frustrated with their network, accounting for 38.5% of respondents. 

But why is this concerning, what can you do to improve your WAN connectivity, and what does it mean for businesses who have made a shift to remote working? 

What is WAN and why is it important for businesses?

A WAN is an IP-based network that connects two or more business locations, allowing you to access internal communications, computer systems and your intranet from multiple locations. There are two different types of WAN: peer-to-peer networks and virtual private networks. Peer-to-peer networks are designed to link local sites that sit within a 45km radius of one another through leased lines, while the VPN is designed for offices that are distributed around the country. 

VPNs are best for businesses which handle confidential data as they are encrypted, meaning that everything sent on the network is private, and that only workers who are given private network permissions can access it. Therefore, if you need to share sensitive data between multiple businesses – especially while working from home –  or you’re looking to branch out to several office locations, WAN is an essential part of operations. 

A WAN allows you to centralise your company’s IT infrastructure, meaning you’ll get things done quicker, be able to make regular security updates and maintain operation across the board. WANs also offer much faster upload streams than traditional internet connections as they operate on leased lines rather than broadband connections. They utilise unlimited data transfer on most plans so you don’t have to worry about running into sharing complications. 

Poor connectivity and its impact on productivity

Poor connectivity could lead to a drop in productivity and morale, especially given the shift to remote working, as a recent survey conducted by The Guardian shows that 62% of home-based workers rely on technology to help them stay connected to their colleagues. Common WAN concerns reported by businesses include slow application response time, limitations to business performance, cost and adaptability, as 50.5% of respondents also report struggling with connectivity speed between offices. 

Around 1.7 million people in the UK primarily work from home each year, accounting for around 5% of the national workforce. Time spent online has also increased substantially, as 36% of consumers have started using video conferencing for the first time during lockdown. The financial and reputational impact of a data breach depends on how long it takes to identify and rectify a cybersecurity issue. Without regular enforcement, network security grows inconsistent and ultimately weaker across all sites – meaning both homes and offices.  

These WAN issues could prove dangerous for businesses as unsatisfactory network connections significantly increase the chance that users will turn to insecure internet connections or devices to carry out their work. The risks of unsecured WAN include an increased threat from viruses and malware. 

This is concerning, as almost a third (28%) of Brits claim they’ve experienced worse network connectivity since lockdown began. Furthermore, 45% of businesses are not open to introducing secured internet connectivity to their business network, despite 50% of respondents saying WAN causes issues for them. 

An increase in scams during the pandemic

This is particularly concerning during the pandemic, as recent studies suggest that cyberattacks have risen significantly while lockdown was in place. In early April, the FBI warned that businesses which perform funds transfers were seeing an increase in fraud, specifically in scams designed to exploit Covid-19. 

And it’s not just working professionals who have noticed an increase in cybersecurity issues – in late March, the FBI warned of teleconference hijacking after two Massachusetts schools were ‘zoombombed’ by individuals who accessed virtual classrooms to shout profanities and display hate symbols. 

This risk increases as employees work from home, as home wireless networks aren’t subject to the same levels of security, maintenance or monitoring as business wireless networks. Despite this, 45% of businesses are not open to introducing secured internet connectivity to their business network, despite 50% of respondents saying WAN causes issues for them. 

How to protect against cyberattacks

Given that the time spent online is likely to continue as Brits are encouraged to work from home, people should take preventative measures against hackers. These include: 

• Removing networks you don’t need from your preferred network list so your device knows which connections to trust. 
• Use a VPN to keep local traffic encrypted . 
• Never reuse passwords for your WiFi routers as a weak password can make it easier for hackers to break into your network. 
• Update your firmware but check whether doing so will default your router back to original settings. 
• Make sure you have a dependable router that utilises modern tech for added security. 

Bill Strain, director, iomart, comments on the importance of secured internet connectivity, saying: “Although businesses may be reluctant to invest in network security due to cost concerns, the security implications of an unstable network could prove catastrophic in the event of a breach. 

“Remote workers are more vulnerable to breaches such as ransomware, viruses or hacking, as critical office security measures are less likely to be in place. Investing in secure connectivity will help minimise the potential threats from bad actors and improve long-term business productivity and performance.”

Survey conducted by iomart.com,