Picture this: you run a modern facility that relies on a network of cables to power its operations. One day, one of the cables malfunctions, forcing your IT team to sift through a jungle of wiring to find the culprit. It’s a huge waste of talent that might have been put to better use, like securing network endpoints in your organization.
Fortunately, there is a better option. You can use structured cabling to avoid wasting staff hours when there’s an issue with one or multiple cables. It’s a great option for reducing the complexity that comes with building a comprehensive telecommunication infrastructure and improving productivity across the business.
What is structured cabling?
Structured cabling is an approach to organizing network cables in a way that makes it easier to access and replace them. This approach to cabling infrastructure comprises various smaller standard components, including patch panels, multi-fiber trunk cables, and port applications. These are used to create a cable network that’s more flexible and secure compared to networks built with traditional cabling design.
Structured cables run along the same lines as your electrical service and seamlessly plug into network switches and servers. They provide businesses and government institutions with a robust telecommunication infrastructure to transmit signals, voice, alarm, or video through the network. Many organizations have adopted or switched to structured cabling in recent years—the layout is so much better than messy, cluttered wiring that can make your premises seem uninviting.
What are the advantages of structured cabling?
Structured cabling systems are better than conventional point-to-point cabling systems in various aspects. Beyond helping eliminate disorganized masses of wiring, structured cabling offers the following benefits:
Greater Simplicity
Structured cabling provides businesses with an elegant and straightforward cable organization environment. This significantly reduces installation and maintenance time, as well as making moves, additions, and changes (MAC) simple and easy. Besides, structured cabling allows you to run different IT devices and equipment off a single system, meaning there’s no need to have multiple wiring infrastructures in the same place.
Less Downtime
Downtime can result in a significant loss of money over time. A Gartner survey suggests that companies could lose $5,600 per minute due to downtime. Typically, downtime results from human errors and mistakes associated with unorganized cable systems. Structured cabling reduces the chance of error by providing highly organized cable mapping with easily identifiable connectors. The cables are also neatly bundled and plugged into the servers, reducing the chances of electrical shocks and fires.
More Safety
Traditional cabling not only increases the odds of downtime but is also dangerous. Crowding a switch with dozens of tangled cables blocks ventilation, which results in overheating and may prevent the system from functioning correctly. With structured cabling, there’s adequate airflow because the cables do not crowd the switch. The uniform and consistent design of these cables allows for smooth installation without tangling.
High Scalability
Structured cables are built with growth and adaptability in mind. Companies that use them find it easier to add new devices, users, and technologies. Additionally, if your company outgrows its current office building, reinstalling the network infrastructure and transferring your cabling system is much less hassle than moving a complex, traditional cabling system. You can also add new systems and tools without interrupting daily operations.
Less Oversight
The design consistency of structured cabling also minimizes the need for management oversight. Any certified installer can make network modifications without prior experience with your telecommunications infrastructure. Professionally installed structured cabling comes with proper documentation, enabling adjustments to be made easily. In other words, structured cabling relieves pressure on the management to oversee and configure an otherwise complicated cabling setup.
Greater Bandwidth
Another key advantage of structured cabling is the higher bandwidth. It allows for fast data transfers, quicker loading times, and more reliable connections. The most modern structured cabling systems leverage rapid fiber optic technology with high capacity and extra bandwidth availability. Running structured cabling to the Wireless Access Point in your office will ensure that any device in range can access the system’s entire bandwidth.
Taking Advantage of Structured Cabling in Utah
As technology evolves, it’s critical for companies to have a reliable telecommunications infrastructure in place. With structured cabling, you can make your voice and data cabling systems more reliable and effective.
Great Service has been providing structured cabling services, including design, installation, and system and network infrastructure for over two decades. Our cabling systems are fully tested, labeled, and certified, so customers only get the best when they request structured cabling. From a multi-story building to a single run office, our team provides quality installation at a competitive price.