When it comes to managing your business network, you essentially have two paths: managed or unmanaged. A managed network means you hire an IT provider to actively monitor, maintain, and secure your network infrastructure. An unmanaged network leaves the responsibility mostly on your internal team or whoever set it up, with little ongoing oversight or support.
For a small business in Canada, this choice can significantly affect your daily operations. Networks that aren't actively managed tend to experience more downtime, slower performance, and higher security risks. This can lead to lost productivity, frustrated employees, and even damage to your reputation if customer data or services are affected. On the other hand, a managed network helps reduce these risks by providing proactive maintenance, timely updates, and rapid response to issues.
Why this matters for Canadian SMBs
Consider a typical Canadian company with 50 employees relying on cloud applications, email, and file sharing. If their network isn't managed, a simple misconfiguration or unnoticed hardware failure could cause hours of downtime. This might mean missed client calls, delayed orders, or inability to access critical files. Worse, without regular security monitoring, they could fall victim to ransomware or data breaches, which are increasingly common and costly.
In contrast, a managed IT provider would monitor network health 24/7, apply security patches promptly, and handle backups to minimize data loss. For example, when a switch failed in one small business, their managed IT partner detected the issue immediately, replaced the hardware overnight, and restored full service before the next business day. This level of support is difficult to achieve with an unmanaged setup.
Checklist: What to consider when evaluating your network management
- Ask your current or prospective IT provider: How do you monitor network performance and security? What is your typical response time for outages or incidents?
- Review service agreements: Look for clearly defined uptime guarantees, support hours, and escalation procedures.
- Check internal policies: Are your network devices regularly updated? Is there a documented backup and recovery plan?
- Assess access controls: Who has administrative access to your network equipment? Are strong passwords and multi-factor authentication enforced?
- Evaluate security measures: Are firewalls, antivirus, and intrusion detection systems actively managed and updated?
Common pitfalls with unmanaged networks
Many small businesses underestimate how quickly network issues can escalate. Without ongoing management, minor problems like outdated firmware or weak passwords can open doors to cyberattacks. Additionally, troubleshooting can take longer without expert oversight, extending downtime and increasing frustration.
While unmanaged networks may seem less expensive upfront, the hidden costs of disruptions and security incidents often outweigh initial savings.
Next steps: If you're unsure whether your network is adequately managed, consider consulting a trusted managed IT provider or advisor. They can assess your current setup, explain your options in plain language, and help you find a solution that fits your business size, budget, and risk tolerance.