Any service provider can have a bad day now and then. An important piece of equipment might fail, for example, and need to be repaired or replaced.
If the service provider hit by the unexpected problem is supplying internet connectivity to a business, electronic communications might be interrupted, at least briefly. For some businesses, a temporary stop in internet service might not be a big deal. However, for others maintaining connectivity might be extremely important.
Businesses in the Sioux Falls region can reduce the likelihood of losing connectivity by having two, separately based and maintained connections to the internet. And they don’t have to deal with two different internet service providers (ISP) to get dual connections.
Dual connections, provided by two different Autonomous System Numbers (ASN), are among the services that SDN Communications offers business clients to help them protect their networks.
An ASN is a protocol routing number that uniquely identifies every network on the internet. Getting more than one ASN gives a business the protection of diverse and redundant internet services.
“If they have two connections to SDN and one has a bad day, the other should be fine,” says Gary Glissendorf, a network architect at SDN. “It’s a good way to protect yourself.”
Related Blog: SDN network architect Gary Glissendorf is a self-taught expert
The benefits of diversifying risk aren’t something that SDN just talks about. The company practices diversification and redundancy. For example, SDN has two geographically separated data centers located a few miles apart to store equipment and information. The company also has about 25 large connections to the internet.
Jake VanDewater, director of network operations at SDN, talked about the value of having two ASNs during an Uptime University presentation to business representatives in Sioux Falls (watch below). Having multiple ASNs is like having multiple internet providers. It helps businesses diversify their connectivity risks, he said.
SDN clients don’t have to go to a second provider for the second connection, either. SDN can provide both connections.
Offering two ASNs isn’t a new service. It’s been available for a few years. But with the business world’s growing dependence on the internet and electronic records, the service might be more relevant than ever.
In addition to its ability to provide businesses with dual ASNs, SDN offers several other services that can help companies protect their networks. Among the services are:
- Managed DDoS Protection: Any business connected to the internet is the potential target of a Distributed Denial of Service attack, which can overwhelm a network service. Managed DDoS Protection monitors and mitigates such attacks.
- Managed Routers: SDN will effectively deploy and maintain routing hardware, and replace it when necessary to help keep clients’ networks operating smoothly. Another benefit for the client is that predictable subscription fees replace the need for a large, upfront investment in equipment.
- Managed Firewall: Next-generation firewalls deployed by SDN are key components in providing businesses with digital security. Firewalls filter internet traffic and help protect any device with an IP address.
- Remote Network Monitoring: SDN’s Network Surveillance Center remotely monitors customers’ network performance 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Trained technicians look for potential problems and promptly report threats to clients.
Request more information about these products or any of SDN's services by visiting the Contact page and filling out the form or call 800-247-1442.
