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For most people outside of the tech industry, the word “redundancy” likely conjures phrases such as “sum total” or brings to mind the face of an employee who’s no longer necessary. But in the realm of networking, redundancy is a sought-after element of a reliable network. Think of it as a spare tire or an insurance policy in case your connection collapses.

Network redundancy refers to a system in which multiple data paths exist among various locations. 

Why is redundancy important?

In the event a cable, switch, or router suddenly stops working, a second pathway can be deployed instantly to minimize downtime and ensure continuity of services. Having a redundant system in your enterprise empowers you to overcome unforeseen outages and maximize uptime by instantly obviating obstructions along a critical path.

If you’re new to the concept of network redundancy, here’s an overview of what your business needs to know:

• What’s required for complete path redundancy?
  In order to establish true redundancy, you’ll need additional or alternate instances of network devices and internet service installed. Together, these serve as a backup mechanism for enterprises that need to quickly swap operations onto a secondary connection if an unplanned outage occurs.

• Is investing in network redundancy really worth it?
  How much productivity would you lose if your network fails? According to Forrester, 2 hours of internet downtime for a website with 1,000 visitors per hour equates to a loss of $47,662. For most companies, that’s nothing to sneeze at. Considering the myriad costs of unplanned downtime, it’s clear that investing in redundancy is a no-brainer.

• Do all businesses need redundant networks?
  Most businesses store critical data on behalf of clients or regulatory agencies, and losing access to such information could quickly become catastrophic. That’s why any business that relies on high availability or is involved in sensitive operations can benefit from path redundancy. After all, it’s small price to pay for peace of mind.

• What kinds of complications can cripple a network?
  Your network could collapse if a severe storm passes through, or if a construction worker isn’t paying close enough attention to what he's doing. Diversifying your network services affords you the solutions you need to survive any unplanned downtime, and a similar strategy should be applied to your phone systems as well.

• Aren’t SaaS solutions enough?
  These days, nearly all businesses transfer data and applications from their own servers to cloud-based SaaS solutions, and while such systems can certainly make your life easier when dealing with potential threats to your company, few of them offer the same protection as having a truly redundant internet connection you can rely on.

3 Things to Consider for Truly Diverse Internet Redundancy

Having smooth, uninterrupted connections throughout your network is crucial to your company’s bottom line. And with a growing number of businesses migrating critical applications to the cloud, it’s more important than ever to consider several independent ISPs to ensure reliable access to your data should disaster strike.

Ensure your ISPs aren’t vulnerable to simultaneous outages by keeping these three things in mind:

• Diverse Building Entrance – If your office can access the internet via multiple ISPs, more often than not, these providers use the same cabling to connect your building with the cloud. If those cables become compromised, your access will be down across the board.

• Diverse Path – Even if your ISPs each claim to use discrete protocols to secure the last mile of your connection, how sure can you be that your providers aren’t simply leasing fiber from the same communications conglomerate?

• Diverse Internal Wiring – Outages commonly occur when cables in a building are inadvertently cut or destroyed. If all of a building’s fiber cables are collocated in the basement, a single snip could take down every business above ground level.

For true redundancy, there's no better option than a fixed wireless connection. Fixed wireless delivers complete path redundancy because the technology doesn't rely on underground cables, which can easily be compromised. Moreover, fixed wireless connections aren't only useful in emergencies. They're often so reliable that many companies choose to use these connections as a primary means to access the internet.

How many enterprise companies have true diverse internet routes? Not nearly enough. Start incorporating network redundancy into your infrastructure to avoid unplanned outages and maintain maximum uptime. And whichever route you decide to take toward redundancy, count on MHO to provide you with an effective roadmap that ensures your system’s stability.

Sources: http://minnesotabusiness.com/when-internet-connectivity-critical-fixed-wireless-advantage
https://www.csoonline.com/article/3240975/data-protection/reliability-vs-redundancy-arent-they-the-same-thing.html
https://www.controleng.com/single-article/network-redundancy-reduces-risk-downtime/79195219a6458f7037ae31e208b4c15e.html
http://techgenix.com/importance-network-redundancy/