Can I just use the router my internet provider gave me?

For a home office, often yes. For a business with customer data, staff and guests, a managed business firewall gives you real security controls, updates and monitoring that provider routers usually don't.

Is Wi-Fi part of network support?

Yes. Wi-Fi coverage, speed and keeping guests on their own network are a big part of it.

Who do I call when the internet goes down?

If you have network support, you call your IT provider. They figure out whether it's your equipment or the internet provider, and make that call for you.

What is network support? | United IT Services

The short answer

Network support is the ongoing care of everything that connects your office: the firewall, switches, Wi-Fi and the internet connection behind them. A network support provider keeps it secure, updated and fast, watches it around the clock, and fixes it when something drops.

What's in a small business network

Most offices have the same handful of pieces. The internet comes in from your provider, passes through a firewall that decides what gets in, and a switch hands the connection out to everything with a cable. Wi-Fi access points do the same for laptops and phones.

Internet providerBrings the connection in

FirewallDecides what gets in

SwitchConnects wired devices

Main Wi-Fi access pointLaptops, tablets, phones

Extra access pointsCoverage for bigger spaces

Computers and printersEverything with a cable

ServerShared files and apps

Included in our $149 office base $15 per month each Priced separately, or not ours

What network support includes

Good network support is mostly work you never see. Here's what a provider should be doing for you every month:

Firewall management. Rules, updates and blocking the traffic that shouldn't be there.
Wi-Fi that reaches every room. Access points placed and tuned, with guests kept off your business network.
24/7 monitoring. An alert the moment the firewall, a switch or the internet connection goes down.
Scheduled patching. Firmware and security updates on every network device.
Dealing with your internet provider. When the connection is down, they call the ISP so you don't have to.
Troubleshooting. Slow connections, dropped calls, printers that vanish from the network.

Signs your network needs attention

Wi-Fi dies in the back office or the conference room.

Things slow to a crawl at the same time every day.

Customers and staff share the same Wi-Fi password.

Nobody knows the login for the firewall or router.

Your router came from a big box store years ago.

When the internet drops, nobody knows who to call.

Network support vs. computer support

They're easy to mix up. Network support looks after the connections. Computer support looks after the devices people actually use. Most small offices need both, which is why managed IT bundles them together.

Network support

Computer support

Looks after

Firewall, switches, Wi-Fi, internet

Desktops, laptops, software, email

Typical problem

"The Wi-Fi keeps dropping."

"Outlook won't open."

With United IT

$149 office base + $15 per extra device

$42 to $55 per computer

What does network support cost?

With us, network support is built into every plan. The $149 office base covers your managed firewall, main Wi-Fi access point, 24/7 network monitoring and help desk access. Extra switches, access points and VPNs are $15 a month each.

Example: an office with one switch and two extra access points

Office base$149

3 network devices × $15$45

Network, per month$194

Computers and servers are added on top at their own rates.

Common questions

Can I just use the router my internet provider gave me?: For a home office, often yes. For a business with customer data, staff and guests, a managed business firewall gives you real security controls, updates and monitoring that provider routers usually don't.
Is Wi-Fi part of network support?: Yes. Wi-Fi coverage, speed and keeping guests on their own network are a big part of it.
Who do I call when the internet goes down?: If you have network support, you call your IT provider. They figure out whether it's your equipment or the internet provider, and make that call for you.

What is network support?