Network support for Winnipeg businesses
Firewalls, Wi-Fi, remote access and monitoring: what a business network needs and what support typically covers.
What is business network support?
Business network support is the setup, monitoring and repair of the equipment that connects your staff and systems: the internet connection, firewall, switches and Wi-Fi. Printers, Wi-Fi, desk phones and new computer setups all need attention sooner or later, and a second office or warehouse adds more equipment to look after.
What a secure small-business network includes
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security’s baseline controls for perimeter defence give a practical checklist.[1]
| Network element | What the Cyber Centre recommends |
|---|---|
| Firewall | Dedicated firewalls at the boundary between your network and the internet; internet-facing servers isolated from the rest of the network |
| DNS filtering | A DNS firewall to block connections to known malicious domains |
| Remote access | A VPN gateway, with two-factor authentication, for all remote access, and a firewall between the VPN and the internal network |
| Wi-Fi | WPA2 or better, preferably WPA2-Enterprise, with Wi-Fi isolated from the rest of the network by a firewall |
| Guest Wi-Fi | Never connected to internal networks or resources such as printers |
| Point-of-sale | Isolated from the internet and from other parts of the network with a firewall; consider following PCI DSS |
| Filtering at points of ingress and egress, and DMARC on all email services | |
| Device settings | Default administrator passwords changed and unneeded features turned off on every device |
What shapes a network support quote
- How many sites you have and how much equipment is at each (firewalls, switches, access points).
- How much on-site work you expect, and whether you are close enough for quick visits.
- Whether you need monitoring and alerts, or only repairs when something fails.
- Projects such as an office move, a new site or a Wi-Fi upgrade, which are usually scoped separately from ongoing support.
The cost guide explains how a tailored quote works.
Questions to ask a provider about your network
- Who owns and manages the firewall, and who holds its administrator login?
- Is the guest Wi-Fi separated from the staff network?
- How is remote access done, and is two-factor required?
- What does monitoring cover, and who responds to an alert?
- Are site visits included, capped or billed per trip?
- Is there up-to-date documentation of the network and its equipment?
Frequently asked questions
What network security does the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security recommend?
Dedicated firewalls between your network and the internet, a DNS firewall, VPN with two-factor authentication for all remote access, secure Wi-Fi (WPA2 or better, preferably WPA2-Enterprise), never connecting public guest Wi-Fi to the internal network, isolating point-of-sale systems with a firewall, DMARC on email, and email filtering.
Is network monitoring part of managed IT?
Network monitoring is commonly part of ongoing IT support, but scope varies. Ask what is monitored (internet connection, firewall, switches, Wi-Fi), who receives the alerts and what the response is. Office moves and new installations are usually scoped as projects.
How is network support priced?
The provider you are connected with prices around your business: the number of sites, how much equipment you have, how much on-site work is needed and the support hours you want. A short callback is the quickest way to get a quote based on your setup.
Related services
- Managed IT for small business — Ongoing IT support for small offices: help desk, monitoring, patching, security and Microsoft 365 care, scoped around your business.
- Cybersecurity — The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's baseline controls in plain language, and what to ask a provider about each.
- IT consulting and outsourcing — Fully outsourced, co-managed or in-house: how the models differ and what a consulting engagement can cover.