Why connectivity is the real hero of your tech stack

Let’s start with some givens. Most tech leaders agree that reliable and secure internet connectivity is crucial for businesses. It enables efficient communication, collaboration with remote teams, access to cloud services and facilitates online customer interaction. Further, a strong and reliable source of sufficient bandwidth is necessary to ensure smooth operation of critical business systems. Another given is that today’s business applications rely on the internet. Without the internet, employees and customers often can’t perform tasks, retrieve data or complete transactions. A slow connection can and will disrupt daily work.

Here's yet another given: new and emerging technologies need more bandwidth than ever before, and connectivity has evolved to meet the requirements of modern-day technology applications. As organizations operate in an interconnected and data-driven world, their ability to transfer and use data to effectively capitalize on emerging technologies has become a determinant of success. The most successful companies will be the ones that combine a sound business strategy with top-notch technology and support.

The key to success may lie in how organizations collect and manage all the market and customer data they gather. Today, many enterprises are using artificial intelligence and machine learning to capture data and predict consumer behavior.

Nearly 50% of all company data is stored in the cloud. Internet connectivity is crucial for cloud computing, as the cloud is comprised of remote servers accessed through the internet. Without a reliable internet connection, businesses cannot access cloud services like data storage, applications, or the processing power stored on those servers.

When you consider that 29% of US business is conducted online, slow internet can certainly have a negative effect on growth. Most would agree that slower connections can negatively impact productivity, customer service and overall business growth. The inescapable conclusion is that without reliable internet connectivity, the modern enterprise would struggle to maintain efficiency and compete in today's digital landscape.

Certainly, reliable and secure connectivity can help a business get the information it needs and disperse that information in an efficient manner. Today’s applications demand bandwidth and connectivity to drive efficiency and growth.  

Fiber networks power every flavor of AI

It’s hard to escape discussion of the impact of various kinds of AI in today’s enterprises. As the Bipartisan Task Force Report found, the United States has cultivated a thriving innovation ecosystem and a flexible sectoral regulatory framework. If maintained, these strengths will help our country remain the world’s undisputed leader in the responsible design, development, and deployment of AI. However, that same report states that internet connections that lack reliable network connectivity may not meet the bandwidth requirements for data-intensive applications, including AI.

The potential for AI to drive efficiency and power growth across industries is well known. AI promises to accomplish this by automating repetitive tasks, analyzing large datasets to identify patterns, make data-driven decisions, optimizing workflows, predicting potential issues, and freeing up human workforce to focus on more complex and creative tasks.

“It’s important to understand that AI and fiber are meant for each other,” says Ron Westfall, Research Director, The Futurum Group.  

Organizations already rely on the internet and cloud-based applications to run their businesses. Everything from point-of-sale applications to supply chain management hinges on connectivity. And now, as organizations continue to add everything from AI chatbots to agentic AI, connectivity has become an even bigger issue. As always, internet-based activities carry with them a threat of data breaches. However, there are managed solutions available today that integrate fast, dependable, dedicated fiber internet service with enterprise-level cybersecurity.

Connectivity drives UCaaS, CCaaS and MultiCaaS

Business efficiency relies on the ability of staff to communicate anytime, anywhere with clients and colleagues. Keeping employees and customers connected over the cloud, across platforms and devices, regardless of location, is key to business success. Organizations are modernizing and simplifying with cloud-based communication services integrated into a single platform.

Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is a cloud-based service that integrates a variety of communications and collaboration technologies. It combines tools such as enterprise voice, instant messaging, desktop sharing, presence, email, voicemail, virtual whiteboards and web, audio and videoconferencing.

CCaaS stands for Contact Center as a Service, and it's a software platform that helps businesses manage customer interactions. CCaaS solutions can be used to handle large volumes of customer inquiries across multiple channels, such as phone calls, emails, and social media messages.

UCaaS streamlines internal communication and collaboration, while CCaaS providers focus on optimizing customer interactions. MultiCaaS is the consolidation of UCaaS and CCaaS features into a single cloud-based communication platform.

None of this works without reliable, secure access to the internet, and the cloud-based services that drive efficiencies and provide growth opportunities.

The most effective way to connect to all your cloud applications

Some businesses may opt to connect to clouds by using a standard internet connection. This is ideal for businesses that don’t require private access with strong security. Solutions exist that deliver high quality internet service with up to 1 gigabit speeds and service-level agreements (SLA) that ensure reliable connectivity integrated with a rapid response if service or repair is needed.

With more of their business-critical capabilities located off-premises and in the cloud than ever before, enterprises are demanding a better connectivity experience. For those who need increased security and privacy, there are managed security services available to augment those connectivity options for your business. Forward-looking organizations are finding superior business outcomes enabled by data delivery, connectivity and application performance. Realizing the business benefits that come with faster, more predictable data transfer to all their locations, organizations are demanding the benefits delivered by secure, reliable connectivity.  Without dependable connectivity, the most optimized tech stack imaginable simply does not work. 

How Spectrum Business can help

When it comes to the productivity and efficiency of your business, knowing you have a dependable connection means everything. Our full suite of internet solutions is purposefully designed to deliver strong reliability and confidence in your connection so you can reliably and efficiently connect to apps, clouds and business locations. With a partner committed to service and accountability you can accelerate your business while simplifying resource management and freeing up your time.

Our gigabit fiber network delivers consistent connectivity with speeds from 30Mb to 100 Gbps to locations nationwide. We can customize a solution that easily integrates into your network to support expanding operational needs.

Our nationwide network reach is supported by more than 245,000+ fiber-route miles coast to coast, including over 317,000 fiber-lit buildings. This means you can connect your location or expand to new locations easily, whether across town or across the country.

Find out why 80% of the Fortune 500 turn to us for technology solutions, and more about how our solutions are tailored to your connectivity goals.