Internet Redundancy / Failover | DP Computing's Blog

In today’s digital age, businesses cannot operate without a reliable internet connection. However, recent events, such as last years Optus outage, have shown us the potential risks of relying on a single network source.

In 2023 Optus, one of Australia’s leading telecom providers, experienced a massive outage, leaving an estimated 400,000 businesses without internet or phone connectivity.

In this article, we will discuss the consequences of this outage and highlight the importance of network redundancy to ensure businesses continuity in the face of such disruptions.

The Impact of the Optus Outage

The Optus outage had a profound impact on businesses across Australia. A lot of EFTPOS / Credit Card machines rely on internet connectivity and were rendered useless, causing significant disruptions in lost opportunities and sales.

This outage hit particularly hard for businesses operating on razor-thin profit margins, as every missed transaction meant a potential loss of revenue. The inability to process payments affected businesses directly and had the potential to damage their reputation, as customers could not make purchases.

The Need for Network Redundancy

The Optus outage is a stark reminder of the importance of network redundancy. Network redundancy refers to having multiple independent network connections, ensuring that another connection can seamlessly take over if one fails.

Network redundancy can come in a few different formats including say a NBN connection and a wireless (4G / 5G) connection. it is important to have the connections over a different medium (ie wired and wireless in case of a cable cut) and with different carriers (ie if you had an Optus NBN connection and an Optus 4G connection you would have still lost connectivity during last years outage).

This redundancy is particularly critical for businesses that rely heavily on internet connectivity for their day-to-day operations, such as e-commerce websites, online service providers, connecting to staff in other locations or on the road.

While outages such as the one experienced by Optus are relatively rare, they can have severe consequences for businesses. Network redundancy is about not only outages but also slow networks, scheduled maintenance or other unforeseen circumstances.

How an IT Service Provider Can Help

Implementing and managing network redundancy can be complex for businesses, especially those without dedicated IT departments. This is where a IT or managed service providers (MSP) can play a crucial role. We specialise in providing comprehensive IT solutions and support, including network redundancy.

The MSP can identify the most suitable backup network providers, set up failover mechanisms, and ensure seamless transitions in case of network disruptions.

We currently have client using 2 or more connections to provide both redundancy and speed increases. The types of connections we have setup include:

NBN and 4G connection in a failover setup.
NBN and fixed wireless as a failover.
2x NBN, 5G and Starlink satellite in a bonded connection to provide increased speed / bandwidth and also redundancy.
Starlink satellite, NBN and 4G connections. In remote locations to provide an always on connection.

Some people ask why have more than 2 different types of connections? There are two main reasons:

the different connections can be bonded together to provide a significant increase in speeds.
we have experienced both ourselves and clients that have had multiple internet connections down at the same time. Thus a 3rd (or 4th connection) has been valuable at these times.

Conclusion: Ensuring Business Continuity

The Optus outage is a powerful reminder of the importance of network redundancy for businesses.

In a world where uninterrupted connectivity is vital, network redundancy is a proactive step towards ensuring your business stays online and provides a seamless experience for both your staff, suppliers and customers.

If you are looking to safeguard your business against network disruptions and ensure you stay online, reach out to our team of experts. We provide tailored IT solutions that keep your business connected and thriving despite unforeseen challenges.