Everything you need to know about business internet

What is business internet?

Business internet is a specific internet service dedicated to providing high-speed internet to businesses, organizations and enterprises. It typically provides faster upload and download speeds and has more features than residential internet, but it’s also much more expensive. 

What is the difference between business and residential internet? 

The difference between business and residential internet mainly comes down to speed and price. Business internet service is meant to support businesses, which requires faster upload and download speeds in order to support the internet activities of employees and daily business operations. 

Residential internet is what most people use at their homes for their internet connections. Residential internet still offers fast speeds, depending on the type of internet you get, but is far more affordable than business internet.

Learn more about home internet

Learn more about business internet

Choosing a business internet provider 

When looking for a business internet provider, you need to consider a few factors, starting with the type of internet you want. Then, consider the speed you need in order to power your business, the price point you want to stay at and the features you’re looking for.

Network type

There are a few different types of internet you can choose from: Cable, fiber, satellite, fixed wireless and 5G internet. Not all of these technology types will be available to you, so make sure you enter your business address to find the internet providers available at the service address. 

Fiber internet is the most popular type of internet for businesses since it is the fastest and most reliable internet type. Its symmetrical upload and download speeds coupled with its ability to deliver extremely high speeds make it the best choice for business internet since businesses require internet able to handle extremely high-bandwidth internet activities as well as many employees using the internet connection at once. If fiber isn’t available to you, cable internet is the next best choice. 

Speed and reliability 

When choosing the right business internet plan and speed, it’s essential to determine the speed your business needs for its everyday functions. Business internet plans have the ability to deliver much faster speeds than residential plans, but it’s still important to understand the types of internet activities taking place in your business every day. 

If you need internet for a medium to large sized business, definitely consider a multi-gigabit connection. If you frequently use high-bandwidth applications to do activities such as video conferencing and downloading or sending large files, opt for a fast connection as well. 

Also, consider the amount of people and devices connecting to the network. If you have employees who each have multiple devices connecting to the network while they participate in high-bandwidth activities, this will require more internet speed. 

Price

Business internet will be more expensive than a residential internet plan, but the price will depend on the type and speed of the connection. Different providers will offer different prices, but the faster the connection, the more expensive the plan will be. Consider your budget when choosing a business internet provider and plan. If you run a small business out of your home, you won’t need a plan as fast as someone running a larger business with many employees. 

Features

Business internet also tends to provide more features than a regular residential plan. When choosing a provider, think about the features that may benefit your business.

One of the main features of a business internet plan is its speed capacity. While speed will be the main concern when searching for the right provider or plan, many providers also offer features such as static IP addresses for better security, backup networks and service level agreements that allow for reimbursement if your service falls short. Residential providers do not offer this type of safety net. 

Business internet providers also offer customer service dedicated to business internet service, which usually entails more robust technical support than residential internet customer service. 

The best business internet service providers for small businesses

Some of the top residential ISPs in the country also offer business internet. The providers below each offer business internet plans that are ideal for smaller-sized businesses. Compare providers by price and speed, but make sure the provider is available at your business’s service address before you choose one. 

*AT&T Business Fiber: Service includes modem or gateway Equipment. Credit restrictions and other conditions and limitations may apply. Taxes & Fees: Up to $125 installation fee may apply, plus tax where applicable. A Monthly State Cost Recovery Fee applies in OH, TX, NV and a Cost Assessment Charge (up to 7%) may apply in certain states, which are not government-required. Taxes also apply. For one time AT&T transactional fees, see www.att.com/BusinessInternetFees for details. Pricing and offers subject to change without notice. Subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/internet-terms. Last updated: 04/01/24

**Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Last updated: 04/01/24

*** For first 12 months w/ Auto Pay. Last updated: 04/01/24

**** Per month. Plus taxes, fees and equipment charges. last updated 04/01/24

How to keep your business internet network safe

Cyberattacks can have dire consequences on businesses, whether it’s comprising employees or consumers, or jeopardizing the business itself. Keeping your business network safe can make all the difference when it comes to the safety of your employees, customers and organization. 

Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep your business network secure: 

• Create a cybersecurity action plan
• Train your employees
• Enforce password protection on all company devices
• Invest in firewall security
• Make backups of all data and documents in case of a breach
• Use protected and secure Wi-Fi
• Limit employee access to sensitive business information 
• Update security software regularly

Read more about these tips on how to keep your business network safe. 

Business internet FAQs