Many companies are increasingly considering Serviced offices for their teams, attracted by the promise of flexibility and reduced upfront investment in IT infrastructure. This shift raises crucial questions about how to best manage network connectivity and security. Traditionally, businesses in leased or owned offices manage their entire IT infrastructure, including internet, firewalls, switches, and WiFi. But in serviced office environments, much of this infrastructure is provided as part of the service package. This article delves into the considerations of whether companies should leverage the serviced office provider’s IT infrastructure or maintain their own dedicated network solutions, particularly focusing on the necessity of office-to-office VPNs.
The Core Dilemma: Serviced Office IT vs. Dedicated Infrastructure
The central question arises when comparing the familiar control of a self-managed IT infrastructure in a traditional office with the integrated IT services offered by serviced office providers. In a self-managed setup, companies dictate every aspect of their network, from firewall configuration to WiFi security protocols. Conversely, serviced offices offer a plug-and-play environment where internet and network infrastructure are readily available. The challenge is to determine if relying on this provided infrastructure, potentially supplemented by personal VPNs, is sufficient, or if deploying dedicated firewalls, switches, and office-to-office VPNs remains a necessary security and operational practice.
Arguments for Utilizing Serviced Office Infrastructure and Personal VPNs
The appeal of using the serviced office’s IT infrastructure is clear: simplicity and cost-effectiveness. It eliminates the need for capital expenditure on network hardware and reduces the operational overhead of managing it. The argument often presented is that utilizing personal VPNs for secure access to central office resources within a serviced office environment mirrors the increasingly common practice of employees working from home. In this scenario, individual users establish secure connections via personal VPNs, and the IT department generally accepts this model.
This approach can be justified by:
- Reduced Complexity: Less hardware to manage and maintain in each serviced office location.
- Cost Savings: Eliminating the need to purchase, install, and manage dedicated firewalls, switches, and WiFi equipment can lead to significant cost reductions, especially across multiple serviced office locations.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Serviced offices are inherently designed for scalability. Relying on their infrastructure aligns with this flexibility, allowing for easier adjustments to team size and office space.
- Provider Responsibility: The serviced office provider is responsible for the underlying network infrastructure’s uptime and maintenance, shifting some of the burden away from the company’s IT department.
Arguments for Maintaining Dedicated Infrastructure and Office-to-Office VPNs in Serviced Offices
Despite the advantages of utilizing the provided infrastructure, compelling arguments exist for maintaining dedicated IT infrastructure within serviced offices, particularly the continuation of office-to-office VPNs. These arguments primarily revolve around security, control, and performance consistency.
- Enhanced Security and Control: Deploying a dedicated firewall provides a crucial layer of security control. It allows for the implementation of specific security policies, intrusion detection and prevention systems tailored to the company’s needs, which might not be possible or guaranteed with the serviced office provider’s shared infrastructure. Office-to-office VPNs create a secure, encrypted tunnel between the serviced office and the central office, isolating network traffic and protecting sensitive data from potential threats within the shared serviced office network.
- Consistent Network Architecture: Maintaining office-to-office VPNs ensures a consistent network architecture across all locations, regardless of whether they are traditional offices or serviced offices. This consistency simplifies network management, security policy enforcement, and troubleshooting. It also allows for seamless integration with existing central office infrastructure and security protocols.
- Performance Predictability: While serviced offices typically offer good internet connectivity, relying on shared infrastructure can sometimes lead to unpredictable network performance, especially during peak hours. Dedicated switches and potentially dedicated internet bandwidth (negotiated with the provider) can offer more predictable and consistent network performance, crucial for business applications and real-time communications.
- Compliance and Data Protection: For organizations operating in regulated industries, maintaining strict control over network security and data flow is paramount for compliance. Dedicated firewalls and office-to-office VPNs can be essential for meeting regulatory requirements and ensuring data protection standards are consistently upheld across all office locations, including serviced offices.
Key Considerations for Decision-Making
The optimal approach depends on a company’s specific needs, risk tolerance, and IT strategy. When deciding whether to utilize serviced office IT infrastructure or deploy dedicated solutions, consider the following:
- Security Requirements: Assess the sensitivity of the data being handled and the organization’s overall security posture. Organizations with stringent security requirements will likely benefit more from dedicated infrastructure.
- Compliance Obligations: Determine if industry regulations or internal policies mandate specific network security controls that are better achieved with dedicated infrastructure.
- Performance Needs: Evaluate the performance demands of business applications and user workflows. If consistent and predictable network performance is critical, dedicated infrastructure might be preferable.
- IT Resource Availability: Consider the internal IT team’s capacity to manage and maintain dedicated infrastructure across multiple serviced office locations. The simplicity of using the provider’s infrastructure can be attractive if IT resources are limited.
- Cost Analysis: Conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis comparing the expenses of dedicated infrastructure (hardware, software, management) against the potential risks and limitations of relying solely on the serviced office provider and personal VPNs.
Conclusion
Moving to serviced offices presents a valuable opportunity to reconsider traditional IT infrastructure models. While the convenience and cost-effectiveness of utilizing the serviced office provider’s IT infrastructure are appealing, particularly when coupled with personal VPNs, organizations must carefully weigh the potential trade-offs in security, control, and performance. For many businesses, especially those with robust security requirements and compliance mandates, maintaining dedicated firewalls and office-to-office VPNs within serviced offices remains a prudent and justifiable approach. Ultimately, the decision should be driven by a comprehensive assessment of the organization’s specific needs and a clear understanding of the risks and benefits associated with each approach in the context of serviced office environments.
