Is Your Team Struggling With Network Latency? Here’s Your Solution

Network latency is a common problem that many businesses face, but one that you can easily resolve. In this article, we'll cover the main causes of network latency, how to measure it and 5 things you can do to solve latency issues and improve overall network performance.

What are the main causes of workplace network latency?

Network latency is the delay that occurs when data is transmitted from one device to another. There are several factors that can contribute to network latency, including:

1. Network congestion

Network congestion occurs when there's too much traffic on a network, causing data to be delayed. Research shows that latency lags of just 100ms can cost millions in lost productivity, sales and customers. In the worst case, when latency leads to network failure, Gartner estimates the cost to business of $5,600 per minute or $300,000 per hour. 

2. Distance

The physical distance between devices can also contribute to network latency. The farther data has to travel, the longer it takes to reach its destination. And with multiple cloud services and edge networks communicating with each other, some data has very long trips.

3. Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted over a network at a given time. If a network has insufficient bandwidth, data may be delayed as it waits for available bandwidth.

4. Network equipment

Outdated or poorly configured network equipment can also contribute to network latency. This can include routers, switches and other network devices. Older equipment is also more prone to security vulnerabilities.

How to measure network latency

Before you can solve network latency issues, you need to be able to measure the scope of the problem. There are several tools available that can help you measure network latency, including:

1. Ping

Ping is a command-line tool that sends a small packet of data to a network device and measures the time it takes to receive a response. This can help you determine the latency time between two devices for localized issues.

2. Traceroute

Traceroute is a tool that helps you trace the path that data takes from one device to another. This can help you identify where latency issues are occurring.

3. Network analyzers

Network analyzers are tools that help you monitor network traffic and identify latency issues. These tools can provide real-time data on network speed and performance, and provide high levels of automation to deliver analytics and alerts.

5 things you can try to solve your network latency

Now that you understand the main causes of network latency and how to measure it, let's explore some solutions to help improve your network speed and reduce latency issues.

1. Upgrade your network equipment

One of the easiest ways to improve on-premises network latency is to upgrade your network equipment. This can include routers, switches and other devices. Upgrading to newer, more powerful equipment can help your team address network issues and poor performance.

2. Optimize your network configuration

Another way to reduce latency issues is to optimize your network configuration. This can include adjusting network settings, such as bandwidth allocation and Quality of Service (QoS) settings. By optimizing your network configuration, you can help ensure that data is transmitted more efficiently and reduce latency issues.

3. Implement a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers that are designed to deliver content quickly and efficiently across larger or data-intensive organizations. By implementing a CDN, you can help reduce latency issues by delivering content from a server that is geographically closer to the user.

Learn more: Can a CDN Really Protect You Against DDoS Attacks?

4. Use network acceleration tools

Network acceleration tools are designed to address network performance issues. These tools can compress data, optimize TCP/IP connections, and reduce the number of round trips that data has to make.

5. Monitor and manage network traffic

Finally, it's important to monitor and manage network traffic to reduce performance issues. This can include identifying and eliminating bandwidth-hogging applications, managing network congestion, and prioritizing network traffic.

As company networks become more complex, with edge networks, private 5G networks, multiple cloud services and more powerful in-office WiFi and networks, plus remote workers accessing networks from home and other locations, the need to manage and monitor networks and data deliver is critical.

Using all of these tools, working with network partners or hiring network specialists are all key to ensuring business continuity and smooth operations.

Final thoughts

Network latency can be a frustrating problem that can impact your company's productivity and efficiency. However, by understanding the main causes of network latency, measuring network latency and implementing the right solutions, you can reduce network performance issues and improve your network speed.

Don't let network latency hold you back - try implementing some of these solutions today and see the difference it can make for your team and your company.