Understanding Quality of Service (QoS) in Business IT Networks

Modern businesses rely on their networks for nearly everything they do. Employees use cloud applications, video conferencing, VoIP phone systems, business Wi-Fi, file sharing, security systems, and other connected technologies throughout the workday. When network traffic becomes congested, critical applications can experience delays, interruptions, poor call quality, and reduced performance.

Quality of Service (QoS) is a network management technology that helps businesses prioritize certain types of network traffic so important applications receive the bandwidth and network resources they need.

For businesses that depend on reliable connectivity, understanding Quality of Service (QoS) in business networks can be an important part of maintaining network performance.

What Is Quality of Service (QoS)?

Quality of Service, commonly called QoS, is a set of networking technologies and configurations designed to manage and prioritize network traffic.

Not all network traffic has the same requirements. A large file download, for example, can usually tolerate some delay. A VoIP phone call or video conference cannot. Even small amounts of latency, jitter, or packet loss can cause noticeable problems with real-time communications.

QoS allows network administrators to identify different types of traffic and establish priorities for how that traffic should be handled.

Depending on the network configuration, QoS can help prioritize applications such as:

• VoIP phone calls
• Video conferencing
• Business-critical cloud applications
• Remote desktop connections
• Point-of-sale systems
• Security and surveillance systems
• Business Wi-Fi traffic
• Data and file transfers

The goal is not necessarily to make the network faster. Instead, QoS helps ensure that the most important traffic receives appropriate priority when network resources are limited.

Why Does QoS Matter for Business Networks?

Business networks can carry an enormous amount of traffic. Employees may simultaneously participate in video meetings, make phone calls, access cloud applications, upload files, stream presentations, and connect to business systems.

When too much traffic competes for available bandwidth, network congestion can occur.

Without appropriate traffic management, less important network activity can potentially interfere with applications that require consistent performance.

QoS can help businesses manage network congestion by giving priority to traffic based on its importance and requirements.

For example, a business might prioritize VoIP phone traffic over a large file download. The file transfer can continue, but the phone call receives the network resources necessary to maintain communication quality.

How Does QoS Prioritize Network Traffic?

QoS works by identifying and managing different types of network traffic.

Network equipment such as routers and switches can be configured to recognize traffic based on characteristics such as application, protocol, source, destination, or other network attributes.

Traffic can then be assigned different priorities.

A simplified example might look like this:

High Priority: VoIP and video conferencing
Medium Priority: Business applications and cloud services
Lower Priority: Large file transfers and other non-critical traffic

When the network is operating normally, users may not notice QoS working in the background. Its value becomes more apparent when network traffic approaches available capacity.

Proper QoS configuration can help prevent important applications from being negatively affected by congestion.

QoS and VoIP Phone Systems

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, relies on a network connection to transmit voice communications. Unlike an email or file transfer, a phone conversation requires information to be delivered consistently and with minimal delay.

Network problems can result in:

• Delayed conversations
• Choppy audio
• Dropped calls
• Audio cutting in and out
• Echo
• Jitter
• Packet loss

QoS can prioritize VoIP traffic so voice communications receive appropriate treatment during periods of network congestion.

For businesses that depend on VoIP for customer service, sales, support, or internal communications, properly designed network infrastructure and configuration can be especially important.

QoS and Video Conferencing

Video conferencing places additional demands on a business network because it typically requires the simultaneous transmission of audio and video.

Applications such as business video meetings can be affected by latency, jitter, packet loss, and insufficient bandwidth.

When video conferencing traffic competes with other network activity, users may experience:

• Frozen video
• Delayed audio
• Pixelated images
• Audio interruptions
• Disconnected meetings

QoS can help prioritize real-time video and audio traffic, helping critical communications maintain more consistent performance when network congestion occurs.

Businesses investing in video conferencing should consider the network infrastructure supporting those systems as part of the overall solution.

QoS and Business Wi-Fi

Business Wi-Fi networks can become increasingly complex as more employees, devices, applications, and connected systems are added.

Laptops, smartphones, tablets, wireless phones, scanners, point-of-sale systems, IoT devices, and other equipment may all compete for wireless network resources.

QoS can be one component of an effective business Wi-Fi strategy.

However, QoS cannot compensate for an improperly designed wireless network. Factors such as access point placement, wireless coverage, interference, bandwidth, network capacity, cabling, and equipment configuration also affect Wi-Fi performance.

A properly designed business Wi-Fi installation should consider both the wireless environment and the wired network infrastructure supporting it.

QoS and Structured Cabling

QoS manages network traffic, but the physical network infrastructure still matters.

Poor-quality, damaged, outdated, or improperly installed network cabling can contribute to connectivity and performance problems. Businesses also need network infrastructure capable of supporting the bandwidth requirements of modern applications.

Structured cabling provides the physical foundation for many business networks, including wired computers, wireless access points, VoIP phones, video conferencing equipment, security systems, and other connected devices.

If a business is experiencing recurring network performance problems, evaluating the cabling and physical infrastructure can be an important part of determining the underlying cause.

Signs Your Business Network May Need Attention

QoS is only one part of network performance, but recurring problems can indicate that a network assessment may be appropriate.

Businesses may want to investigate their network if employees regularly experience:

• Slow or inconsistent application performance
• Poor VoIP call quality
• Video conferencing interruptions
• Unreliable Wi-Fi
• Network congestion during busy periods
• Slow access to cloud applications
• Dropped connections
• Increasing numbers of connected devices
• Performance problems after adding new technology

Before implementing QoS, it is important to understand what is actually causing the network problem. Increasing bandwidth, replacing outdated equipment, improving Wi-Fi coverage, upgrading cabling, or changing network configuration may be appropriate depending on the situation.

How Horizon Electronics Supports Business Network Infrastructure

Reliable network performance starts with more than a single router or configuration setting. Businesses need network infrastructure designed around how their organization operates and how their technology is expected to perform.

Horizon Electronics provides technology installation and infrastructure services for businesses, including structured cabling, Wi-Fi network installation, hardware installation, project management, audio-visual installation, and other technology solutions.

For businesses experiencing network performance challenges, the first step is understanding the existing environment, identifying potential bottlenecks, and determining what improvements are appropriate.

A network may need better wireless coverage. Another organization may need updated cabling or network hardware. In some situations, traffic management and QoS configuration may be part of the solution.

The right approach depends on the business, its applications, network infrastructure, and performance requirements.

QoS Is Part of a Larger Network Strategy

Quality of Service can be a valuable tool for managing network traffic, but it should not be viewed as a replacement for properly designed network infrastructure.

A reliable business network may require a combination of:

• Properly designed structured cabling
• Reliable network hardware
• Business-grade Wi-Fi
• Adequate bandwidth
• Appropriate network configuration
• Network monitoring
• Traffic management
• Properly configured VoIP and video conferencing systems
• Regular network assessments

Taking a comprehensive approach can help businesses identify problems before they affect employees, customers, or critical operations.

Need Help With Your Business Network?

If your business is experiencing slow network performance, unreliable Wi-Fi, VoIP problems, or video conferencing issues, the underlying cause may involve multiple parts of your network infrastructure.

Horizon Electronics can help businesses evaluate and implement technology solutions designed around their specific requirements, from structured cabling and Wi-Fi network installation to hardware and audio-visual installations.

A properly designed network can provide the foundation businesses need to support today's connected workplace and the technologies they plan to use in the future.

Contact Horizon Electronics to discuss your business network requirements and determine what solutions may be appropriate for your organization.

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