The Local Area Network or LAN is simply the means and mechanisms connecting all of your office computers, printers and computing devices together. Years ago, a 10MB hub connected computers. Today, the standard 100MB switched networks often are upgraded to 1000MB (gigabit) network to improve local application performance.

Networks perform their magic by utilizing collections of switches, routers, firewalls and an abundance of cable. High speed wireless is replacing cables in newer and upgraded networks. Network equipment can be low end or very high end with performance that reflects investment. It’s important to understand or have a trusted consultant that understands sizing and all of the interactions between networking and applications before making any investment in your networking infrastructure.

QuickBooks depends upon general network performance for it’s ability to communicate well between systems in a client server QuickBooks multi user setup. Consequently, various QuickBooks configuration issues must be considered along with network capacity when planning a large QuickBooks installation. The primary QuickBooks considerations revolve around how many people will eventually need access to QuickBooks and how many additional QuickBooks add on applications will need to be run to achieve business workflows.

QuickBooks is also sensitive to security software. It’s very important to distinguish between firewall or security software and antivirus software. Each desktop computer that runs QuickBooks needs an antivirus program. However, do not use comprehensive security software. One or more firewall software installations on a QuickBooks computer will cause QuickBooks to run very poorly or not at all. Turn off the Windows firewall and remove any security software except a single antivirus program.

A firewall’s place is at the gateway to the Internet. Install a SonicWALL Totalsecure unified threat management device as your only firewall. Maintaining your network’s security cannot be overstated. UTM devices prove themselves superior to any other method day after day.

While your competitors worry about malware, phishing attacks and slow moving accounting software, you’ll be speeding around in QuickBooks and surfing the Internet without fear.