01
Start with operational requirements
The right circuit is the one that supports the work your business cannot afford to interrupt. Document applications, upload-heavy workflows, peak concurrency, remote access, voice, cameras, and planned growth before reviewing provider offers.
- Separate essential traffic from nice-to-have traffic
- Define acceptable downtime and recovery time
- Document public IP and managed-router requirements
02
Compare the service, not just the headline speed
A speed label does not explain contention, upload capacity, latency, support response, construction, or remedies after an outage. Compare offers using the same decision criteria.
| Factor | Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | Is it symmetrical or shared? | Shapes performance under load |
| SLA | What metrics and remedies apply? | Clarifies service commitments |
| Install | Is construction required? | Affects timing and cost |
| Term | What renewals and increases apply? | Affects total cost |
03
Design for failure
If being offline stops revenue or customer service, a second path may matter more than buying additional peak speed. Confirm that backup service uses meaningfully diverse infrastructure and test failover regularly.
- Use diverse last-mile technologies where practical
- Keep critical applications prioritized
- Include power, router, and firewall resilience