Digitalisation

In his Budget 2017 speech, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat noted that “Digital technology has unique potential to transform businesses, large and small, across the economyⁱ”. Thus far, digital technology has revolutionised the way we communicate and see the world, and is quickly playing an integral part in business disruption. Singapore SMEs are moving towards digitalisation to keep up with the speed of tech advancement and globalisation. Because of these digital-driven trends, it is becoming increasingly important to know what type of broadband your SME needs to tackle the digital world.

In a nutshell, “Dynamic IP addresses can change each time you connect to the Internet, while static IP addresses are reserved for you … and don't change over time.”ⁱⁱ Static IP is generally recommended for business rather than personal use, and is especially useful for SMEs who need dedicated services like FTP servers and emails.

These digital trends outlined below can help you decide if you should opt for static over dynamic broadband.

Overseas expansion

Whether you’re collaborating with overseas clients, distributors or partners, FTP servers have become a vital part of many businesses.

Singapore SMEs are turning to foreign markets for more revenue potential, and with great success. But with an office or contacts in multiple locations, keeping track and sharing data can be a hassle. With everything from communication to key information now shifted online, it has become necessary to have FTP servers capable of handling larger amounts of digital information.

With static broadband, suppliers, clients and even your own team can benefit from a more reliable and secure connection when it comes to FTP sharing.

Mobile workforce

The mobile workforce is growing at a rapid pace, whether it’s to offer staff world-class training, outsource resources, or simply give your team the freedom to work beyond office walls. 

Companies are slowly stepping up to the plate to enable out-of-office access and collaboration, with 90% of Fortune 1000 companies planning to replace their on-premise software with cloud solutions^iv. This brings about an increased need for remote access.

Remote access lets you connect to your work computer or network from a distant location. This means that the remote computer actually becomes a host on the network, something that requires a fixed address. You can consider popular remote desktop software include Windows Remote Desktop and TeamViewer.

Hosting your own website

More than half of small businesses now have their own website, or plan to set up their own website to boost visibility^v. To exercise full control over your site, consider hosting your own domain.  With your own domain, your SME can distinguish itself and control its own branding.  You are also more easily contactable with your email address linked to your domain name.

In general, when considering the type of broadband to use, static broadband comes with a host of advantages. Apart from secure payment, it is also useful in decreasing website downtime, or running a robust CCTV network. SMEs who are looking to subscribe to static broadband to cater to the evolving digital economy can find out more about StarHub’s suite of static broadband plans with fast and reliable connection.

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ⁱ http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/budget_2017/budgetspeech/pb.aspx#s3

ⁱⁱ http://www.speedguide.net/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-dynamic-and-static-137

ⁱⁱⁱ http://www.humanresourcesonline.net/42-5-of-global-workforce-set-to-be-mobile-by-2022/

^iv http://www.hrmasia.com/content/how-future-ready-your-workforce-singapore

^v https://clutch.co/web-designers/resources/small-business-websites-2016-survey

^vi https://www.greennet.org.uk/support/what-are-benefits-having-dedicated-ip-address