Guest WiFi: security risk or smart business move?

When clients, suppliers or customers walk into your premises, they usually expect to be able to get online. But for many businesses, handing over the WiFi password is rightly considered too much of a risk.
That dilemma was highlighted by our recent research. While 20% of businesses know that poor WiFi causes frustration for their guests, 38% say they want to offer guest access but hold back because of security concerns.
The good news is you don’t have to choose between being hospitable and putting your business security at risk.

The problem with sharing your main password

If you’re handing out your main office WiFi password to visitors, you’re opening up your internal network to devices you don’t control. Which brings two risks.
First, there’s the security element. If a visitor’s phone or laptop is compromised, it’s now sitting on the same network as your business files, servers and connected hardware.
Then there’s the performance drain. If a customer connects to your main network and their phone starts downloading a massive software update, it eats up your bandwidth. That can easily slow down your staff. If bandwidth is tight, it might even stop your card machines from working.

The easy fix: a guest network

The easiest way to solve this problem is with a dedicated guest network. Almost half (49%) of the businesses we surveyed agreed they’d benefit from having one.
A guest network acts like a completely separate lane on your internet connection. It gives visitors the access they want but physically blocks them from seeing your business hardware or sensitive data. It also allows you to cap the bandwidth your guests can use, ensuring your business doesn’t slow down when Mr. Smith’s trying to stream videos in the waiting room.

Turning convenience into business benefit

Setting up a guest network can solve a security headache. It lets you allocate your bandwidth better. And it also opens up other opportunities for your business.
There are already plenty of statistics highlighting that customers stay longer and spend more when you offer guest WiFi. But there’s more.
Instead of just handing people a password on a scrap of paper, you can use a “captive portal”. That’s the branded web page that pops up on a user’s screen when they try to connect, asking them to log in or accept terms and conditions.
A captive portal turns a free perk into a highly effective business tool. Because you control the page they see first, you can guide them exactly where you want them to go.
If you run a café, you can automatically redirect connected guests straight to your digital menu. If you sell computer components or run a retail shop, you can send them to today’s price list, your latest promotional offers, or a sign-up page for your mailing list. If you provide professional services, you can point guests to a page explaining your services or prompt them to leave a quick review while they wait.
It’s a free and easy way to enhance the customer experience while simultaneously putting your most important information right in front of them.

How to get started

Setting up a guest network is actually pretty straightforward, and you rarely need an IT expert to do it.
If you use one of our FRITZ!Box routers, you can follow our step-by-step guide to setting up guest WiFi and a captive portal.
If you use our eero for business solution, creating and managing a secure guest network takes just a few taps inside the eero companion app.