Having a backup connection is a useful starting point. Understanding what happens when the primary service fails is the more revealing test.
An office has two internet contracts, supplied by different providers. On paper, that may look reassuring.
But different providers do not automatically mean independent infrastructure. Services may share part of their underlying network or enter the building through the same duct. An incident affecting that shared route could interrupt both.
For landlords and occupiers, assessing resilience therefore requires a closer look at how services are delivered and what the workplace needs to keep operating.
Understand the shared dependencies
The first step is to ask providers to explain the routes serving the building.
Where are they independent? Where do they converge? Are there shared entry points or other dependencies that could affect both services?
These questions help establish what protection a second connection actually provides. They also give building teams a more informed basis for discussing resilience with prospective occupiers.
A second contract alone cannot answer them.
Check what the backup can support
A backup arrangement should be assessed against the way people use the workplace.
Keeping email available is a different requirement from supporting a busy floor of video meetings, cloud applications and other business services.
Landlords and occupiers should agree which activities need to continue during an outage and what level of disruption is acceptable. The backup can then be assessed against those priorities.
Mobile backup needs its own consideration. Its usefulness depends on the signal and capacity available where the equipment operates. Fibre connectivity to the building does not establish whether mobile coverage inside it is suitable.
Test the response
An agreed, controlled failure test can reveal more than a specification sheet.
Working with the relevant providers and occupiers, establish:
Whether the backup takes over automatically.
How long the transition takes.
Which services remain usable.
Whether anyone needs to intervene.
Who communicates with users and coordinates recovery.
Testing should be planned to manage disruption. Findings should be recorded, with clear responsibility for addressing any issues.
The purpose is to understand how the arrangement behaves under realistic conditions.
Make resilience part of the service discussion
For landlords, evidence of testing can support a more credible conversation about the building’s digital capabilities.
For occupiers, it helps clarify whether the service supports their operational needs and where further provision may be necessary.
At NCG, we help clients consider connectivity in the context of the workplace it serves, including the infrastructure, ongoing management and support behind it.
Two connections may be part of the answer. Confidence comes from understanding their dependencies and testing what happens when one fails.
Want a clearer picture of your building’s connectivity resilience? Talk to NCG about reviewing your current arrangements.
