What is network congestion and how do you fix it?

Identifying the issue is the first step in tackling network congestion. But understanding how to reduce network congestion is where the real work begins.

How to reduce network congestion

Most businesses will experience some network congestion at some point. Especially if you are operating globally and have a lot of devices, applications and people sending traffic through the network daily.

When it comes to fixing network congestion, here are some practical strategies to get your connection back on track and your data traffic moving:

• Monitor network traffic

Deploy network management and monitoring tools that accurately show you network traffic volumes. This will help you diagnose network congestion as quickly as possible and understand where it is coming from.

• Upgrade your bandwidth

Sometimes, the easiest solution is to increase your network's capacity. Contact your internet service provider (ISP) to explore plans with higher speeds or more bandwidth. Increasing your bandwidth will allow your network to handle more data and devices at the same time. This will ensure your users see uninterrupted connections and faster speeds.

• Prioritize your traffic

Identify any unnecessary or low priority traffic and prioritize your network traffic so that bandwidth is reserved for certain applications, users and devices.

You can also prioritize network traffic by scheduling any activities that require large amounts of network bandwidth for a time when users will not be using it. This helps avoid network congestion and keeps bandwidth high during business hours.

• Deploy to SD-WAN

If you're managing a network for a global business with a cloud-first strategy, traditional broadband or network infrastructure might not cut it. Software Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) solutions can optimize traffic flow and provide more flexible bandwidth management using multiple links and pathways.

SD-WAN can help you implement Quality of Service (QoS), which is a method of prioritizing critical applications like video conferencing or VoIP over less essential activities like file downloads. Creating a set of site profiles with similar application usage will allow you to prioritize your traffic with ease across global sites.

• Optimize device usage

Reduce the number of devices connected to your network during peak hours. Encourage users to disconnect devices they’re not actively using.

• Work with a Managed Service Provider

When you work with a Managed Service Provider (MSP), like Expereo, to manage your network, they can help you identify not only your current bandwidth needs, but also your future ones too. This allows you to scale your connectivity needs and network as you grow and transform, reducing the likelihood of congestion. A trusted partner monitoring and managing your network’s performance and health also means you can increase the amount of high-performance uptime across the board – in every location!

• Reassess your network architecture

Sometimes, congestion isn’t just about bandwidth. It can be about how your network is structured. If your network relies too heavily on a centralized hub or routes all traffic through a single point, it may struggle to scale with your needs. Revisiting your architecture with an eye toward decentralization and flexibility can significantly improve performance. You may find that regional breakout points, better load balancing, or more efficient routing protocols can reduce traffic pressure without requiring new infrastructure.

• Enable application-level traffic shaping

Not all data is equal. Some apps are designed to handle a delay without issue, while others. For example, real-time video or video streaming applications demand consistent performance. By using application-aware traffic shaping tools, you can assign policies that ensure your most critical apps get the bandwidth and priority they need. This makes your network more efficient and reduces user frustration during peak demand.

By following these steps, you can reduce the likelihood of a congested network for smoother operations and happier users. But staying proactive is the key to optimizing your network’s performance and reducing network congestion in our opinion!

Why network congestion matters more than ever

Today’s enterprise networks support more users, more apps, and more locations than ever before. A lagging network doesn’t just slow down work, it can delay critical decisions, disrupt customer interactions, and affect your bottom line.

That’s why managing congestion has become more than just a technical necessity. It’s now a business imperative. With cloud apps, hybrid teams, and AI workloads becoming the norm, your network must be ready to handle the load without hesitation.

Take your network faster to the future with Expereo

Your business deserves a network that can support your current needs, and your future ones.

With 20 years’ experience and managing thousands of networks globally, we understand the Internet better than anyone. We can work with your unique needs to design, build and run a high-performing enterprise network that’s fit for the future.

Get in touch to discuss your needs and prevent network congestion from slowing your goals down.