How To Improve Network Performance 

Key takeaways:  

• Latency, bandwidth, packet loss, throughput, and jitter all affect how well your network performs. Understanding these helps pinpoint issues.  
• Fixing common issues like outdated hardware, interference, and congestion can make a big difference. Simple upgrades like better router placement or firmware updates can reduce lag, boost connection quality, and improve your experience. You won’t need a complete network overhaul.  
• Proactive steps like Quality of Service (QoS), virtual local area networks (VLANs), caching, and load balancing can keep your network running smoothly as demands grow. 

People, business tools, and everyday apps rely so heavily on the internet that strong network performance has become a necessity. People quickly notice when online services have issues. In fact, a 2023 Online Reliability Report by Chronosphere found that 94% of users felt apps and websites were less reliable than the previous year. Most of them felt frustrated (71%) or annoyed (65%) by these problems.  

These reliability issues often stem from network infrastructure or configuration problems. Poor network performance doesn’t just cause delays. It erodes user trust, hampers productivity, and damages your brand’s reputation.  

That is why you need to improve your network performance to retain the trust of your customers and the good reputation of your business. 

Understanding network performance metrics  

Before you can optimize network performance, it’s important to know how it’s measured. These metrics are part of your overall network performance data and show you what’s running smoothly and where there might be bottlenecks or issues. 

Here are the key terms you should know:  

Latency  

Latency is the time it takes for network data to travel from the source to the destination. This is usually measured in milliseconds. High latency can make interactive applications like video calls, gaming, or remote desktop sessions feel slow or unresponsive. This is noticeable on long-distance connections or crowded networks. 

Packet loss  

Packet loss happens when data packets fail to reach their destination, leading to incomplete or disrupted communication. Even a small percentage of packet loss can severely impact real-time services like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or live video. It’s often caused by overloaded networks, faulty hardware, or software bugs. Diagnosing packet loss early can help prevent issues like distorted audio, frozen video, or dropped connections. 

Bandwidth  

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of network data your connection can send and receive at the same time. Think of it as the width of a road that lets more cars flow through traffic simultaneously. It’s measured in how many megabits or gigabits of data can pass through per second (Mbps or Gbps). 

 Increasing bandwidth is like making a wider road. It lets more cars (data) travel at once, but if there are traffic jams (latency) or accidents (packet loss), making the road bigger won’t solve these problems. 

However, a bigger road does help when lots of cars want to travel at the same time, because it reduces congestion. So, more bandwidth helps when many people or devices are using the network. 

Throughput  

Throughput is the actual amount of data successfully transferred over the network in each time frame. It shows how efficiently your network is performing in real-world conditions, considering delays, congestion, or network infrastructure limitations. If your throughput is consistently lower than your available bandwidth, it indicates network optimization issues.   

Jitter  

Jitter is the variation in how quickly data packets arrive, which is important for any app that relies on steady, real-time delivery. When packet arrival times are inconsistent, you’ll notice lag spikes, audio cutting out, or choppy video.   

High jitter is often caused by network congestion, interference, or routing inconsistencies. Reducing jitter involves stabilizing the connection, often through prioritizing traffic with QoS settings or upgrading to better equipment.  

5 common causes of network performance issues

Network performance issues are a mix of hardware, software, and environmental factors. When you understand these common culprits, you’ll be on your way to diagnosing and fixing the problem before it affects your productivity or frustrates users.  

Hardware limitations  

Old or underpowered routers, switches, and network adapters can be serious bottlenecks. If your equipment can’t handle modern speeds or user loads, everything slows down. For example, using a 10/100 Mbps router in an office with gigabit internet will cap your network speed regardless of your internet service provider (ISP) plan. Outdated hardware can also lack support for newer protocols and security features which can cause your network to be slow and vulnerable.  

Outdated firmware  

Firmware is the built-in software that runs on your network devices, and just like any software, it needs updates. If your firmware is outdated, it can cause bugs, compatibility issues, or even security vulnerabilities that affect performance. If you’re experiencing random connection drops or unstable speeds, an out-of-date router could be the culprit.  

Network congestion  

When too many devices or apps compete for bandwidth at the same time (high network usage), things can get crowded and slow down. This often happens in shared spaces like offices, apartments, or busy households where multiple people are streaming, gaming, or video conferencing simultaneously. Imagine a remote team trying to hold a video meeting while someone else is streaming 4K content. Without proper traffic management, everyone ends up with slower speeds and more lag.  

Interference  

Wireless networks can be disrupted by physical obstacles and electronic interference. Thick walls, metal furniture, microwaves, and even other Wi-Fi networks can degrade signal quality. For example, a business places its router next to a breakroom microwave which causes noticeable signal drops every time someone heats up lunch. Poor placement and interference like this lead to weak signals, slow connections, and inconsistent performance.  

Security threats  

Malware, unauthorized access, and botnets can quietly drain your network resources. Infected devices might be communicating with external servers or participating in Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, all without your knowledge. For example, a small business found its network crawling until it discovered a compromised device sending spam emails around the clock.   

Poor security impacts performance and puts your data at serious risk. To protect your website from online threats such as malware and DDoS attacks, consider getting SiteLock for your website. You can also avail a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate for your website to encrypt the connection between the client and the server. Lastly, intrusion detection systems also help to identify unusual behavior before it disrupts your network.  

Gain better awareness about cybersecurity by exploring What Is Cybersecurity?  

4 strategies to improve network performance

With the right combination of upgrades, configurations, and monitoring, you can boost your network’s performance and reliability. Here are four practical strategies, each with specific actions you can take to enhance your network’s speed, stability, and security.    

Upgrade your hardware and infrastructure  

• Upgrade outdated equipment. Replace old routers, switches, and network cards with newer models that support gigabit speeds and the latest Wi-Fi standards to prevent slowdowns and connection drops.  
• Optimize router placement. Position your router in the central position of your area or establishment and away from walls, metal surfaces, or other electronics to reduce signal interference and eliminate dead zones.  

Configure your network for better traffic flow  

• Set up Quality of Service (QoS). Prioritize traffic types such as real-time communication, cloud-based apps, or point-of-sale systems to ensure critical applications like video calls or VoIP don’t lag when you download large files or when you’re streaming.  
• Use virtual local area networks (VLANs) to segment traffic. Group devices by function using VLANs to reduce congestion, improve performance, and boost security. For example, you can separate employee devices, guest Wi-Fi, and printers into different groups. This keeps traffic flowing smoothly and limits access between groups, which can help protect sensitive data and avoid slowdowns.  

Monitor and manage your network proactively  

• Deploy network monitoring tools. Use tools like Wireshark, PRTG Network Monitor, and SolarWinds to visualize traffic patterns, identify bottlenecks, and troubleshoot issues in real time.  
• Perform regular network audits. Conduct periodic audits to check network health, spot outdated hardware, and evaluate configurations.  

Strengthen your network security  

• Configure your firewall correctly. Review firewall rules, close unnecessary ports, and apply traffic filtering to block malicious traffic.  
• Update firmware regularly. Check if there are firmware updates on routers, switches, and access points to ensure smooth performance and security.  

Advanced optimization techniques  

Once you’ve got the basics covered, you can take your network performance to the next level with advanced methods. These techniques are often used by larger businesses and websites, but they can also be applied on a smaller scale. They focus on reducing delays and preventing traffic jams so everything is faster and more reliable.  

Use load balancing to distribute traffic  
Load balancing spreads network traffic across multiple servers or resources instead of overwhelming a single one. This helps prevent slowdowns during high-traffic times and keeps your network stable even when demand spikes.   

For example, if there are a lot of users trying to access one server at once, a load balancer can redirect some of that traffic to other available servers. This helps maintain speed and uptime.   

Reduce latency with caching  
Caching stores copies of frequently accessed data—like website images or files—closer to where it’s needed. Instead of retrieving the same data from the original server every time, users get it from a nearby cache, which loads much faster.   

This reduces latency and saves bandwidth, especially for repeat visits or high-traffic pages. Many websites and apps use browser caching, server-side caching, or even ISP-level caching to improve performance behind the scenes.  

Act now to improve your network performance  

A strong network performance boosts your brand’s reliability, security, and user trust. Whether you’re upgrading hardware, fine-tuning settings, or conducting regular audits, every step you take makes a difference. Don’t wait for complaints or slowdowns to take action. Start evaluating your network today, apply the strategies we’ve covered, and turn performance issues into a thing of the past. 

When you’ve purchased Network Solutions’ services, MyTime Support Services are available whenever you need assistance with technical issues.  

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