This is the fifth article in a five part series on how the cloud is helping to improve the hospitality industry. Read part four.

While the cloud and SaaS have the potential to help hotels achieve significant improvements in their operations, many hotels will struggle with related bandwidth requirements. In fact, some hotels are already struggling with the bandwidth needed to support their existing guest services. Cloud services will strain their legacy networks even more.

High-capacity bandwidth can be a transformational or strategic asset. Fortunately, the growth of cloud services has prompted many IT executives to pay more attention to network services and the importance of establishing a high-performance data network to handle the increased Internet traffic and provide safe, secure and direct access to data and services hosted in the cloud.

With a strong network, cloud applications can run smoother, faster and more reliably. High bandwidth is a key enabler of a strong network and allows large amounts of data to be sent and received quickly. Also important are the network’s reliability, its capacity to identify different types of traffic and prioritize them, and its ability to minimize latency.

Ethernet provides a proven networking protocol to achieve these goals. It enables low latency networks that are scalable, cost-effective, and easy to secure and manage. Ethernet doesn’t just connect hotels with the cloud (as well as data centers, backup providers, and remote offices and employees). It connects them quickly and reliably, reducing delays and limitations. Plus, it is easily scalable, unlike traditional T1 network technology. Hotels can acquire what they need today and can easily increase their security, storage or collaboration needs as they grow.

Cloud-based systems are the ideal tool for hoteliers looking to streamline their operations, reduce costs and stay connected with the changing world of online travel. To realize the potential of the cloud and access SaaS options, hoteliers must have a robust data network.

When evaluating data service providers, look for one that understands your industry and can offer a variety of robust solutions that can be catered to your specific needs. A provider with customized products unique to the hospitality industry can help provide support and a powerful foundation for your cloud strategy.