Beyond the Storm: How to Build a "Weather-Proof" Business Network
- Jefferson Lich
- Jan 1
- 3 min read
In the mountains, we’ve all seen it: a heavy spring snow snaps a branch, the power flickers, and suddenly your shop’s credit card reader is spinning, your business’s booking and POS system is offline, and your "high-speed" internet feels more like dial-up.
Living at altitude means dealing with conditions that "big city" IT providers simply don't understand. If your business relies on being online to make a sale, a single storm shouldn't be a single point of failure.
At Ascent Node, we specialize in building resilient infrastructure designed to survive the unique challenges of the mountains. Here is our three-layer approach to keeping your business "Weather-Proof."
Layer 1: The "Failover" Connection
Relying on a single internet provider in a remote area is a gamble. Whether it’s a line failure in the canyon or a service outage at the hub, you need a backup that doesn't rely on the same physical wire.
Starlink or Viasat + Local Fiber/Cable: We recommend a "Dual-WAN" setup. Your fast local cable or fiber handles the heavy lifting, but the moment it drops, a satellite-based system like Starlink or Viasat takes over automatically.
Zero-Downtime Handover: We configure your router so that your POS system and phones don't even drop the connection during the switch. Your customers won't even know the wind is blowing.
Layer 2: Protecting Your Silicon from the Grid
Our local power grid is prone to more than just outages—it’s prone to "dirty power" (voltage spikes and brownouts) that can fry sensitive server components over time.
Beyond the Power Strip: A standard surge protector is a one-time fuse. We implement Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) that act as a buffer, cleaning the electricity before it hits your gear and providing battery backup to shut down systems safely during a blackout.
Automatic Recovery: We set up your hardware to "Auto-Reboot" in the correct order once power returns, so you don't have to drive to the office at 2:00 AM to flip a switch.
Layer 3: The "Cloud" is Your Safety Net
If a physical disaster—like a flood or fire—impacts your building, your data shouldn't go with it.
Off-Site Redundancy: We move your critical files and operations into secure, encrypted cloud environments. This means that even if your office is inaccessible, you can run your business from a laptop at a coffee shop or from home.
Localized Backups: For larger files, we use a "Hybrid" approach—one fast copy on-site for daily use, and one continuous stream to the cloud for total peace of mind.
Local Support for Local Grit
The best technology in the world is useless if you have to wait three days for a technician to drive up from the city. We live where you live. We know which passes are closed and how to circumvent them.
Don't wait for the next "Storm of the Century" to find out where your network's weak spots are.
Where We Work We are proud to serve the heart of the Colorado high country. Whether you are operating a trailhead retail shop or a mountain-side lodge, we bring enterprise-level IT to your doorstep. Our primary service areas include:
Clear Creek County: Idaho Springs, Empire, Downieville, Georgetown, Silver Plume, Lawson
Gilpin & Boulder Counties: Black Hawk, Central City, Nederland
Park & Chaffee Counties: Bailey, Jefferson, Fairplay
Jefferson County (JeffCo): Evergreen, Conifer
Summit & Grand Counties: Winter Park and beyond.
Is your business ready for the next season?
Comments