Bandwidth utilization measures the amount of data transferred over a network. When you access the Internet, data travels back and forth between your computer network and the Internet. There are many reasons to know more about how much bandwidth your company uses and how fast your connection works.

If several applications try to use a lot of bandwidth at the same time, the total speed may go down, much as you lose water pressure when other people in the building use water at the same time. When it comes to bandwidth utilization, you want to know the following facts:

1. The amount of bandwidth you use a month may depend on whether your internet provider limits the amount;

2. The speed of your internet access varies according to several factors;

3. And the types of Internet applications that require the most bandwidth utilization on your network.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find your bandwidth utilization speed

It's easy and free to find bandwidth utilization meters on the Internet. Compare your bandwidth to standard rates for DSL, cable modem and other broadband technologies. Your bandwidth may vary based on the time of day and the types of Internet activity occurring when you run the test.

I recommend: Quickly measure your connection speed using the CNET Bandwidth Meter Online Test. Measure the bandwidth used by your computer or install a bandwidth meter on your website's server with the tools from AuditMyPC.com.

Make sure you don't exceed your bandwidth utilization cap

Because some internet providers are now putting a maximum cap on monthly bandwidth used by their subscribers, you may want to monitor your bandwidth utilization. Provider by provider, each company has a different policy and may or may not provide you with software to monitor your usage. Even if your company provides unlimited bandwidth, you may be curious about how much you use, and there are a number of software applications that can tell you.

I recommend: Monitor your bandwidth use from Firefox with the Firefox Throttle extension found at Sizlopedia.com. Make sure you don't exceed your bandwidth cap with the IE Throttle plug-in from UselessApplications.com that monitors bandwidth in Internet Explorer.

Get bandwidth utilization information for your computer network

The result, when you run a network monitoring application, is a bandwidth utilization list of websites and applications that your network accesses. Some of these, like your Internet phone service, website database and internal email, are applications that should receive priority. If your employees are streaming videos on their break time, you may want those to receive lower priority.

I recommend: Sign up for a free trial of Network Composer by Cymphonix, an application that analyzes, prioritizes and filters network activity. Monitor network traffic with InterMapper software from Dartware, where you can try it free or join a webinar to learn more. Find a bandwidth utilization directory of programs you can use to monitor network activity at Capterra.

Monitor your employees' bandwidth utilization

There are many reasons to monitor employee use of the Internet. Make sure your employees are not using company time and resources for personal use or to download inappropriate content. You may also want to block inappropriate websites.

I recommend: Choose one of several network monitoring applications from SpectorSoft that allow you to check up on the use of the Internet from network computers. Monitor or filter usage with the family of products from Wavecrest Computing, where you get a free trial of all versions before you buy.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  No matter what size your computer network is, information on bandwidth utilisation can help you make sure it functions efficiently.