Businesses that use a digital subscriber line (DSL) for Internet access or other applications have been recently greeted with a new set of options that can help to increase the speed and reliability of the service. These new options have been developed by major telecommunications companies and local providers to better serve the needs of businesses that are becoming increasingly reliant on digital communications. Most of these solutions are available both through the DSL provider and through independent management companies.

Many new DSL lines and providers offer advanced quality of service (QoS) capabilities and customization options. A QoS policy examines the origin, destination and contents of data packets that are moving in and out of the business network. The policy is able to slow down or stop restricted information packets or it can be used to give high priority to critical packets. This increases the performance and speed of business Internet services by preventing non-critical traffic like an employee download from interrupting important traffic such as a voice stream that is being used for real-time conferencing.

Many business DSL providers are now moving beyond simply installing and maintaining the Internet infrastructure for a business. New service plans are available that closely resemble managed hosting where functions are performed outside of the business by information technology specialists working for the provider. This means a business can request turn-key access to services like Internet protocol (IP) address updates and registration, server protections from denial of service (DoS) attacks and multiplexing that can extend the strength and range of a DSL signal. This makes a more cost-effective Internet service model that can remove the need for advanced technology officers within businesses that are not producing computer products.

Several business internet services are now offering companies the option of leasing virtual private networks (VPNs) that are capable of incredibly high levels of security across public and private DSL lines. Using a DSL line that is equipped with a VPN can increase the speed of the broadband signal while also protecting data through tunneling protocols that hide information from people outside of the network. The encryption that a VPN uses means that a business DSL network can be accessed from any location without compromising internal security. Since packets moving through a VPN tunnel are not scanned by Internet relays they are immune to most forms of throttling that could slow down the connection.

The extensive use of broadband access throughout the business world has made the development of value-added services a priority in the telecommunications industry. New types of cables, DSL routers and protocols are constantly being developed and tested in an effort to provide businesses with the next generation of Internet access that can handle the demands of real-time data transfers and high-definition communications.