How to Fix Packet Loss?
It is important to note that there is no options for 100% prevention of packet loss, meaning there can only be a reduction of packet loss stemming from preventative measures, but zero packet loss is impossible. This is because the causes of packet loss, such as an overloaded system, can never be completely eliminated. Systems and networks keep growing larger and larger, so engineers and IT staff can only do their best to address the increasing problem.
1. Restart your system
Rebooting not just employee devices or endpoints but also the routers can help. Often, when a system reboots, software is updated, temporary files are deleted, and additional memory becomes available.
2. Check network connections
Make sure that your network is configured properly. Even a single cable that is not plugged in correctly can cause packet loss. Further, another look at the network's multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), which is a protocol designed to get data packets to their destinations quickly, might be necessary.
3. Use cable connections instead of Wi-Fi
Since packets are more likely to get lost via Wi-Fi, check whether a wired, Ethernet connection will fix the issue, but it's a temporary solution at best.
4. Update or upgrade your software
Updating your operating system (OS) and your most used programs will also help. The most recent version of an OS is less likely to have bugs, which means there is a lower likelihood of packet loss. Lean on the hard work of the dozens, if not hundreds, of engineers working for software vendors such as Apple, Microsoft, and Mozilla, who fix errors on an ongoing basis to improve your computing experience.
5. Replace old hardware
Sometimes older hardware can be an issue. This goes for employee endpoints as well as the firewalls, network switches, and routers that make up your network infrastructure. Determine whether an older and possibly faulty piece of hardware on the network is causing packet loss and replace it with a new one.
6. Use QoS settings
Quality of service (QoS) settings help manage packet loss by organizing network resources. QoS settings will assign more network traffic to the places that can best accommodate more resource-intensive data, such as voice and video.
7. Strengthen security
As mentioned above, a security threat can cause packet loss. As a preventative measure, organizations and certainly remote employees working from home can strengthen their security posture to prevent a cyberattacker from taking control of a router and carrying out a packet drop attack. Updating the security settings on a router, using a virtual private network (VPN), turning on encryption, and using strong passwords—and changing them frequently—can help.
