What is Latency?
Latency is the time delay between a user’s action and the corresponding response from a computer system or network. It is typically measured in milliseconds (ms) and represents how long it takes data to travel from one point to another, for example, from a user’s device to a cloud server and back again.
In simple terms, low latency means fast response times and smoother performance, while high latency leads to lag, slow applications, or disrupted communication.
Why Latency Matters for London Businesses?
In London’s fast-moving business environment, where operations rely on cloud platforms, remote collaboration, VoIP calls, and real-time trading systems, latency directly affects productivity and service quality.
High latency can slow down applications, delay transactions, and reduce user satisfaction. For businesses in finance, legal, healthcare, and professional services, even small delays can impact decision-making, client experience, and compliance reporting.
For Managed IT Support and Cyber Security providers, monitoring and optimising latency is vital to maintaining network efficiency, supporting hybrid workforces, and preventing system bottlenecks that could expose vulnerabilities or disrupt operations.
Key Objectives of Latency Management
- Performance Optimisation – Ensure fast, reliable response times for business applications.
- User Experience – Maintain smooth connectivity for cloud, remote, and mobile users.
- Operational Continuity – Prevent downtime or lag in mission-critical systems.
- Security Efficiency – Reduce delays in threat detection and incident response.
- Cost Control – Optimise bandwidth and resources to avoid unnecessary upgrades.
Common Causes of Latency
- Network Congestion – Heavy traffic is slowing data transmission.
- Geographic Distance – Data traveling long routes between endpoints.
- Hardware Limitations – Outdated routers, switches, or servers are creating bottlenecks.
- DNS or Routing Delays – Inefficient network paths or misconfigurations.
- Cloud or Application Overload – Overburdened virtual servers or shared environments.
- Security Filtering – Firewalls, VPNs, or intrusion prevention systems add processing time.
Best Practices to Reduce and Manage Latency
- Optimise Network Design – Use high-speed connections and efficient routing paths.
- Leverage Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) – Reduce physical distance between users and data.
- Upgrade Infrastructure – Replace ageing hardware and ensure firmware updates.
- Monitor Performance Continuously – Track latency metrics using managed network monitoring tools.
- Balance Security and Speed – Configure firewalls, VPNs, and proxies to minimise unnecessary delay.
- Use Local Cloud Regions – Host data within UK or European data centres for faster access.
Risks of Ignoring Latency Issues
- Reduced Productivity – Employees waste time waiting for systems to respond.
- Client Dissatisfaction – Slow systems impact customer experience and reputation.
- Operational Bottlenecks – Latency slows down real-time processes such as financial transactions or data syncs.
- Increased Cyber Risk – Delayed monitoring can hinder the rapid detection of threats.
- Financial Losses – Downtime or poor performance leads to missed opportunities and higher support costs.
Local Insight: London Considerations
- Financial Trading Firms: Require ultra-low latency networks to meet FCA and MiFID II compliance and ensure market responsiveness.
- Legal Practices: Depend on responsive cloud-based case management systems for collaboration and document retrieval.
- Healthcare Providers: Need low latency for real-time access to electronic patient records and telemedicine systems.
- SMEs Across London: Rely on Managed IT Support to monitor network latency and optimise performance across hybrid and remote setups.
Example in Practice
A London-based investment firm partners with a Managed IT Support provider to monitor latency across its cloud-hosted trading platform. The provider identifies a network routing issue causing delays during peak hours and reconfigures connections through a UK-based data centre.
As a result, response times improve by over 40%, ensuring trades execute instantly and compliance with real-time reporting standards is maintained.
