What is QoS (Quality of Service)?
Quality of Service (QoS) refers to the ability of a network to manage and prioritise different types of traffic to ensure consistent performance, reliability, and efficiency. It involves controlling bandwidth allocation, latency, jitter, and packet loss so that critical applications such as voice calls, video conferencing, or business systems receive the network resources they need to perform optimally.
In practical terms, QoS ensures that important business functions always take precedence over less critical traffic, helping maintain a smooth and secure user experience.
Why QoS Matters for London Businesses?
In London’s dynamic and connected business environment, organisations rely heavily on cloud services, VoIP communications, Microsoft Teams, and remote access tools. When network traffic becomes congested, poor QoS can result in lag, dropped calls, or slow applications, directly affecting productivity and client experience.
For industries such as finance, legal, healthcare, and professional services, where real-time data and collaboration are essential, consistent network performance is not optional – it’s critical.
For Managed IT Support and Cyber Security providers, QoS is a key component of proactive network management. By monitoring, prioritising, and optimising traffic, they ensure business-critical applications run smoothly, securely, and without disruption.
Key Objectives of QoS
- Performance Optimisation – Guarantee stable performance for essential applications.
- Traffic Prioritisation – Assign higher priority to time-sensitive data such as VoIP and video.
- Reduced Latency – Minimise delay and lag in real-time communication.
- Improved Reliability – Prevent packet loss and service interruptions.
- Enhanced Security – Ensure security tools like firewalls and monitoring systems maintain bandwidth priority.
How QoS Works?
QoS operates through a combination of traffic classification, prioritisation, and resource control techniques:
- Classification – Identifies traffic types (e.g., VoIP, streaming, email, file transfer).
- Marking – Tags traffic packets based on priority or service level.
- Queuing and Scheduling – Allocates bandwidth according to defined rules.
- Congestion Management – Manages high-load scenarios to prevent service degradation.
- Monitoring – Continuously tracks performance and adjusts policies as needed.
Best Practices for Implementing QoS
- Define Business-Critical Traffic – Identify which applications require top priority.
- Segment the Network – Separate traffic types (voice, video, data) using VLANs.
- Monitor Continuously – Use managed network monitoring to measure latency and packet loss.
- Apply QoS Policies to Routers and Switches – Configure devices to enforce prioritisation rules.
- Test Regularly – Verify QoS effectiveness under varying network conditions.
- Align with Security Tools – Ensure QoS works alongside intrusion detection and VPN systems without conflict.
Risks of Operating Without QoS
- Poor Call and Video Quality – Unclear audio or dropped connections during client meetings.
- Application Slowdowns – Critical business apps suffer from bandwidth competition.
- Employee Frustration – Reduced productivity and increased IT support tickets.
- Service Disruption – Key systems may fail under heavy traffic conditions.
- Compliance Issues – Performance problems can affect data transfer reliability and audit trails.
Local Insight: London Considerations
- Financial Firms: Depend on QoS for low-latency trading systems and real-time analytics.
- Law Firms: Require prioritised bandwidth for case management and secure video consultations.
- Healthcare Providers: Need guaranteed performance for telemedicine and patient data systems.
- SMEs Across London: Benefit from managed QoS policies that keep Microsoft 365, Teams, and VoIP services stable during peak hours.
Example in Practice
A London-based healthcare provider partners with a Managed IT Support company to implement QoS across its network. By prioritising VoIP and patient record system traffic, while limiting streaming and non-essential data transfers, the provider ensures smooth clinical communications and uninterrupted access to digital health platforms.
This approach improves staff productivity, maintains regulatory compliance, and delivers reliable performance across the organisation’s multiple London locations.
