Aug 12, 2025 11:00:00 AM | Field Services The 5 Key Benefits & 6 Critical Steps of Superior Structured Cabling Services You May Not Be Fully Aware Of

1. Speed...

2. Connectivity...

3. Minimal downtime...

Having all 3 of these essentials is crucial for the network on which your business operates and depends. 
As the number of devices in our interconnected business world increases, there is a parallel need for a modern network infrastructure to ensure that the critical requirements of your network are met. 
The answer most businesses are turning to deliver the required network performance is structured cabling. 

What Is Structured Cabling & Why Does It Matter? 

Structured cabling is the modern way to organize and streamline IT infrastructure to accomplish 3 primary things:

1. maximizing performance
2. maintaining simplicity
3. allow for future expandability 

But what exactly is structured cabling? 

• In a traditional cabling setup, each device is directly wired to the device to which it needs to connect. With the large number of interconnected devices in our modern business environment, this quickly leads to an unmanageable spaghetti-like tangle of cables. As new devices are added, finding an available pathway and even the correct cables to use becomes increasingly challenging. 
• In contrast, structured cabling leverages a more organized and efficient system and is built around a centralized architecture of backbone cabling, switches, and patch panels. Rather than have the cable from every device run directly to the devices it is connected with, the cable runs directly from the device to a patch panel. Groups of nearby patch panels all run to a switch, typically in a network closet. Each switch is then connected to backbone cabling, high-capacity cabling that runs between rooms or floors to a core switch in the network server room that serves as a master data hub. 

Thinking of this in transportation terms, it is like going from winding country roads that directly connect village to village to superhighways with a structured system of on and off ramps that carry massive volumes of traffic and easily deliver it to the place it needs to be.

5 KEY Benefits: Why Structured Cabling is of Critical Importance

1. Improved Network Performance and Reliability

Downtime is a revenue-draining epidemic. In a 2025 survey of 1,000 IT execs, 100% of them had experienced a downtime event within the past year.  Even worse, 55% reported weekly outages, and on average, these companies experienced 86 outages a year. When you consider that for large or enterprise-level companies, the average outage exceeds $300,000 an hour, the critical importance of a high-performing network is obvious.

One of the primary benefits of structured cabling is enhanced network reliability. Current structured cabling requirements call for Cat6A cable or fiber optic cables, which lead to high data transmission rates and greater reliability. In addition, the cables are neatly arranged and clearly labeled,so any repair time that is necessary is slashed. 

These high-quality cables also support faster data transmission with minimal signal interference. The result is a network with higher bandwidth availability and lower latency. Proper routing and adherence to bend radius limits lead to better signal integrity. As a result, businesses experience more reliable connectivity – applications run without frequent slowdowns or interruptions caused by cabling faults.

2. Scalability and Future-Proofing

The true beauty of structured cabling is its scalability and flexibility. Businesses are dynamic, and your network and hardware needs change quickly and sometimes dramatically. New technologies emerge, new employees are hired, or new departments are established, all of which necessitate significant changes to your cabling structure. 

Because structured cabling is well-organized with standard connection points into the system (patch panels and outlets), new devices can be easily added to the system with minimal effort. There is no need to run a maze of cables through the building. Instead, technicians can simply plug the device into the nearest network port and patch it into the network. 

Unlike standard cabling, structured cabling offers a completely future-proof network system. It can handle not only new devices, but even new cabling standards. For instance, if you have a system built to support 10Gbps, and in several years the standard changes to an even higher speed, you don’t need to rip out and replace your entire network. 

Because of its modular nature, a structured cabling system allows you to replace the required components, in this case, the backbone fiber link, rather than start completely from scratch.

3. Simplified Maintenance and Management

Structured cabling systems dramatically reduce the amount of time and effort your IT team spends on network maintenance. Your technicians and engineers can manage the system more efficiently on several fronts:

Simplified Moves and Changes: When you reorganize your office, move an employee, or change the function of a room, a structured cabling system delivers the simple flexibility you need. For example, when an employee changes offices, rather than running new cabling (and often leaving a trail of abandoned cabling behind), the technician can just patch the new outlet into the appropriate switch port rather than having to run a new cable to the server room. The net result is decreased waste, improved organization, and increased efficiency in making the change.

Maintenance and Upkeep: The organized nature of structured cabling makes it dramatically easier to inspect. Routine maintenance, such as looking for damaged cables or bad connections, is straightforward with the well-organized and properly labelled system. Rather than sort through endless tangles of wire, your technicians can access central ports to check for loose connections and follow well-organized bundles to look for cable wear. Since the lifetime of network cables is 15-20 years, proper care and maintenance will prevent you from having to re-invest in expensive installation for years or even decades to come.

4. Cost-Effectiveness and ROI

There is no debating that installing a structured cabling system costs more than a traditional point-to-point cabling structure. But here are some reasons why forward-thinking organizations will reap a greater ROI from their initial investment in a structured cabling network.

Lower Maintenance and Repair Costs: The disarray of tangled wires in a traditional cabling system often causes expensive specialists to spend hours sorting through the jumble in an effort to find the source of a problem. In contrast, a well-labeled structured cabling system allows technicians to find the source of and solution to the problem in mere minutes. The result is less costly time spent by your IT team or outside specialist to get the system functioning again.

Minimized Downtime: Downtime is an annoyance, but more than that, it is a business cost. Over the course of a year, minimizing the cumulative losses for downtime leads to substantial savings. There is a direct ROI from business continuity.

Future Savings From Scaling System: As we have seen, the modular nature of structured cabling makes future upgrades or office moves exponentially more efficient. By installing a structured cabling system, a company not only future-proofs its network, they also dramatically reduce the expenditure needed for future changes.

Businesses that implement structured cabling often find that the system “pays for itself” in cost savings within a few years, and from then on continues to provide savings and value. In a competitive environment, the cost-effectiveness of structured cabling makes it not just a technical decision but a smart financial strategy for long-term operational efficiency.

5. Security Advantages (Physical and Network Security)

Cabling is probably not the first thing you think of when you think about security, but structured cabling delivers both physical and network security. In a traditional cabling system, network ports and hubs are typically scattered all over. 

Often, they are in unsecured locations, creating an opportunity for unauthorized devices to be plugged into your network. In contrast, structured cabling has centralized network connections and routes them to secured closets or data centers; the likelihood of an unauthorized connection drops significantly.

Structured cabling can also benefit cybersecurity efforts by facilitating network segmentation. This segmentation allows administrators to route segments through different patch panels. Since all traffic flows through known central points, it is easier to install monitoring devices.  If a security incident does occur, it is easier to isolate the affected segment from the rest of the system. 

DID YOUR LAST STRUCTURED CABLING PROJECT INCLUDE THESE 6 STEPS? 

A critical first step is meeting with the client to determine the specific needs they have for their facility. This typically includes a thorough site survey to completely understand the structure of the building and the company’s existing infrastructure. Key stakeholders are interviewed to ascertain their needs, goals, and desires for the structured cabling system. 

After the initial consultation is complete, the provider will use the goals and building layouts to put together a design for the structured cabling network. The design will typically involve CAD or architectural drawings and will meet TIA/EIA and BICSI standards.

Once a plan, pricing, and a timeline have been agreed upon, the structured cabling service provider should provide complete project management of the event. This includes technician training and scheduling, daily check-in/check-out, and deliverable reviews.

The engineers and technicians from the structured cabling services provider will install the entire system. From the high-performance backbone cabling to switches, patch panels, network racks, and cable management systems, they will build everything according to the project design and TIA/EIA specifications.

The key to a structured cabling system is well-organized cabling. The installation will involve efficient cable drops through a predetermined route. Each cable and termination will be clearly labeled.

Once complete, the system will be tested for signal integrity, bandwidth, and compliance with industry standards. BICSI-trained technicians will certify that the system is working according to specifications.

5 Structured Cabling FAQs YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO IGNORE

1. What components make up a structured cabling system?

Key components include:

• Equipment Rooms - Equipment rooms serve as the hub for managing and distributing network services across the building or campus. They are designed for high security, cooling, and accessibility to support continuous uptime and maintenance.

• Backbone Cabling - Backbone cabling connects equipment rooms, telecommunications rooms, and entrance facilities. It handles high-capacity data transmission across long distances and typically includes fiber optic or high-performance copper cables

• Horizontal Cabling - Horizontal cabling runs from telecommunications rooms to individual work areas. It includes cables, patch panels, and outlets that connect end-user devices to the network.

• Telecommunications Rooms - These intermediate distribution points contain patch panels, cross-connects, and network switches. They serve as the link between backbone and horizontal cabling, facilitating efficient routing and management of network connections for specific zones or floors.

• Work Area Outlets and Patch Cords - Located at the user’s workstation, these components provide the final connection point for devices like computers, phones, and printers.

Common cable types include:

• Twisted pair cables (e.g., Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a) - These are the most common cables in a structured cabling system and support a bandwidth of up to 10 Gbps.

• Fiber optic cables (single-mode and multi-mode) - Fiber optics are essential for backbone cabling in structured systems due to their ability to transmit data over long distances at extremely high speeds with minimal signal loss. 

• Coaxial cables - Though less common in modern structured cabling systems, coaxial cables are still used in some legacy systems. They offer good shielding and bandwidth for analog signals but lack the scalability and flexibility of twisted pair and fiber optic cables, which is why their use has declined in favor of more advanced options.

3. Who typically installs structured cabling systems? 

Certified network cabling professionals or contractors with expertise in telecommunications infrastructure typically handle installation, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices.

4. What standards govern structured cabling installations? 
The standards a project is governed by are critically important because they provide a unified framework that ensures consistency, performance, and interoperability across all components of a telecommunications infrastructure. Here are the standards that are used for structured cabling projects: 

• TIA/EIA-568 (North America)
• ISO/IEC 11801 (International)
• IEEE standards for electrical and performance specifications

5. How does structured cabling differ from traditional point-to-point cabling? 

Structured cabling differs from traditional point-to-point cabling in its organized and centralized design. While point-to-point setups connect devices directly and often result in tangled, hard-to-maintain systems, structured cabling uses a standardized layout with patch panels and distribution points that simplify management and troubleshooting. It’s more scalable, allowing for easier upgrades and expansions, and offers better performance and reliability.

2 CASE STUDIES THAT SHOW WHAT Structured Cabling Services CAN DO FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION

Garage Door Manufacturer’s Distribution Center, Las Vegas, NV

Objective: 
Kinettix was contacted by a large garage door manufacturer to upgrade its network infrastructure and produce a marked improvement in the system’s reliability and performance. As an initial step, Kinettix sent technicians onsite to assess the needs of the customer and the current network structure of the facility.

Execution:
After planning with the client’s team, Kinettix arrived at the designated site, established communication with the site representative, and confirmed arrival with the client’s central point of contact. The Kinettix technicians then completed the following tasks: 

• Installed fire-retardant plywood backboard at key structural junctions

• Installed new IDF cabinets

• Installed 24-port and 48-port patch panels

• Installed Category 6 cable runs with surrounding 2-inch conduit

• Installed Access points in the front office and around the warehouse

• Racked and stacked client-provided equipment

Internet Service Provider’s Regional Office, Bogota, Colombia

Objective:
The client was an international company focused on delivering robust IT network solutions. Kinettix was engaged to perform critical infrastructure services at its Bogotá office in the Prime Tower Building. Kinettix was tasked with conducting a thorough Structured Cabling Infrastructure Site Survey, followed by a detailed Installation of the cabling system. The project aimed to assess current infrastructure and then deploy a reliable cabling solution to meet the client’s expanding IT network demands.

Execution:

The initial step was an on-site evaluation by skilled technicians to assess existing cabling and infrastructure readiness. After a meeting with stakeholders to assess their goals, a detailed report on site conditions and recommendations for cabling installation was delivered.

The planned structured cabling system was implemented by trained Kinettix technicians. Daily updates were given to keep stakeholders apprised of the progress. New requirements arose during the project. Out-of-scope labor and materials were implemented to accommodate their unforeseen requirements, demonstrating Kinettix’s flexibility and problem-solving approach.

Outcome:

Kinettix provided end-to-end structured cabling services, from assessment to successful installation of structured cabling infrastructure supporting the client’s IT network expansion plans. Kinettix’s technicians ensured minimal disruption to ongoing business in the offices. The installation enabled the client to enhance its network reliability and scalability at their Bogota site.

WHY HAVING AN EXPERIENCED PARTNER FOR STRUCTURED CABLING IS NOW A "mUST HAVE"

The reliability and scalability of your network infrastructure are non-negotiable; they are essential to the success of your business. From improved performance and simplified maintenance to future-proof scalability and enhanced security, the benefits of upgrading to structured cabling are clear.

At Kinettix, we bring deep expertise and global reach to every structured cabling project. Our certified technicians, proven project management processes, and commitment to industry standards ensure that your infrastructure is built to perform and evolve with your business.

Whether you're upgrading a single site or deploying across multiple locations, we'd like to be your trusted, global partner for delivering structured cabling solutions that drive operational excellence.

Contact us or call (888) 397-0086 to talk to a specialist today about your next structured cabling project.