How Ohio Credit Unions Should Think About Disaster Recovery Connectivity and Bandwidth 

When the Internet Goes Down, So Does Trust. People don’t think much about the internet… until it stops working. 

Then suddenly the phones are ringing. The tellers can’t access the core. Online banking freezes. Card transactions hang in mid-air. And the quiet panic starts. 

If you’re leading a credit union in Ohio, you already know this truth: when your internet goes down, your members don’t just lose Wi-Fi. They lose access to their money. And that feels personal. 

I’ve sat in those meetings. I’ve seen the look on a leader’s face when the board asks, “How did this happen?” 

So let’s talk about building a smart strategy around two things: 

1. Disaster recovery connectivity 
2. The right amount of bandwidth 

Not flashy. Not trendy. Just steady and strong. 

Step One: Build Internet Like You Build Security 

You wouldn’t install just one lock on your branch door. So why would you rely on just one internet connection? 

Disaster recovery connectivity means, if your primary internet goes down, something else kicks in immediately. No scrambling. No waiting for a technician. No hoping it comes back. 

There are four main ways credit unions should think about building redundancy:  

1. Dedicated Fiber Internet Access

This is the workhorse. Dedicated fiber gives you guaranteed speeds. It’s not shared with your neighbors. You get strong upload and download performance, which matters for: 

• Core processing traffic 

• Cloud backups 

• Microsoft 365 

• Video banking 

• Security cameras 

• VoIP phones 

Fiber is usually your primary connection. It’s stable. It’s predictable. It’s what larger Ohio credit unions rely on for daily operations. 

But here’s the thing. Fiber can still get cut. 

Construction crews don’t check your business continuity plan before they dig. 

So fiber alone isn’t enough.  

2. Broadband Internet Access

Broadband (cable internet) is often used as a secondary connection. 

It’s cost-effective. It’s widely available. And in many Ohio markets, it’s fast enough to carry essential traffic if your primary fiber line fails. 

Is it perfect? No. 

Is it shared bandwidth? Yes. 

But as a backup path, broadband gives you diversity. And diversity is resilience. 

Think of it like a spare tire. You hope you never need it — but you’re real glad it’s there.  

3. Wireless Internet Access

Wireless (often 5G or LTE) has become a powerful backup option. 

No physical cables. No digging required. 

If your wired connections are disrupted, wireless can automatically take over critical systems like: 

• Teller traffic 

• ATM connectivity 

• Essential cloud access 

For rural Ohio credit unions, wireless backup can be a game-changer. 

It’s fast to deploy. It adds geographic diversity. And it’s not dependent on the same physical infrastructure as fiber or cable. 

In disaster recovery planning, different pathways matter.  

4. Satellite Internet Access

Satellite used to be slow and unreliable. Not anymore. 

Modern satellite connectivity is becoming a serious resilience tool — especially for rural branches or remote administrative sites. 

Is it typically your primary? No. 

But as a tertiary backup — something that only activates when everything else fails — it can keep minimal operations alive during major outages. 

Flood. Tornado. Regional carrier failure. Satellite doesn’t care what’s happening on the ground. That independence has value.  

Step Two: How Much Bandwidth Do You Actually Need? 

Now let’s talk about something that causes quiet confusion: bandwidth sizing. 

You don’t want to overbuy. But you also don’t want the system slowing down when the lobby fills up.  

So here’s a simple way to think about it…

Ask three questions: 

1. How many users do you support per branch?

• Tellers
• Loan officers
• Call center staff
• Back-office teams 

More people = more traffic.  

2. How much of your environment is cloud-based?

Are you running: 

• Cloud backups? 

• Microsoft 365? 

• Hosted VoIP? 

• Cloud-based imaging systems? 

• Security monitoring to the cloud? 

Upload speeds matter just as much as download speeds now. Fiber often shines here because it offers symmetrical speeds.  

3. What happens during peak hours?

When payroll hits.
When tax refunds land.
When mortgage rates shift and applications spike. 

Bandwidth planning isn’t about average usage. It’s about peak demand. 

A good rule? Plan for 30–40% headroom above your typical peak usage. 

You want breathing room. Not tight margins.  

Step Three: Don’t Just Add Speed — Add Intelligence 

Smart connectivity design includes: 

• Automatic failover between circuits 

• Load balancing between providers 

• Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize core traffic 

• Continuous monitoring 

This is where many Ohio credit unions struggle…they have small IT teams. Limited bandwidth expertise, and no time to test failover quarterly. 

But here’s the truth. A disaster recovery plan that isn’t tested is just a document. Your internet redundancy should be tested the same way you test backups. 

Pull the plug intentionally. Watch what happens. 

What’s Really At Stake If Your Internet Fails?

You’re serving members who expect to connect whenever they need you. Regulators want proof that your systems can withstand disruption. Your board expects you to have thought this through.

And at the end of the day, you just want to protect your team and sleep at night.

Connectivity may not be flashy, but it’s foundational.

It’s not about buying the biggest pipe.

It’s about building layered protection: 

• Primary fiber 

• Secondary broadband 

• Wireless or satellite diversity 

• Proper bandwidth sizing 

• Tested failover 

Steady. Smart. Resilient. 

 If you’d like help evaluating your current internet architecture, reviewing your bandwidth sizing, or building a true disaster recovery connectivity plan, we’d be honored to walk alongside you. 

Contact Corporate Technologies Group at info@ctgusa.net or call 330-655-8144. 

You protect your members every day. Let’s make sure your connectivity protects you.