Why Structured Cabling Matters More Than You Think

It’s not glamorous. It’s not the bit people show off on the office tour. But when it comes to reliable IT, structured cabling is the unsung hero.

Whether you're setting up a new site or inheriting a Frankenstein network built over years of improvisation and under-the-desk fixes, your cabling infrastructure is the foundation everything else rests on. And if that foundation is shaky? Well, expect slow speeds, dropped connections, poor reliability, and a whole lot of finger-pointing.

Let’s take a look at what good cabling looks like, why it's so important, and how to spot the warning signs of a network in distress.

Start at the Heart: The Comms Cabinet

Every site—yes, even small ones—should have a dedicated comms or server cabinet. This is where the network lives and breathes. It’s not just about keeping things tidy (although tidy is a big bonus); it’s about security, airflow, cable management, and keeping your core hardware out of harm’s way.

Benefits of a comms cabinet:

• Keeps switches, routers, firewalls, and patch panels protected from physical damage.

• Prevents “accidental unplugging” incidents (you know the ones).

• Supports proper ventilation for equipment that generates heat.

• Makes future expansion or fault-finding massively easier.

Sticking your main switch on top of the filing cabinet surrounded by spaghetti cables? That’s a no.

Patch Panels & Numbered Faceplates: Clarity is King

A numbered patch panel matched to numbered faceplates throughout the premises is a game-changer for manageability. Want to move someone’s desk? Patch it in. Need to troubleshoot a dead port? Easy to trace.

Without this:

• You’ll be tracing cables like Indiana Jones, guessing where they go.

• Moves and changes take longer and introduce more risk.

• Fault finding becomes guesswork, not diagnosis.

Short patch leads (not 5-metre cables looped six times around the cabinet) complete the picture. They're neater, better for airflow, and reduce the risk of signal degradation.

All the Core Gear, All in One Place

Routers, modems, firewalls, and switches should all live together in the cabinet. Why?

• Power protection: You can connect them all to a UPS.

• Security: You don’t want your router on the reception desk.

• Cabling: Short, high-quality interconnects inside the cabinet = better performance and less chaos.

If your network’s scattered across several rooms like a treasure hunt, you’re setting yourself up for confusion and unreliability.

Gigabit-Capable and Future-Proof Cabling

Let’s talk cable spec.

At a minimum, use CAT5e, though ideally CAT6 or higher. If you’re still laying CAT5 or (brace yourself) phone-grade cable, you’re building in a bottleneck.

Why gigabit matters:

• Even average PCs need more than 100Mbps when accessing cloud apps, video calls, file servers, etc.

• Phones, printers, and Wi-Fi access points all benefit from higher throughput.

• Future upgrades (like 2.5Gb or 10Gb networks) are impossible with substandard cable.

You wouldn’t build a motorway with single-lane tarmac. So why build a modern business network with yesterday’s cable?

Beware the Small Unmanaged Switch

They’re cheap. They’re easy. And they cause a world of problems.

These little 5-port and 8-port switches scattered around under desks are:

• Often underpowered and unmanaged, causing broadcast storms and loops.

• Hidden from view—when they fail, you don’t even know where to start.

• Impossible to monitor or secure.

• Often daisy-chained together (the horror), causing massive latency and packet loss.

If you need more ports—add them properly. Through a structured patch panel and a managed switch in the comms cabinet.

One Phone, Two Problems: Running PCs Through Handsets

Here’s a common trap we see far too often: the telecoms provider installs VoIP handsets (great!), but instead of running a proper data point to each PC, they daisy-chain the computer through the second Ethernet port on the back of the phone.

Now, technically this works. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

Why it’s a problem:

🔌 Extra point of failure – If the phone is unplugged, reboots, or malfunctions, the PC loses its network connection.

🐢 Reduced speed – Many phone handsets only support 100Mbps passthrough, even if your network is gigabit.

🕵️‍♂️ Harder to support – From a helpdesk point of view, this creates layers of confusion: is the PC offline, or is it the phone?

🧩 Invisible in the infrastructure – The pass-through isn’t visible from your switch or monitoring software, so diagnosing issues is harder.

🎭 Responsibility blur – Is the issue with IT or the telecoms provider? Expect confusion—and delays.

Bottom line: each device should have its own clean, direct network point. Always.

What Bad Cabling Looks Like

We’ve all seen it. Sometimes we inherit it. But let’s be honest: bad cabling is a warning sign of bigger issues.

Here’s the checklist of red flags:

❌ No cabinet at all – Just routers and switches sat on desks, floor, or shelves. Vulnerable, messy, and insecure.❌ No patch panel – Just RJ45 ends crimped onto wall cables. No flexibility, no labelling, poor durability.❌ Hanging or broken faceplates – Screws missing, cracked covers, or hanging by the cable = poor install and risk of damage.❌ Unnumbered sockets – You have to trace every cable manually. Good luck during an outage.❌ Core kit scattered around the office – Half the network in reception, the rest in the kitchen. Seriously?❌ Small switches under desks – See above. A recipe for silent failure.❌ PCs daisy-chained through phones – Looks tidy at first… until it breaks.

This kind of setup might seem like a shortcut when you're getting started—but you’ll pay the price in downtime, troubleshooting time, and eventually, a complete rip-and-replace.

The Business Case: Why It’s Worth Doing Right

When structured properly, your network:

✅ Runs faster✅ Is easier to troubleshoot✅ Is more secure✅ Is more compliant (especially if you’re going for Cyber Essentials or ISO standards)✅ Is future-proof✅ Makes office moves and upgrades far easier✅ Looks professional (important when auditors or clients visit!)

It’s also cheaper in the long run. A one-time investment in proper cabling and equipment setup saves years of pain.

Final Word: Invest in the Invisible

Nobody gets excited about a well-labelled patch panel or a rack-mounted firewall, but that’s the point. When it’s done right, it just works. Like plumbing or electrics, it quietly enables everything else to function.

If your network setup was described as “creative”, “a bit makeshift”, or “just about working for now”, it might be time to consider a proper structured cabling solution.

Because when the wiring is right, everything else runs smoother.