For those of you who live in a technology-rich home, your home network is the backbone of it all. It connects your devices and enables them to communicate with each other.

From motorized shades to streaming services, home theater systems to smart security cameras, your Denver-area home relies extensively on robust and secure internet connectivity.

As more smart devices enter your home, more bandwidth is eaten up, which results in congestion and slowdowns similar to traffic on the I-25 during rush hour. Eventually, it comes to a standstill, resulting in failing devices, the spinning wheel of doom while streaming, and dropped connections.

Fortunately, there are solutions. While structured wiring with high-bandwidth cabling alleviates the pressure on overwhelmed networks, it's the easiest to integrate during construction when the walls are open. Another solution for existing homes is upgrading your Wi-Fi system to one of the newer standards, some of which were designed with smart homes in mind.

Below, we explore a few upgrade options, including the benefits and challenges the various standards offer. Keep reading to learn more.