Business WiFi and networks
WiFi that drops in the back office, a VPN that only works for some people, a firewall nobody has logged in to for years. Most business networks were added to bit by bit, and it shows. Staff working from home often end up with their own copies of files instead of working on the same data as everyone else.
I plan networks around the building and the way your staff work. That means structured WiFi, such as UniFi, placed for coverage and the number of devices. Firewalls and managed switches are set up and documented, with VLANs and routing between them. Site-to-site VPNs and secure remote access let branches and home workers use the same files as the office. I work with DrayTek, Sophos, WatchGuard, SonicWall and older Cyberoam kit.
Good WiFi depends on the cabling behind it, so larger jobs include structured cabling as well.
What it involves
Structured WiFi
Access points planned for coverage and capacity across every room, with staff and guest networks kept apart and the whole system managed from one place.
Firewalls and switches
Firewalls and UTMs from the brands above, and managed switches with VLANs and routing between them, all configured and documented.
Site-to-site VPNs and remote working
Secure links between offices, and for staff at home, so every branch and home office works on the same data as the main building.
Large and shared sites
Multi-building sites linked with cabling and point-to-point links, and serviced or multi-tenant offices with each tenant on its own VLAN and WiFi.
Questions about a WiFi or network project
Why is our WiFi poor in some rooms even though the router is new?
One router, however new, struggles to cover a building with thick walls, several floors or lots of devices. Business WiFi uses several access points cabled back to a switch, placed where people work. I look at the building and how it’s used, then plan where each one goes.
Can staff at home work on the same files as the office?
Yes. Depending on where your files live, that means moving them into SharePoint or a similar cloud service, or setting up a secure VPN back to the office server. Either way everyone works on one copy, and nobody has to email files to themselves.
We share a building with other businesses. Can we share the internet connection safely?
Yes, if the network is set up for it. Each tenant gets its own VLAN and its own WiFi, so their devices can’t see each other, while the connection and equipment are shared. I set this up for serviced offices and multi-tenant buildings.
Related services
Network and cyber security
The basics that stop most attacks, done properly: firewalls and UTMs, network separation, access rights and endpoint protection with EDR.
Business internet and wireless links
Usable internet where fibre is slow or missing, and wireless links between buildings and across long distances.
Structured cabling and building works
Data cabling and office moves, with advice before building work starts on where everything should go.
Interested in a WiFi or network project?
