Summary
From the above guide, it is clear that building a scalable wireless network is crucial for businesses that are looking to grow and adapt to modern workplace demands. By understanding your network requirements, choosing the right technology, carefully designing the network, and focusing on security and reliability, you can create an infrastructure that meets today’s needs while easily accommodating future growth. Regular monitoring and updates will ensure that your network remains efficient, secure, and ready to support your business as it evolves.
In the rapidly evolving business landscape, scalability has become a crucial part of organizations seeking growth and success. For all businesses to thrive, they must have the ability to adapt and expand their networks efficiently. Whether developing or expanding existing offices, a rise in the number of remote workers, or increased demand for bandwidth, the network a company uses should be capable of meeting the requirements of a growing company.
Constructing a scalable wireless network involves careful planning and selecting the right technology. Ensuring the infrastructure is adaptable to changes over time is also crucial. In this guide, you will explore the key considerations for building a scalable wireless network for your growing organization.
Understand the Network Requirements
Organizations have numerous wireless needs based on business size, traffic load, devices and endpoints, user density, security, etc. The total number of workers and the physical locations will determine the scale of the network requirement. If the business uses high bandwidth-demanding applications (video conferencing, cloud computing, file sharing, etc.), it may require greater network capacity to handle the heavy traffic load.
Before choosing a network for your business, consider the devices that will connect to the network (for example – smartphones, laptops, printers, loT devices, etc). Another major aspect to consider is network security. As the network grows, protecting sensitive business data and preventing unauthorized access becomes more critical than ever.
Select the Right Wireless Technology
Choosing the wireless technology that aligns with your needs for a scalable network is essential. The primary wireless standards for business networks are listed below.
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) – It is a solid choice for many businesses. It provides fast speeds and a stable connection. The drawback is that it struggles with high-density environments or when many devices use the network at the same time.
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) – It is the latest standard, designed to handle high-density environments very effectively. It also offers high speed, enhanced performance in crowded areas, and superpower efficiency for connected devices. It is also ideal for growing businesses as it provides scalability and is suitable for increased traffic load.
Plan the Network Design and Layout
1. Site Survey
The first step is to conduct a thorough site survey. Initially, identify key areas like high-traffic zones, conference rooms, etc. Then, check for signal strength and interference, such as walls, elevators, etc, that can reduce the signal quality. Lastly, understand the number of devices connecting to the network in each area. This allows you to place the access points (APs) in the right locations to get optimal coverage.
2. Access Point Placement
Access points are crucial to extending wireless coverage. Centralized placement of the access points, overlapping access points for eliminating dead spots, additional access points needed in areas where high density is required, etc, are the necessary factors to be considered for scalability.
3. Network Segmentation
Segmentation of networks into multiple subnets can improve performance and security. The segmentation helps to isolate traffic, which ensures optimal performance for critical emergency business operations.
Implement a High-performance Router and Switches
Router: Choose a business-class router that supports the latest standards (such as Wi-Fi 6) and has sufficient throughput to handle future traffic. The router should also include features like Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize traffic for mission-critical applications.
Switches: To ensure reliable and fast communication between devices and APs, use managed switches with sufficient ports and PoE (Power over Ethernet) capability to power APs without requiring additional power cables.
Use Cloud-managed or Software-Defined Networking (SDN)
As your network scales, managing multiple devices and access points manually can become cumbersome. Cloud-managed solutions and SDN offer a more streamlined and scalable approach to network management:
Cloud-managed Networking: Cloud-based network management platforms, such as those offered by Cisco Meraki or Ubiquiti, allow you to manage the network remotely from a central dashboard. These solutions provide centralized control of APs, routers, and switches, making scaling, monitoring performance, troubleshooting issues, and applying software updates easier.
SDN (Software-defined Networking): SDN provides greater flexibility by decoupling network control from hardware. This means you can dynamically adjust network configurations, increase bandwidth, and add or remove devices as your business grows without manual reconfiguration of individual devices.
Ensure Security and Reliability
Consider these best practices to maintain a secure and reliable network.
Network Security
- Encryption: Use WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) for robust encryption and protection against unauthorized access.
- VPN (Virtual Private Network): For remote workers or branch offices, implement VPNs to ensure secure communication over the Internet.
- Access Control: Implement role-based access control to limit access to sensitive information or systems based on users’ needs.
- Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Use IDS tools to monitor for abnormal traffic patterns or potential attacks.
Reliability
- Redundancy: To avoid network downtime, consider building redundancy into critical network components such as routers, switches, and APs. This can be achieved through failover mechanisms or redundant power supplies.
- Regular Updates and Maintenance: Schedule regular firmware updates and network audits to ensure the system stays secure and efficient.
Monitor and Scale the Network
Once the wireless network is set up, continuous monitoring is essential to ensure that it performs optimally and scales with business growth. Invest in network monitoring tools that provide real-time insights into the following.
- Network Traffic: Track bandwidth usage to identify potential bottlenecks.
- Device Performance: Monitor device connectivity to ensure employees can access network resources reliably.
- Security Alerts: Stay on top of security threats by receiving alerts for unusual activity or potential breaches.
As your business grows, your network will need to be scaled accordingly. When you notice signs of congestion or performance issues, it is time to invest in additional APs, upgraded routers, or more bandwidth to meet the increasing demand.
