WiFi Network Upgrade: 8 Tips for Success

Updating an enterprise WLAN to meet today's business needs is complicated. Follow these guidelines to make sure your wireless network provides reliable and secure connectivity.

WiFi Network Upgrade: 8 Tips for Success

If you're looking to upgrade your current WLAN, you may be under the false impression that it's just a matter of swapping out old hardware with new. In reality, there’s a great deal more to it. This is especially true if your users demand enterprise-grade speed and reliability.

If you’re long overdue for an update to your wireless infrastructure, it's safe to say that requirements from the past will be vastly different from what's needed today. WiFi in the enterprise has become a trusted connectivity method and users demand solid coverage and ample throughput. Additionally, the sheer number of mobile devices – many of which will connect to a WLAN – is expected to increase substantially for years to come. Moreover, you should become familiar with the latest WiFi technologies before planning your new WLAN.

It all comes down to the fact that a WiFi networking upgrade in 2018 is far more than just a simple "rip and replace." You need to carefully identify key weaknesses in your current WLAN architecture and design ways to address them. This includes ensuring the right equipment is in the right place so that your WiFi users have the best connection experience with the lowest amount of interference and congestion. It's also important to look at the types of WiFi devices connecting to the network in order to address accessibility and security.

Click ahead for tips on how to make your WLAN upgrade a success within your organization. By taking the time and effort to build the proper framework for your new WLAN, you can ensure users are happy and business requirements are met.

(Image: deepadesigns/Shutterstock)

About the Author

Andrew Froehlich, President, West Gate Networks

President, West Gate Networks

As a highly experienced network architect and trusted IT consultant with worldwide contacts, particularly in the United States and Southeast Asia, Andrew Froehlich has nearly two decades of experience and possesses multiple industry certifications in the field of enterprise networking. Froehlich has participated in the design and maintenance of networks for State Farm Insurance, United Airlines, Chicago-area schools and the University of Chicago Medical Center. He is the founder and president of Loveland, Colo.-based West Gate Networks, which specializes in enterprise network architectures and data center build outs. The author of two Cisco certification study guides published by Sybex, he is a regular contributor to multiple enterprise IT related websites and trade journals with insights into rapidly changing developments in the IT industry.

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