New office: the 5 network components to design first

1. How many people will work in the space?
2. What growth is expected in the coming years?
3. Which applications are critical to the business?

The answers define everything else, from the number of outlets to the capacity of the Wi-Fi.

• Network points Enough outlets per workstation, ideally two, with room to grow.
• Rack A central, organised point where equipment and connections are concentrated.
• Active equipment Professional switches and router, never consumer-grade kit.
• Enterprise Wi-Fi Professional access points for full coverage, integrated with the wired network.
• Security VLAN segmentation, a guest network and a firewall from day one.

Cabling is run during the works, before ceilings and walls are closed. Coordinating the network with the architecture and electrical installation avoids costs and patching and ensures outlets are in the right places. Once closed, every missing point means opening up again.

• Skimping on network points Adding them later costs far more.
• Consumer-grade equipment On an enterprise network.
• Forgetting Wi-Fi and security In the initial planning.
• A network with no documentation or labelling Every future intervention starts with guesswork.

DataRoad designs, installs and certifies the complete network and then manages it under contract. Discover our network installation for offices, certified structured cabling, enterprise Wi-Fi for businesses and IT consulting for new premises. No-obligation proposal via sales@dataroad.pt.

More than 10 workstations · support contract · remote, on-site and telephone support.