How consultation in investment is affecting new ventures
Design first, shopping later
reat networks start on paper. We sketch users, rooms, and apps before anyone orders hardware. The right drawing saves days of rework.
Servers & storage without the drama
Virtualize where you can. Keep fast SSD for hot apps and bigger HDD pools for bulk files. Snapshots and backups mean mistakes aren’t permanent.
Switching & routing that scales
- Core + access layout with stackable L2/L3 switches.
- Plan VLANs for users, servers, voice, and guests; route through a proper firewall.
- Leave 20–30% PoE headroom for cameras/APs/phones.
Wi‑Fi that behaves in meeting rooms
- Do a quick site survey; avoid co‑channel overlap.
- Prefer 5 GHz/6 GHz where devices allow; enable fast roaming.
- Separate SSIDs for staff/guest/devices; captive portal for guests.
Security & eyes‑on
- Next‑gen firewall with sensible rules and IPS/AV enabled.
- Endpoint protection and a monthly patch rhythm.
- Central logging with alerts for link flaps, CPU spikes, and failed backups.
Power: the unglamorous hero
Size a UPS for your core switches, servers, firewall, and storage. Plan a graceful shutdown and consider generator integration if outages are common.
Budget ranges we actually see (Aug 2025)
- Starter (≤25 users): PKR 850,000–1,600,000
- Growing (25–75 users): PKR 1.6M–3.5M
- Multi‑floor (75–200 users): PKR 3.5M–8.0M+
Handover that keeps you independent
- As‑built diagram and IP plan.
- Admin credentials stored safely and shared with you.
- VLAN/SSID matrix and access rules in one sheet.
- Backup/restore tested in front of your team.
- Monitoring alerts firing to your chosen email/Slack.
- 30‑day hyper‑care window, then normal support.
supplier can’t show you a clean network diagram, they shouldn’t be allowed near your rack.
FAQs
Q: Can we go cloud‑only and skip servers?
A: Often yes for email and collaboration, but local file/print or latency‑sensitive apps may still need on‑prem.
Q: Do we really need managed switches?
A: If you want VLANs, QoS and visibility, yes. Unmanaged is fine only for the tiniest setups.
Q: How long does rollout take?
A: Small offices: 1–2 weeks. Multi‑floor: 3–6 weeks depending on cabling and change windows.
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