Jasani_Wireless

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Feb 20, 2024

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RECOMMENDA- TIONS FOR THE WIRELESS NETWORK AT SPRUCE & COOPER Prepared by Eboni Wheatley

Recommendations for the Wireless Network at Spruce & Cooper February 8, 2024 Summary This report summarizes a plan to conduct a wireless site survey, also called a radio frequency (RF) survey, in the corporate offices of Spruce & Cooper. This survey will generate recommendations for maximizing network security, coverage, and capac- ity. Help from Norris-Blain Network Consulting Earlier this year, the leadership team asked me to propose a plan to improve wire- less coverage throughout the Spruce & Cooper campus, including public areas, of- fices, meeting spaces, the warehouse, the cafeteria, and outdoor terraces. To make sure I proposed the most effective plan possible, I decided to seek the advice of wireless professionals. I contacted one of the area’s top experts in wireless network- ing, Marshall Norris, president of Norris-Blain Network Consulting. I met several times with the following personnel from Norris-Blain Network Consulting: Cade Blake Senior Consultant Samuel J. Iglesias Senior Consultant Beverly Sheffield-Mccoy Project Manager Our conversations focused on ways to improve network connections for the com- pany’s staff and visitors. I also studied information obtained from leading hardware manufacturers and software distributors. This research suggests that our first step is to conduct a site survey of our entire facility. Conducting a Wireless Site Survey What is a wireless site survey? It is an analysis of a facility’s wireless networking needs that evaluates the site’s floor plan, size, building composition, available ca- bling, and all sources of potential interference, both indoors and outdoors. The ulti- mate goal of the survey is to identify the ideal positions for the network’s access points, as well as the type of access points required. With the survey results in hand, we can make informed decisions about equipment purchases for this fiscal year. A properly conducted wireless site survey helps ensure the uninterrupted flow of se- cure, wireless data throughout a networked facility. A site survey is especially impor- tant in urban areas, which are typically rich in RF transmissions from countless sources, including cell phone towers, microwave ovens, and a wide array of wireless devices. According to the engineers at Norris-Blain Network Consulting, recent site surveys in our area have turned up sources of RF interference that are likely to af- fect the wireless network at Spruce & Cooper in the coming years. A site survey is conducted primarily via a laptop or smartphone. The networking en- gineer typically carries the laptop or smartphone throughout the site, using special survey utility software to analyze the existing wireless signal. The engineer also studies a diagram of the facility, and conducts a visual inspection to look for barriers to RF signal propagation. The engineer uses the results of the survey to generate a Asad Jasani P a g e | 1

Recommendations for the Wireless Network at Spruce & Cooper February 8, 2024 list of recommendations for access point placement, as well as recommendations for antennas and other networking hardware. The list of recommendations also in- cludes proposed upgrades for network computers and other wireless-enabled de- vices. Recommendation In its early days as a startup company, Spruce & Cooper relied on a less-than-opti- mal wireless network. Now, as the company moves into national markets, a high- availability, secure wireless network is essential. Lighting and sound systems in our meeting rooms increasingly rely on wireless signaling, as do our warehouse facili- ties. Furthermore, employees consider a secure wireless network essential for a va- riety of purposes, including the ability to move around the company campus and work on laptops that are connected wirelessly to the company network. I recom- mend hiring a professional networking engineer to conduct a wireless site survey of Spruce & Cooper’s entire facility, including the seating areas on the outdoor ter- races, where employees like to work or eat lunch in good weather. The network engineers at Norris-Blain Network Consulting suggest we obtain bids from five networking firms. Ideally, we would accept a bid and complete the site sur- vey by the end of March. That would leave us time to evaluate the surveyor’s list of suggested wireless network improvements and seek funding for the most crucial im- provements before the end of this fiscal year. Survey Costs Norris-Blain Network Consulting estimates the total cost of the survey at approxi- mately $10,000. This typically includes testing recommended improvements in a real-world setting after the survey of our premises is complete. The company we hire to conduct the survey should also provide software to simulate wireless VoIP and streaming media to ensure they will work properly in the redesigned network. The survey and recommendation results should be backed by a guarantee that in- cludes free monitoring and adjustments for one year after the survey is complete. Upgrades The wireless hardware purchases suggested by the survey results will involve up- grading the quality and number of the company’s wireless access points. The cost associated with these purchases will be relatively small. Also, Norris-Blain will proba- bly recommend upgrading our network server, several office computers, and some sound equipment in the meeting rooms. The cost of these improvements will of course be significant, but will immediately result in improved network connectivity and greatly enhanced network security. Asad Jasani P a g e | 2

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Recommendations for the Wireless Network at Spruce & Cooper February 8, 2024 Expenditures Norris-Blain Network Consulting provided some estimates of probable expenditures resulting from the wireless site survey. These figures are presented in the following table. Item Installation cost Cost Access points $600 $850 Sound equipment $1000 $7,500 Workstation computers and server hardware $900 $25,50 0 Asad Jasani P a g e | 3

Recommendations for the Wireless Network at Spruce & CooperFebruary 8, 2024 Asad Jasani P a g e | 4 Better Connectivit y Hardwar e Upgrade s Wireless Site Survey

Jasani_Wireless

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