Wi-Fi & security challenges in flexible workplaces

This 2020 Coworking Europe presentation examined Wi-Fi deployment, cybersecurity and technology management in flexible workspaces. James Shannon of essensys described how contactless and mobile-first systems supported interactions such as entering buildings, booking desks and meeting rooms, opening lockers and collecting printed material. The deck identified common network deployment problems, including poorly spaced access points, physical obstructions, competing occupier-installed devices, packet collisions and excessive bandwidth use. It recommended conducting site surveys before fit-out, moving suitable equipment onto wired connections and segregating bandwidth between occupiers. The presentation also compared three approaches to infrastructure management: assembling separate systems internally, outsourcing services to multiple vendors and using a centrally managed network platform. It associated centralised management with greater visibility into network activity, service use and tenant requirements. A final section described how Wi-Fi and internet data recorded bandwidth consumption, movement across locations and use of workspace services. The deck presented these data as inputs for operational reporting, service planning and the management of risks associated with shadow IT and bring-your-own-device policies.

Key findings

• The deck identified access-point spacing, site surveys, wired connections and bandwidth allocation as core Wi-Fi deployment considerations.
• Centralised network management was presented as a way to monitor roaming, capture service-use analytics and tailor services.
• Wi-Fi and internet data were described as sources for tracking bandwidth use, movement across spaces and service-consumption trends.

Presented by James Shannon, essensys, at Coworking Europe 2020