IT & Networking · 10 to 50 users

Office network

Structured cabling, a business firewall, managed PoE switching, ceiling Wi-Fi and shared storage. Explore how staff, guests, printers and cameras use separate networks.

All network designs
How it connects

Explore the network

Follow the connection from the provider to the staff, guests, printers and cameras. Select any device to learn its job. Dashed groups are logical VLANs, not physical rooms.

InternetISP terminalFirewallPoE switchCeiling Wi-FiRack UPSShared NASRack / panelStaff PCsGuest Wi-FiPrintersCameras
  • Provider line (fibre or wireless)
  • Ethernet cable (Cat6)
  • Wi-Fi
  • Power protection

Tap any device in the diagram, or pick one below, to see what it does and what to look for when buying it.

Devices in this design

Materials

What goes into it

These quantity rules follow the existing planner and are a starting assumption for Peter to review. Actual counts depend on users, wired devices and a measured site survey.

  • ISP terminal

    Business fibre handover, supplied or confirmed by the provider

    Quantity

    1; optional second line for failover

  • Router / firewall

    Business router with VLAN and VPN support

    Quantity

    1

  • Managed PoE switch

    Gigabit, 24 or 48 port; confirm VLAN support and PoE budget

    Quantity

    Per planner port count; confirm uplinks and spare ports on site

  • Ceiling access points

    PoE powered, with separate staff and guest Wi-Fi mapped to VLANs

    Quantity

    Per planner rule; confirm coverage and placement on site

  • Wall rack and patch panel

    Wall-mount enclosure, patch panel and cable management

    Quantity

    1 starting rack; confirm space and outlet count on site

  • Structured cabling

    Cat6 UTP runs to labelled wall outlets, with patch cords

    Quantity

    Per drop, using the planner; measure each route on site

  • Shared storage

    NAS for shared files and a planned backup system

    Quantity

    1; confirm capacity, retention and a separate off-site copy

  • Power protection

    Rack UPS for router, switching, PoE load and NAS

    Quantity

    1; confirm measured load and required cover using the runtime chart

Good practice

Design notes

  • This representative diagram and its quantity rules are a starting assumption for Peter to review. It is not a measured floor plan or a final equipment schedule; use the planner and a site survey to confirm the design.
  • Staff, guests, printers and cameras use separate VLANs. Dashed groups show logical separation, not physical rooms; firewall rules must explicitly allow the required connections.
  • Map staff and guest Wi-Fi to the intended VLANs. Test that visitors cannot access shared files or infrastructure management.
  • PoE powers compatible access points and cameras through the Ethernet cable. Confirm each device's power requirement and the switch's total PoE budget from its specifications.
  • A patch panel is passive, not another switch. Label the panel, wall outlets and both cable ends, keep a port map and test every cable run.
  • Keep network administration restricted, use individual accounts and schedule firmware updates. Document how authorised staff reach printers, NAS shares and camera recording services.
  • Shared storage and drive redundancy do not replace backups. Keep a separate off-site copy and test restores; size CCTV recording separately.
  • Confirm UPS load including PoE devices and use the manufacturer's runtime chart. Configure orderly NAS shutdown and inspect the rack's mounting, ventilation and service access.

Ready for a properly connected office?

We survey the space, confirm ports, Wi-Fi coverage and power needs, then install, label and test the network. You receive a documented network map and handover.

Size it for your own office with the planner
Get this installed