The Overview: 

A hotel group with multiple locations was facing significant challenges with their aging network infrastructure. The hotel’s existing firewalls and switches were outdated and no longer supported, leaving them vulnerable to security threats and impacting network performance. Additionally, their network lacked modern features, such as seamless guest Wi-Fi, efficient management tools, and reliable security for sensitive guest data. Imperium Cloud Solutions worked with the hotel group to upgrade their network security and infrastructure, transitioning to modern, next-gen firewalls, Meraki switches, access points, and CCTV systems.

The Challenges: 

The hotel group encountered several issues with its existing network infrastructure:

1. End-of-Support Firewalls and Switches: The hotel’s old firewalls and switches were no longer supported by the manufacturer, leaving the network exposed to potential security threats. Without regular security patches and updates, the risk of cyberattacks was high.

2. Lack of Scalability: As the hotel group expanded to multiple sites, the outdated network infrastructure struggled to scale, resulting in poor connectivity and performance issues across locations.

3. Inefficient Guest Wi-Fi Experience: Guests were experiencing slow and unreliable Wi-Fi, which affected their overall stay experience. The hotels needed a solution that would provide seamless, high-speed internet for guests, with better management options.

4. Security Gaps in Surveillance: The hotel group’s old CCTV systems were inefficient, lacked remote monitoring capabilities, and provided limited coverage of key areas.

The Solution:

Imperium Cloud Solutions implemented a comprehensive network security and infrastructure overhaul, upgrading the hotel group’s systems with cutting-edge technology. The solution involved replacing outdated equipment with next-gen firewalls, Meraki switches, access points, and CCTV systems to improve security, scalability, and guest experience.

1. Next-Gen Firewalls for Enhanced Security: We replaced the hotel group’s old firewalls with next-generation firewalls (NGFWs), providing advanced security features such as intrusion prevention systems (IPS), content filtering, VPN support, and real-time traffic monitoring. These NGFWs were equipped with deeper inspection capabilities, allowing for more precise control over network traffic and better protection against modern threats. With regular updates and enhanced threat intelligence, the hotel group now has greater confidence in their ability to secure sensitive guest data and prevent cyberattacks.

2. Meraki Switches for Reliable and Scalable Networking: To address the performance issues, we installed Meraki switches across all hotel locations. Meraki switches are scalable, allowing for easy expansion as the hotel group grows. They also provide centralised cloud management, making it simple to monitor and manage the network across multiple sites from a single dashboard. This ensures consistent performance and uptime across all locations. The switches also feature high availability and advanced Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities, ensuring that both staff operations and guest services, such as VoIP and internet usage, receive prioritised bandwidth as needed.

3. Meraki Access Points for Seamless Guest Wi-Fi: The hotel group’s outdated Wi-Fi infrastructure was replaced with Meraki access points to provide guests with a fast, reliable, and seamless internet experience. These access points are designed to support high-density environments like hotels, where large numbers of users need consistent and uninterrupted access to the internet. The Meraki system also allows for easy scalability, so the hotel can add more access points as needed without significant infrastructure changes. Additionally, Meraki’s cloud-based management platform allows the hotel’s IT team to manage and troubleshoot guest Wi-Fi remotely, ensuring minimal downtime.

4. CCTV System Upgrade for Enhanced Surveillance: We modernised the hotel’s CCTV system, replacing old analogue cameras with high-definition, IP-based cameras that offer clearer footage and better monitoring capabilities. The new cameras are connected via the Meraki network infrastructure, allowing for centralised management of both the network and CCTV systems. The hotel group now enjoys remote monitoring, meaning security staff can access live feeds and recorded footage from any location. This upgrade enhances the ability to monitor key areas, providing better protection for both guests and staff. The improved video quality also allows for clearer evidence in case of incidents.

The Results and Benefits: 

The network infrastructure upgrade provided several key benefits for the hotel group:

• Improved Security: With next-gen firewalls and enhanced security monitoring, the hotel group is now better protected against cyber threats. The new firewall solution offers comprehensive threat detection, preventing attacks and ensuring the integrity of guest data.

• Increased Network Reliability: The deployment of Meraki switches and access points improved the hotel’s network performance across all locations. The scalable, cloud-managed system ensures reliable network access, even during peak times, with optimised bandwidth management for both staff and guest usage.

• Enhanced Guest Experience: With fast and reliable Wi-Fi, guests can enjoy uninterrupted internet access throughout their stay. The system also allows for customisation of guest Wi-Fi portals, providing a branded, user-friendly experience that enhances the overall guest experience.

• Centralised Management and Monitoring: The cloud-based management system for both the network and CCTV allows the hotel group to efficiently monitor and manage their infrastructure from a single interface. This reduces the time and effort needed to oversee network performance and security, making it easier for the IT team to resolve issues and ensure smooth operations across multiple sites.

• Scalability and Future-Proofing: The new infrastructure is designed to scale with the hotel group’s growth, allowing them to add more devices, expand network coverage, and implement additional services as their needs evolve. The flexibility of Meraki’s cloud-based solutions ensures that the network can easily adapt to future technological advancements.

• Better Incident Response: The upgraded CCTV system provides higher quality footage and remote monitoring, improving the hotel’s ability to respond quickly to security incidents. The ability to review footage remotely also enhances the efficiency of investigations.

Conclusion: 

Imperium Cloud Solutions successfully helped the hotel group transform its network security and infrastructure by replacing outdated equipment with modern next-gen firewalls, Meraki switches, access points, and CCTV systems. The new infrastructure has significantly enhanced network security, improved guest Wi-Fi experience, and streamlined IT management.

The upgrade has allowed the hotel group to better manage their network across multiple locations while providing a seamless, secure experience for both staff and guests. The system’s scalability ensures that the hotel group is well-positioned to grow and adapt to future technological changes.

By modernising their network infrastructure, the hotel group has created a more secure, reliable, and efficient environment, ultimately improving both operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.

For more information on how Imperium Cloud Solutions can help your business enhance its network security and infrastructure, contact us today.