Client Overview:
Helia Insurance, is Australia’s first and leading Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) provider. Headquartered in North Sydney.
The Wi-Fi network for the two-level office was outdated, poorly maintained, and underperforming. A previous failed upgrade to address these issues resulted in wasted investment in hardware that ended up not properly integrated. With a reputation as a tech-driven financial leader and renewed focus on providing state-of-the-art workplace technologies, Helia has engaged for a new high performing, future-proof WIFI network transformation.
The Challenge:
- Underperforming Wi-Fi Network – The existing Wi-Fi was outdated and poorly maintained, causing slow speeds, connectivity drops, and coverage gaps in key business function areas. These issues disrupted high-profile board meetings, real-time decision-making, and daily operations, negatively impacting productivity and the overall user experience. A previous failed upgrade only complicated and compounded these issues.
- Guest & BYOD Network Issues– The Guest and BYOD networks lacked local breakout, leading to slow connections and inefficient WAN bandwidth consumption. The existing sign-on process was also cumbersome and non-streamline, frustrating visitors and increasing IT workload.
- Upgrade Constraints & Future-Proofing– The new design had to integrate hardware from a failed upgrade while ensuring long-term scalability to support future Wi-Fi-only office enablement without another major overhaul.
Solution
Sydco networks partnered with Cisco Meraki to design and implement a robust, future-proof Wi-Fi network that addressed all key challenges. The solution focused on:
- Deployment of Enterprise-Grade Wi-Fi 6 Cisco Meraki Access Points (APs) throughout the office to ensure seamless, high-density coverage, eliminating previous coverage gaps and dead zones while improving overall network reliability.
- Strategic integration of previously purchased equipment, ensuring cost-effectiveness by maximizing the value of past investments while avoiding unnecessary hardware waste.
- Optimized Guest and BYOD Networks with local breakout to improve speed and resource efficiency for external devices, while also integrating with existing Firewall solutions ensuring strong security measures.
- Simplified and streamlined sign-on process for both employees and visitors. By introducing Meraki Sign on portal as part of the solution, the solution provided self-help, improving the user experience, while reducing the reliance on stretched IT support resources.
- Scalable network architecture designed to support future upgrades and new technologies, aligning with Helia’s long-term IT roadmap and providing a clear path for transitioning to a Wi-Fi-only office and SD-WAN adaptability in the future.
Results
- Significant Performance Improvement – Wi-Fi speeds and coverage were dramatically improved, ensuring a stable and high-performance network across both office floors.
- Enhanced Employee Productivity & Trust – Employees regained confidence in the IT infrastructure, with a seamless and frustration-free Wi-Fi experience.
- Optimized Guest & BYOD Access – The new guest network provided secure, fast, and easy-to-access connectivity, reducing IT support overhead while improving the experience for visitors.
- Cost-Effective & Scalable Solution – By leveraging existing purchased equipment and implementing a future-ready design, Helia Insurance ensured that the new network would support long-term business growth without requiring another major investment.
By leveraging the power of Cisco Meraki technology, Helia Insurance ensured that their network was not only optimized for current needs but also future-ready to adapt to emerging technologies and demands.
Conclusion
By leveraging the power of Cisco Meraki technology, Sydco Network was able to provide Helia a state-of-the-art high-performing Wi-Fi Solution while maximizing their existing investments. Helia also future-proofed its network for the next stage of digital modernization, ensuring the office remains a cutting-edge workspace for years to come.
