For a medium-sized business, technology is no longer a support function; it is a foundational weapon. In an environment where 25 to 35, maybe even 40 employees are collaborating, creating, and serving clients, any friction in the digital workflow translates directly to lost revenue and missed opportunities. Brad Chism understands the goal has evolved beyond simple up-time. Today’s imperative is peak performance, delivered through an ecosystem of frictionless technology that tries to anticipate the needs and eliminates barriers. While the DNA of every medium business is unique, the architecture for a truly future-proof network is built on universal principles of power, scalability, and intelligence.
Beyond the Template: A Network That Adapts to Your Ambition
Brad knows tot all medium businesses are the same. A law firm with stringent data privacy requirements has a different technological heartbeat than a bustling marketing agency reliant on high-speed media rendering or a sales-driven organization with a highly mobile workforce. The challenge is to build a network core that is both robust and flexible. Building a solid foundation upon which a specific business functions, whether Windows-centric with Active Directory, Apple-based, or heavily invested in Azure cloud services, can be built and scaled without compromise.
The Core of Peak Performance: A High-Velocity Backbone
At the heart of this high-performance network lies a carefully engineered core designed for speed and intelligence. We begin with the Dream Router 7 (UDR-7), a modern gateway that not only manages a formidable 1 Gbps internet connection but is also ready to scale to 2.5 Gbps as business demands grow. This forward-looking approach prevents costly forklift upgrades down the line.
The UDR-7 connects to the network’s central nervous system—a Pro Max 24 PoE switch—via a 10 Gbps SFP+ connection. This is not just an upgrade; it’s a paradigm shift. This high-speed backbone ensures that even under heavy load, data moves between the router, switch, and servers without congestion, guaranteeing that the network never becomes the bottleneck to productivity. The switch, armed with 400 watts of Power over Ethernet, is the enabler of a clean, streamlined office environment, delivering power and data through a single cable to critical devices.
Pervasive, Intelligent Wireless Coverage
An average modern office runs on wireless freedom. To achieve seamless, high-density coverage, Brad would deploy a minimum of four U7-PRO-US Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 access points. These are not just Wi-Fi radios; they are intelligent traffic managers, each consuming 30 watts of PoE power, for a total of 120 watts. This strategic deployment leaves a generous 280 watts of PoE power on the switch for other essential devices or outdoor Access Points for Reliable outdoor patio spaces.
The network is logically segmented into two distinct wireless experiences. The first is a secure, high-performance business Wi-Fi network for staff and company devices. The second is a guest network, fortified with wireless filtering and a customizable portal login. This guest access provides a valuable amenity to visitors while creating a firewall that completely isolates them from the sensitive corporate network. This is frictionless technology at its best: convenient, secure, and managed automatically.
Intelligent Network Management and Security
Frictionless technology is also smart technology. To enhance security and improve the user experience, we integrate 2 technologies, a Honeypot & a Pi-hole running on a Raspberry Pi directly into the network fabric. Acting as the internal DNS server for the office, the Pi-hole provides a critical first line of defense by filtering out ads and blocking known security risks at the network level before they ever reach a user’s device. This not only protects the network but also accelerates web browsing by eliminating unwanted content, creating a faster, cleaner, and more secure experience for every employee.
A Flexible Foundation for Business Operations
The needs of a medium business often require a dedicated server environment. The Pro Max switch provides ample connectivity, with five ports dedicated to the Wi-Fi access points and Pi-hole, leaving 19 hardwired ports available. This allows for the connection of a powerful physical server. For maximum performance, this server can be equipped with its own SFP+ port, connecting it directly to the switch’s 10 Gbps backbone. On this server, a business can run a traditional Windows Active Directory environment with a file server for centralized management, or leverage virtualization to run multiple Virtual Servers with different operating systems and roles, providing maximum flexibility to adapt to any client requirement. For businesses focused on the cloud, this robust 1-2.5 Gbps internet allocation ensures that all users, whether in the office or mobile, have fast, reliable access to cloud services like AWS, Azure or Apple’s ecosystem, making the transition to cloud-first operations seamless.
Uncompromising Security for the Mobile Workforce
In today’s world, the office perimeter extends to coffee shops, hotels, and client sites. A robust Virtual Private Network (VPN) is non-negotiable. By connecting back to the office network, remote users, traveling agents, and salesmen gain a secure, encrypted tunnel for all their data. This is where the combination of the VPN and the Pi-hole becomes a powerhouse of mobile security. When an employee uses a public Wi-Fi network, all their traffic—including sensitive passwords and banking details—is routed through the office VPN. This not only shields their activity from prying eyes on the public network but also subjects it to the office’s Pi-hole filtering, providing a consistent layer of security no matter where they are. It’s a digital bodyguard for your most valuable assets: your people and your data.
Integrated Physical Security
Finally, a frictionless office is a secure one. The network’s design readily accommodates a comprehensive security system. An NVR (Network Video Recorder) can be connected directly to a port on the switch, or we can connect a dedicated NVR switch with PoE-powered IP cameras drawing power and connectivity from the same source. This creates a scalable, easy-to-manage surveillance system that protects the physical premises, all integrated into the same network infrastructure that powers the business.
Conclusion: From Up-Time to All-Time Performance
Building a network for a medium business is an investment in velocity. By focusing on future-proofing and frictionless technology, you move beyond the outdated goal of mere up-time. You create an environment engineered for peak performance—a network that is so fast, secure, and reliable that it becomes invisible, allowing your team to operate at their absolute best. This is how you build not just a network, but an unstoppable competitive advantage for your business.
Brad is a highly skilled Computer Technician in Orange County, Supplying services such as Cybersecurity, Managed IT Services, Wi-Fi 7 Installation and Business IT Solutions for Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs), High-Risk Hospitality and Corporations. Call or text : 714-883-3016