What are the strongest WiFi signals?

This depends on the type of measurement you are using and the application you want to support. 

Signal strength can be described in two ways: RSSI (received signal strength indicator) and dBm (decibel milliwatts). RSSI indicates how well devices can hear the signal from an access point (AP). This measurement is expressed on a scale of 0 up to 255. However, every chipset manufacturer is allowed to define their own max value. Some may use 0-100, some may use 0-57, and some may go all the way to 255.. So, your possible maximum may be different than the business next door. One thing remains the same though: the higher the number, the better the signal.

When it comes to dBm, you’ll be looking at negative values. This means that the closer the number is to zero, the stronger the signal. Generally, we like to see values that range from -67dBm to -47dBm.

Signal strength is only part of the equation though. If you measure high signal strength, and yet have WiFi performance problems, you need to measure your noise level. Noise is any signal interference that doesn’t come from WiFi sources. It is measured in decibels (dB) from 0 to -120. The goal is to get as close to -120dB as possible.

Once you have your noise measured and your signal strength, you need to use them to get your Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). This tells you how much WiFi signal is available compared to all the noise (other signals in the environment). You find SNR by taking your signal measurement and then subtracting your noise measurement from it. An example would be: Signal -77dBm minus noise -100dB = SNR 23dB.

Is SNR 23dB good or bad? It depends on what you’re trying to do. You’ll be fine if all you need to do is browse the web and send an email. However, if you want to use video applications, you’ll struggle. For that, you really need an SNR of 25dB-40dB.

Is it better to connect to 5GHz or 2.4GHz?

This depends on the type of device you want to connect and how close you are to an AP. The 2.4GHz frequency band actually supports connectivity from farther distances, albeit at a lower speed. 5GHz gives you faster possible speed, but at a shorter range.

Most people are going to connect to the 5GHz. After all, it offers faster speeds, more channels and, most of the time, less interference, which means more devices can connect and transmit at a time. However, if this frequency is overcrowded, people will report issues with speed and latency. In that case, you need to review channel allocation and AP deployment. It’s possible that the network will need to go through a redesign so that everyone can connect to the 5GHz and experience optimal connectivity.

The exception to this is when talking about IoT devices. Many of these devices can only connect to the 2.4GHz band. If they aren’t performing as desired, you can’t switch them to a different frequency. You’ll need to work with an analytics solution that can pinpoint the source of the issues: whether the cause is the device, the network, a nearby network, or something else.

What blocks WiFi signals the most?

The material that is hardest for a WiFi signal to penetrate is metal. If your signal has to move through metal doors, walls, shelving units, or other metallic objects, your WiFi signal will likely suffer. 

This doesn’t mean you have to remove all metal or only use a wired network. It means that you need to perform a detailed site survey to learn where to place APs in order to best mitigate any interference (from metal objects or otherwise). You should also work with an AI-powered network automation solution that will continuously monitor all network behavior and performance, and alert IT to issues. This way, IT knows immediately if the network design isn’t working (say, if items are moved around or many new devices have connected), and can take steps to quickly resolve the issue and get a business back on track.

Is WiFi 7 out yet?

WiFi 7 routers have been released, but they aren’t common. WiFi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT), is the latest WiFi standard. It was designed to deliver faster speeds, low latency, and support for congested environments, such as large venues and enterprises. It should make a difference for organizations that depend on hundreds or thousands of users live streaming at the same time, gaming, using AR or VR, or remotely downloading large amounts of data.

Is WiFi 6E better than WiFi 6?

WiFi 6E isn’t better than WiFi 6, but it is different. Both offer higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates. However, WiFi 6E is the name for products that operate in the newly opened 6GHz wireless spectrum. 6GHz offers 14 additional 80MHz channels and 7 additional 160MHz channels, and only 6E devices can operate in this spectrum.

This means that this band will be less congested and offer less signal interference. The downside is that, as 6GHz operates at a higher frequency, it uses shorter wavelengths than the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. This means that it offers a shorter signal range and will experience greater degradation from obstructions such as dense walls and metal doors.

How can I improve my WiFi quality?

By and large, answering this question requires specific analytics and identified problems. What exactly do you want to improve? Speed? Availability? Latency? Do you have in-depth analytical insights that explain why your network performs poorly? If not, we recommend working with an AI-powered network automation solution that automatically identifies all problems, alerts IT, and proactively suggests resolutions.

Depending on the solution, they can provide all or some of the following to boost your WiFi quality and user experience:

• Complete network visibility so there are no mysteries and nasty surprises
• Proactive alerts so IT knows in real-time when something is wrong, often before end users are impacted
• Continuous network tests to give IT confidence that everything is working as it should
• Automated troubleshooting so IT teams can resolve problems quickly from any location at any time
• Historical wireless traces to allow IT to see what occurred on the network at the packet-level, and to identify long-term health trends

How can I increase my WiFi speed?

If you want to increase your WiFi speed, there are a few things you can do. However, before you do any of them, do you know how much speed your network needs?

Almost everyone is surprised when we tell them that the maximum speed we see in frequently used real life applications is 20Mbps. That speed is necessary if you want to stream a 4K video. If you want to run a regular video application, send emails, browse the web, or upload or download documents, you will still experience great performance at a much lower speed.

If you still want to know how to increase your possible speed, you can:

•  Reduce interference sources
• Increase the minimum data rate allowed (assuming there is sufficient RF coverage for the higher data rates)
• Upgrade your devices and infrastructure to a newer WiFi standard (i.e. move from WiFi 5 to WiFi 6 or 6E). It’s important to note that while newer standards boast higher maximum speeds, these speeds aren’t usually seen in real life applications. To learn more about this, check out our blog, “Breaking Down a Common Misconception: How Much Speed Does Your Enterprise Network Truly Need?”

However, you can make one of these changes, and not see any performance improvements if insufficient bandwidth isn’t the root cause of your user experience (UX) problems. This is why it is crucial to know the root cause of every issue on your network and the health of every connected device. This way you can implement the correct resolutions, and not spend thousands of dollars upgrading your network only to experience the same challenges.

Why is the WiFi so weak?

If you’ve got WiFi performance problems and/or weak signal strength, there are a few common culprits:

• Less-than-ideal AP location
• Outdated equipment
• Insufficient bandwidth
• Too many networks per AP
• Unauthorized devices connecting to your network and “stealing” bandwidth (this is also a security risk and should be addressed ASAP)

To address the problem, you’ll first need to identify it. We recommend an AI-powered network automation solution that will automatically and proactively identify issues in real time and alert IT with the root cause and actionable resolutions.

To avoid these problems, here’s where we recommend focusing time, energy, and budget for a reliable WiFi network that supports all needs and won’t break the bank.

1. Understand what processes and priorities your WiFi network must support as you make design decisions. This tells you which technologies to target and which aren’t needed.
2. Utilize a consistent analytics solution to identify issues before users are impacted.
3. Adopt historical automated analytics and vendor agnostic solutions to future-proof all networks.

More questions? Ask away

Talk to us! Our expert, all-human teams are standing by to answer your questions about how to transform business operations through WiFi network optimization. If you want to know more about AI-powered network automation, let’s schedule a demo or free trial of the Wireless Intelligence Platform.

The post How to Improve Your WiFi: Most Asked Questions appeared first on Wyebot.

Enhanced Network Automation

The integration between Wyebot’s Wireless Intelligence Platform (WIP) and Cisco’s Catalyst Center gives organizations access to comprehensive insights designed to make network optimization effortless. Since the network is the lifeblood of all other resources, this new enhanced, personalized experience delivers the answers companies need to keep operating.

• Elite Customer Benefits

Cisco Catalyst Center is a powerful system for network management that leverages AI to connect, secure, and automate network operations. By leveraging its data, Wyebot now gives organizations even more control over their network performance. Say hello to an individualized interface platform with immediate access to client and network telemetry data..

• Proactive WiFi Assurance

True assurance comes from the ability to eliminate issues before they cause problems. WIP combines real time insights and automated troubleshooting to give IT teams answers as soon as problems are detected. The solution’s AI-powered predictive analytics allow it to anticipate potential network issues, giving IT the power to streamline operations before UX (user experience) suffers. The solution is easily scalable, tailored to support growth and expansion in any industry.

Keep Yourself Ahead

This integration adds to Wyebot’s list of globally respected affiliates, which includes an integration of Intel Connectivity Analytics.

Whether you want to enhance the digital experience, boost network performance, improve reliability, or reduce operational costs, these integrations are tailored to meet your demands. The future of your network is found here.

Uninterested in success? You could stop here and say no to:

• Less downtime: 90% faster resolutions
• Happier customers and employees: 70% fewer network problems
• Better budget control: 80% fewer remote site visits

Or, you could choose to give your business the safety net it needs to thrive. Ready to learn more about how Wyebot and Cisco can revolutionize your network and productivity? Click here to read the full press release and discover the considerable benefits of this integration.

The post End Network Worries with Next-Level Automation: Wyebot and Cisco Join Forces appeared first on Wyebot.

Let’s take a look at the strategic priorities that would be impossible to fulfill without reliable, optimal wired and WiFi networks.

Chief Executive Officer

CEO’s depend on their wired and WiFi networks for the following.

Secure, reliable communications

Whether communicating via laptop, tablet, or phone, CEO’s need uninterrupted access to secure, reliable communication systems for everything from negotiations and board meetings to financial data reviews. 

If networks don’t have strong encryption, or exhibit performance problems during video calls, security, productivity, and reputation suffer.

Remote collaboration and presentations

This includes video conferencing, but goes beyond that to include the ability to remotely connect to the network from any location. CEOs aren’t tied to their office. They must be able to travel for business and yet remain connected to every office location. This takes networks designed with appropriate bandwidth and low latency.

Company growth

No CEO wants a static company. Networks should be future-proofed so that growth can happen as it needs to, seamlessly. If more employees are hired, more devices will need to connect. If new technologies enter the market, the network must support their utilization.

If a network isn’t adaptable, it isn’t scalable.

Chief Financial Officer

CFO’s, primarily responsible for financial decisions and company projects, need networks that provide:

Data security

CFOs and their teams regularly access sensitive reports and banking systems, and make financial transactions. Most, if not all, of these actions depend on access to the internet. If the network is not reliably secure, significant loss can result.

Real-time communications

Whether speaking with investors, making online transactions, or viewing real-time financial details, CFOs need the assurance of uninterrupted network connectivity.

Chief Operating Officer

Daily operations are nonexistent without the enterprise network. COO’s depend on the network for:

Business continuity

Uninterrupted workflow is necessary for all departments. Issues, even ones that only cause slight delays, can be shockingly costly. COO’s need networks that provide extensive WiFi coverage so that all users stay connected at all times. Networks must also easily scale and adapt to changes in office layout, employee numbers, and technology adoption. 

Employee user experience

Digital experience management (DEM) is a new name for an accepted fact: if your employees aren’t happy at work, you’re in trouble.

Today, UX (user experience) and DEM recognize that keeping employees happy means providing them with the network they need to do their jobs easily, efficiently, and well.

No Network Assurance Means No Business

Without strong, reliable wired and WiFi networks, all executives have is a never ending list of what can’t be accomplished:

• Negotiations
• Collaborations
• Presentations
• Growth 
• Financial transactions
• Communications 
• Daily operations
• Compliance with data security regulations

The network is the most critical non-human resource. It must be prioritized. This requires IT professionals to have complete network visibility in order to design, optimize, and maintain the best network for each individual office. This visibility is necessary because, as every IT professional knows, network designs cannot be copied + pasted. That only results in networks ill-suited for their users. 

Instead, each office’s network needs must be identified. These needs are based on:

• Location
• Interference from nearby networks and other sources
• Number of network users
• Types of devices and applications used

Providing IT professionals with 24/7 real time and historical network analytics is one of the best shows of support C-level executives can make. With these analytics, IT can proactively troubleshoot and recommend cost-effective upgrades to meet their users’ specific needs. This results in networks that support all strategic priorities, such as:

• Positive professional reputation
• Boosted brand recognition
• Positive customer and employee experience
• Increased sales
• Protected business continuity and operational efficiency

Target Network Automation

Make sure your network has what it needs to support every critical task. Ask us about a free trial or demo of our AI-powered network automation solution, the Wireless Intelligence Platform.

Network automation is a process in which software automatically detects wired and WiFi network problems, notifies IT, and mitigates the issues. With this support, enterprises can have reliable, optimal wired and WiFi networks at lower operating costs.

For more information on what problems network automation solves, and the organizational and technical benefits, check out The Essential Guide to Network Automation Benefits. Contact us with any questions.

See Also:

Why CIOs Should Care About WiFi Assurance

The post WiFi Network Priorities: Why Every C-Level Executive Must Care appeared first on Wyebot.

Do we still need these wired connections, or are they a holdover from an earlier time? Is there a case for an all WiFi network (exempting the wired connections necessary for Access Points (APs))? Let’s take a look.

The Advantages of WiFi Networks

Let’s talk about the pros of WiFi networks first. These include:

• Mobility

WiFi networks – free as they are from wires – keep people connected while they are mobile. Users aren’t tied to their desk, but can review proposals, respond to emails, and use instant messaging to chat with colleagues from anywhere in the office; or the world (see next point).

• Availability

These networks let your users connect from any location with a WiFi signal. This includes from their homes, airports, coffee shops, auditoriums, conference centers…work isn’t interrupted because someone is out of the office.

• Adaptability

WiFi devices can be installed wherever makes the most sense because you don’t have to worry about wires crossing the floor and becoming a tripping hazard. This means that laptops, printers, point-of-sale devices, and other IoT devices can go where you need them, not where wires exist.

• Range

WiFi networks have a wide, although not infinite, range. This range does depend on which frequency band you connect to (for example, the new 6GHz band has a different range than the 5GHz and 2.4GHz frequencies), but you aren’t limited by the length of cable you can connect.

• Scalability

With WiFi, you can effortlessly add or remove devices without needing additional cables or wires.

• Easy installation

Usually, it’s simple enough to install or connect new devices to the network. However, you do have to make sure people aren’t connecting devices without IT’s permission.

The Disadvantages of WiFi Networks

Now, for some negative factors associated with these networks:

• Performance

WiFi networks can be derided by some IT professionals for not providing as great of support for data intensive tasks like video collaboration.

• Interference 

WiFi networks operate in the radio frequency (RF) environment, which is unlicensed spectrum. This means that you don’t control who has access to it; you must share it with any nearby networks or users. Although you can secure your own network, you can’t prevent another business from operating their WiFi network within the same airspace. This is why WiFi networks are susceptible to interference from other WiFi networks and devices, as well as devices that communicate using the same frequency, such as Bluetooth.

• Compatibility

WiFi networks and technologies are not evergreen. Devices and infrastructure must be upgraded to utilize the newest WiFi technologies and standards.

• Security

WiFi networks may need additional security measures to prevent unauthorized access. Hacking a network doesn’t require someone to have a cable and physically connect to your network, but is done through the RF environment.

All Wireless or Not?

Different industries and individual businesses will have their own network needs. For some, it might be easier to switch to an all WiFi network, for others, not so much.

At Wyebot, though, we don’t believe that anyone’s decision should be made because a WiFi network is viewed as inferior and more prone to issues. It doesn’t have to be that way. We’re working to make WiFi (and wired) issues a thing of the past.

How to Make a WiFi Network Problem Free

We don’t have to accept intermittent poor performance as a matter of course. It is possible to cost-effectively optimize WiFi networks, and keep them optimized.

The not-so-secret secret is AI-powered network automation. These solutions automate the detection, notification, and actionable resolutions of issues on both wired and WiFi networks. They proactively spot problems in real time; yes, as soon as issues occur. IT is then notified immediately, often before end users are impacted. 

The result? A significant reduction in the number of WiFi problems, resolution times, and overall network mysteries. Performance improves. Business continuity and operational efficiency are safeguarded. User Experience is boosted.

Did we mention that all this happens within budget? 

Whether your network is 90% WiFi or 53%, AI-powered network automation simply makes sense. WiFi networks are the backbone of most business processes, and wired networks work right alongside them. If these networks aren’t reliable, your business isn’t reliable. 

Move away from reactive, manual, time-consuming problem solving, and step into the future with proactive, automatic, real-time resolutions and optimization. Let the solution keep eyes on your networks at all times, and keep you informed of every device’s performance and behavior, no matter how your networks grow and evolve.

Provide all users – employees, customers, stakeholders – with a reliable, optimal network when you adopt AI–powered network automation. With Wyebot’s vendor-agnostic, plug-and-play solution, enterprises report:

• 90% faster Mean-Time-to-Resolution
• 70% fewer problem tickets
• 80% fewer remote site visits

Ask us about a free demo or trial today. 

The post The Pros and Cons of An All WiFi Network (and How To Avoid the Cons) appeared first on Wyebot.

Network speed is a real-time measurement of how much data is being transferred (uploaded or downloaded) at a given time. Network bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that it is possible to transfer at a time in each direction – upload and download. Networks that offer the same speed in both directions are referred to as “symmetric” vs those that offer different upload vs download speeds are referred to as “asymmetric”. Traditionally speaking, cable modems have offered higher download speeds compared to upload speeds. On the other hand, fiber connections (more commonly known as FiOS) offer symmetric speeds. For example, one may have 100 Mbps download speed and 5-10 Mbps upload speed.

The question is, is that bad, good, or neutral? How much speed does your enterprise network truly need?

How Many Mbps Do I Need? 

It’s fairly common for me to attend a conference or speaking event and have someone tell me that they need 1 Gbps of speed for every user on their network. When I ask, “Why?” I’m told that there are plans to upgrade the working environment so it becomes a next-generation ecosystem. The network speed promised by WiFi 5, WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E are extraordinary – 1.3 Gbps with WiFi 5, 9.6 Gbps with WiFi 6/6E. That’s 1300 Mbps and 9600 Mbps, respectively. So, the reasoning goes, if those speeds are out there, I must need them to give my employees the best network experience.

Let’s take a look at some data intensive applications, ones that need a decent amount of bandwidth to operate flawlessly, and see what the numbers show.

Google Meet

YouTube

Netflix

So, if you wanted all of your employees to stream the same 4K YouTube video at the same time – they would each need 20 Mbps. And assuming the typical 20-25 devices per WiFi radio, that makes it 20 Mbs x 25 devices = 500 Mbps. That’s a far cry from needing 1 Gbps. I’m also going to assume that it’s unlikely you regularly have all your employees – or even most of them – streaming YouTube, let alone watching Netflix. 

Google Meet on the other hand, and other video collaboration applications, are frequently used. However, even that software only requires 4 Mbps for 10 or more participants using HD video quality. And the bandwidth requirement does not increase with more participants, thanks to advanced processing on the video-conferencing server side. 

The numbers are similar for Zoom – even when presenting a webinar.

Why Are WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 So Fast?

If we don’t use the maximum speeds, why are they there? What internet speed do I need?

Largely, they are there to be shared. WiFi is a shared medium, wherein each device accesses the airwaves to transfer its part, and then gets off the airwaves to allow others to be able to use the “shared” medium. If each device can get its job done faster (because of higher theoretical speed offered by the newer standards – WiFi 5), it makes room for other devices sooner. Therefore the “aggregate” throughput of all devices can approach higher boundaries. Bandwidth is distributed amongst every single connected device. Yes, this includes laptops and tablets, but it also includes phones, wearable sensors, IoT devices such as printers and door locks, voice assistants like Alexa, and every other device connected to the internet.

None of those devices on their own need 9.6 Gbps. But that much speed shared amongst 1000 devices? That gives each device a higher possible maximum speed than when the max speed was “only” 1.3 Gbps. WiFi 6 on the other hand, focuses on “efficiency” – we’ll cover that in more detail in a future blog.

For enterprise networks, which can have tens of thousands of devices, this is a good thing. Especially if you consider that many network applications (such as sending email or drafting a document) require only around 1 Mbps. WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 ensure there should be enough speed to go around.

The other breakthrough delivered by WiFi 6 is the ability for multiple devices to transfer data at the same time. Not only does each transfer happen faster, devices no longer have to wait for the device ahead of them in the queue to finish. Many devices can upload and download data at the same time. This keeps communications running more efficiently and is why this WiFi upgrade was designed for high-density areas such as arenas and auditoriums.

What About WiFi 6E?

WiFi 6E is the specific designation for products that operate in the 6GHz wireless spectrum. These devices share the same possible speeds as other WiFi 6 devices, but get to operate in their own, less congested, spectrum. This offers great possibilities for enterprises, but the reason to upgrade wouldn’t be because you want every individual device to have 100+ Mbps of speed available to send emails or video conference their colleagues. That speed isn’t necessary for those applications. Your primary reason should be another metric(s), something measurable in the real-world, so that you can accurately determine if the upgrade improved user experience, or not.

Do Any Applications Need These Maximum Speeds?

AR and VR applications are the standout when it comes to high speed requirements. Depending on the device and utilization, you can see requirements of 200 to even 5000 Mbps. This is one reason for the latest WiFi standard, WiFi 7, also known as 802.11be Extremely High Throughput. While speed is how fast data can travel and bandwidth is the max speed possible on a network, throughput is the amount of data that is successfully transmitted in a given time. WiFi 6 is supposed to make a difference for events that see thousands of people in one area needing to live stream or use applications such as AR and VR.

However, right now, enterprises are not inundated with AR and VR applications. Nor are they live streaming the workday of their employees. There can be occasional use cases at play where high speeds are needed – for example, if a hospital needs to upload a number of MRI scans using the WiFi – but these are not typical, daily scenarios. This makes these maximum speeds not needed at the moment.

Could they be needed one day? Absolutely. It’s good to plan and prepare for the future. It’s better to do so strategically. And it’s best for strategic plans to be cost-effective.

Upgrade Network Speeds Cost-Effectively

Is it cost-effective for your enterprise to upgrade every office to WiFi 6, WiFi 6E, or WiFi 7 right now? Another way of asking this question is to say, will user experience improve if you upgrade?

Complete upgrades cost thousands of dollars because they require every access point (AP) and connecting device to be compatible with the selected WiFi standard.

You should upgrade if:

• It’s been 3-5 years since your last upgrade and it’s time to upgrade anyway – i.e. it’s in your budget and current devices are showing poor performance from wear and tear
• User experience is suffering because of insufficient bandwidth and network speeds

You can wait to upgrade if:

• You still have a few years before any planned upgrades
• The root cause of UX problems is not insufficient bandwidth

This requires you to know:

1. The health of every device on your network
2. The root cause of every issue

If you don’t have that level of network visibility, you need it. There should be no network mysteries for your enterprise. Problems and root causes should be identified immediately, in real time, so that IT can resolve issues before end users are impacted.

When it comes to bandwidth and speed – performance problems could be caused by insufficient bandwidth, or there might be an issue with certain devices or applications misusing bandwidth. Then of course bandwidth might not be the problem at all. If you don’t know, you could spend thousands of dollars upgrading your network infrastructure and then experience the same challenges.

So, take the time to understand the speed your users truly need to do their jobs without issue, and the current health and performance of your network. Then make the best upgrade plans for your strategic priorities and budget.

If you have questions about how Wyebot helps extend the life of existing infrastructure, contact us today.

The post Breaking Down a Common Misconception: How Much Speed Does Your Enterprise Network Truly Need? appeared first on Wyebot.

Network automation is a process in which software automatically detects, notifies, and mitigates wired and WiFi network problems. It is a superset of WiFi automation, which primarily focuses on improving the WiFi network. Wyebot’s Wireless Intelligence Platform is a network automation solution. 

What is the objective of network automation?

People choose network automation because they want their organization to have reliable, optimal wired and WiFi networks at lower operating costs. Network automation achieves this with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

What problems does network automation solve?

Organizational networks are complex. They consist of hundreds or thousands of wired and WiFi devices, software, applications, and infrastructure. Monitoring these ecosystems takes a significant source of time, money, and energy – and that’s for organizations who aren’t looking for 100% reliable performance. If a company ups their expectations to that level, they now require real-time, proactive network automation..

Why? Network issues occur at any time. They can spring up in a second, or be caused by long-term, slow degradation. If someone wants the assurance of a reliable network, they need to be alerted to problems as soon as they occur before user experience suffers. This is only possible with 24/7/365 network automation across all wired and WiFi frequencies.

Now you see why network automation solutions are necessary. Such constant, real-time monitoring and analysis of performance is beyond human control. Even an organization with hundreds of IT professionals couldn’t do what is needed without the support of technology.

Network automation solutions

• Deliver end user experience metrics
• Never take breaks
• Eliminate network mysteries
• Scale cost effectively
• Proactively identify existing and potential network issues
• Automatically alert IT to issues
• Run wired and WiFi network tests as often as desired
• Deliver remote, automated troubleshooting

Where is network automation used?

Network automation should be used in any industry that depends on a wired and WiFi network. In other words, every industry around the world. This includes:

• Enterprise
• Distributed Enterprise
• Education
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing and Warehousing

This is also a worthwhile solution for MSPs. Network automation provides the visibility, ease of use, and proactive alerts that providers need to ensure the best service for their customers.

What are the benefits of network automation?

Get ready because there are a lot. 

Organizational benefits:

• Business continuity: Network automation’s insights support the operation of all devices, applications, and technologies.
• Lower operational costs: with significantly fewer network issues and a scalable solution, organizations experience better business performance and lower operating costs.
• Improved user experience: with a reliable network, users have the resources they need when they need.
• Support for a dynamic workforce: the networks that support WFH and hybrid workforces are growing more complex. Network automation ensures that IT teams have complete network visibility and can build and optimize a network that best fits a company’s unique needs.
• Enhanced communication and productivity: with a network that always delivers, organizations can use the latest technology, like video conferencing and IoT devices, to improve communication and productivity.
• Support for emerging technologies: companies with network automation always know what technologies their network currently supports, what capabilities it can support, and how network performance changes after new technology adoption. This gives decision makers insight into whether or not the technology is right for their business.

Technical benefits:

• Time and energy returned to IT: greater insight and network control directly result in IT spending less time troubleshooting issues and more time on other critical tasks.
• Automated troubleshooting: network automation solutions give IT teams the ability to resolve issues from any location at any time. This significantly reduces remote site visits and improves the Mean Time to Resolution.
• Reduced network issues: historical and real-time network insights remove network mysteries and allow for individualized, cost-effective network designs that are future-proofed to meet a company’s unique requirements.
• Reduced network downtime: proactive alerts and continuous end user metrics mean that issues are identified in real time and often resolved before users are impacted.
• Continuous analytics: 24/7 analytics are a necessity for companies that want to ensure complete visibility into network performance; if any issue is reported, IT needs data and analytics from that time. There can be no break in analytics if companies want quick, successful resolutions.
• Flexible response (if a solution is vendor agnostic): a solution that integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure and can be used across all sites, means IT does not have to spend much time training and installing the technology before it delivers results. Vendor agnostic network automation is not tied to any technology and can be used long-term, no matter what technologies are adopted.

Wondering how you’ve managed without network automation so far? Many organizations feel the same way. Once they adopt the technology, they are adamant that there is no going back. The Wireless Intelligence Platform is the only network automation solution on the market with a  vendor agnostic, multi-radio sensor with historical packet capture (PCAP).

For a free demo or trial of the Wireless Intelligence Platform, click here. If you have any questions, let us know!

The post The Essential Guide to Network Automation Benefits appeared first on Wyebot.

WiFi issues, therefore, directly impact patient care. It’s no surprise that creating reliable WiFi networks is a top priority for all healthcare organizations, large and small. Let’s break down what it takes.

ECRI WiFi Recommendations

ECRI recommends the following:

1. Ensure that clinical engineering and IT staff have adequate systems, resources, and support staff to maintain WiFi systems, including settings and security certificates.
2. Monitor and maintain the network to ensure there is enough bandwidth to support clinical needs as demand increases. Periodically consult with clinical staff to identify problem areas; users likely can point out areas of poor coverage based on their experience using the network.

Recommendation One: Adequate IT Support

The number of WiFi dependent devices in a healthcare setting is growing exponentially. Currently it includes, but is not limited to:

• EMR/EHR
• Smart bed alarms
• Telemonitors
• Large volume IV pumps
• Syringe pumps
• Enteral pumps
• Robots
• Medication dispensing systems
• Communication / RN call systems
• Central monitoring systems
• Telehealth
• Infant security systems
• Thermometers 
• Supply chain / product inventory management devices
• Breast milk scanners
• Medication scanning
• Tablets
• Ventilators
• Temperature regulation controls
• Video conferencing
• Wearable / Smart devices
• RFID
• Patient / visitor devices
• Glucose monitors 

This creates WiFi systems that consist of hundreds or thousands of devices. These systems depend upon complex infrastructure with both onsite, offsite, and cloud elements. Monitoring every piece of the network ecosystem, down to security certificates for individual devices, is more than a full-time job. It requires the real time analysis of each device, backend and frontend infrastructure, and applications. This is not a job that can be performed solely by IT professionals. They don’t have the time or the capacity to devote 100% of their energy to WiFi network performance analysis..

They need systems and resources that remove this burden and make network monitoring easy. 

Recommendation Two: Ensure Sufficient Bandwidth

WiFi demand increases for every device and application using the network. Some need very little bandwidth. Others, such as video conferencing applications, are data intensive and require significant bandwidth. Available bandwidth changes throughout the day as different devices connect and disconnect, and different network requests are made.

Managing bandwidth is a constant job. Signs of poor coverage and poor bandwidth availability include:

• Slow loading internet pages
• Slow downloads and uploads
• Timed out connections
• Delayed audio during a video conference
• Poor video quality during a video conference

Determining bandwidth needs requires IT to know:

• What percentage of bandwidth is currently being utilized
• Bandwidth breakdown per device and application 
• The number of each device and application expected to connect to the network over the next 2-4 years

As you can see, this requires steady network analysis. If IT is to make predictions for bandwidth needs for the future, teams need to know, as precisely as possible, how needs changed over the last 2-4 years and what drove those changes. If bandwidth utilization jumped from March to August, but there’s no data in between explaining why, it makes it difficult to predict future needs.

Similarly, it’s important to remember that the issues mentioned above are not only caused by poor bandwidth. There are other common, and some not so common, factors that can be to blame. The only way to know what causes a problem is, again, constant network monitoring by a solution that will not only identify issues but also root causes.

Cost-Effective Solution: AI-Powered Network Automation

Network automation solutions automate the identification, notification, and mitigation of WiFi and wired network issues. Powered by artificial intelligence, they learn to recognize normal and abnormal network behavior. With this knowledge, solutions can alert IT as soon as issues occur, allowing teams to resolve problems in near-real time. With a network automation solution on board, IT professionals can trust that the healthcare network is performing optimally unless otherwise notified.

Wyebot’s Wireless Intelligence Platform (WIP):

• Delivers 24/7/365 critical coverage for the entire facility
• Enhances cybersecurity initiatives with AP Classification and Port Scan tests 
• Supports patient confidentiality initiatives with its HIPAA compliant design
• Provides network tests that run remotely on both wired and WiFi networks for a full picture of total network performance
• Saves 30 days historical data to provide critical end-user analytics
• Identifies any network gaps/interruptions and provides recommended solutions
• Passively monitors the airwaves from the client side of the network
• Allows for customizable notifications with multiple Trigger Criteria and alert recipients

WIP is the  only vendor agnostic, multi-radio sensor on the market with historical packet capture (PCAP).

Patient Safety Linked to WiFi Reliability

Healthcare organizations that use WIP see:

• 90% faster resolution times, improving user satisfaction
• 70% fewer WiFi problem tickets, allowing for optimal IT resource deployment
• 80% fewer remote site visits, allowing for greater budget controls

Ask about a free demo or trial today and see how WIP will elevate the efficiency of your healthcare IT infrastructure, allowing you to meet ECRI’s technology recommendations.

The post WiFi Dropouts and Dead Zones Can Lead to Patient Care Delays and Injuries appeared first on Wyebot.

Video Collaboration: Enhance Communication and Productivity Without Stressing the Network

Video applications have changed how we do business. We like to see each other, to talk in real time, to collaborate and problem solve. Video conferencing makes this possible. It’s used across industries for everything from training sessions to providing customer services like telehealth appointments. Even while some organizations are issuing return-to-office mandates, video collaboration remains critical to business operations. Employees might all be in professional spaces, but they won’t all be in the same room, in the same location. This is one reason why the video conferencing market is expected to reach $19.1 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 12.6%.

Requirements for Seamless Video Collaboration

IT professionals care about this growing dependency because video conferencing solutions stress network operations. This is because their success depends on real-time data.

If you send an email and there’s a network interruption, it’s usually not an issue. But if you’re trying to solve a problem or meet with a vendor and your video app isn’t working well? Now frustration can strike.

The good news is that we know video collaboration is important and growing – and we know how to optimize networks so that they deliver reliable support.

Organizations that give IT professionals the following make it possible for networks, and business operations, to succeed:

• Complete network and application visibility
• Proactive alerts before issues affect end users
• Automated Video Collaboration testing

With this information in hand, teams will resolve problems quickly and keep operations running seamlessly.

The 6GHz Frequency Band and WiFi 6E Migration: Expand Connectivity, Watch Out for Interoperability

WiFi 6E and the 6GHz frequency band are here. We can all expect larger deployments throughout 2024. This could create a lot of challenges for IT.

6E is the first time in over a decade that we’ve introduced a new frequency band to our networks. We haven’t had to deal with a transition like this in a long time. This makes it important for everyone to slow down and make sure they have what they need in place before transitioning.

Is IT prepped and ready to:

• Analyze end user metrics to predict which departments need the upgrade first?
• Redesign AP deployment to better provide 6GHz connectivity?
• Ensure redesigns don’t cause roaming issues?
• Continue to manage possible security risks?
• Compare network performance before and after transitions?
• Watch and analyze three frequency bands, 24/7?

6GHz is exciting, and what it can deliver could make significant differences for large organizations. Prepare for the upgrade properly, and let IT have fun with it.

AI-Powered Network Automation: Watch This Solution Become Mainstream

CTOs need to provide complete assurance that both the wired and WiFi networks are reliable and optimized. Industries like – and for the most part, still require – hybrid connectivity. Combine this with a recent, growing reliance on cloud applications, and networks are more complex than they used to be. 

Now when problems occur, IT needs to know:

1. Is this happening on our network or is it cloud services?
2. If our network, is it wired or WiFi or both?
3. Is it a client issue or our network?

Solutions that provide those answers immediately significantly reduce the Mean-Time-to-Resolution. This preserves business continuity, operational efficiency, and user experience. All of which, in turn, improves company reputation and finances.

This makes it impossible to overstate the importance of AI-powered network automation. These solutions automate problem detection, notification, and identification. Without them, IT has to analyze data from hundreds or thousands of devices in real time in order to isolate the root cause of issues. No CTO is signing their team up for that.

With AI-powered network automation, IT professionals will have quick and easy access to:

• Automatic problem identification and root cause analysis 
• Recommended resolutions
• Proactive testing 
• Automated, remote troubleshooting

All for both the wired and WiFi networks. This is modern network assurance.

Stand By Your Network in 2024

Embrace these trends, prep your networks to be outstandingly reliable, and give yourself a great competitive edge in the new year. Contact us at any time if you want to learn more about AI-driven WiFi and network automation.

The post WiFi Forecasts Every CTO Should Consider for 2024 appeared first on Wyebot.

Wyebot’s Wireless Intelligence Platform (WIP) is now available through Cisco Meraki’s customer-exclusive Meraki Marketplace. This makes it even easier for companies worldwide to discover WIP and the almost-effortless optimized WiFi networks it makes possible.

What This Partnership Means for You

WIP is the leading AI-driven WiFi automation solution on the market. It is known for autonomously and proactively addressing issues across the wired and WiFi networks. With its support, industries experience:

• 90% faster Mean-Time-to-Resolution
• 70% fewer WiFi problem tickets
• 80% fewer remote site visits

With the new partnership, Cisco Meraki users can find WIP in the Meraki Marketplace, a trusted platform for any company seeking top-of-the-line IT solutions.

What WIP Brings to the Table

WIP isn’t just another fancy gadget; it is a proactive approach to saving time and money through WiFi network optimization.

The Wyebot solution makes it possible for companies to achieve future-proofed network reliability thanks to its:

• 24/7 network analytics
• Proactive issue alerts
• Automatic root cause identification + recommended resolutions
• Historical wireless traces
• Remote troubleshooting
• Automated wired and WiFi network testing
• Vendor agnostic, personalized support

Elevating Enterprise Connectivity

Wyebot empowers organizations across all industries with the solution they need to navigate current and future networking technology cost-effectively and simply. Having recently announced an integration with Intel Connectivity earlier this year, this new partnership adds to Wyebot’s rapidly expanding list of globally respected affiliates.

Find WIP on the Meraki Marketplace, or contact us for more information.

About the Meraki Marketplace

The Meraki Marketplace is an exclusive collection of applications built by ecosystem partners on the cloud-first Meraki platform. Customers can select, view demonstrations, and deploy apps that enhance their IT experiences, secure locations, and connect people, places, and things. Ecosystem partners like Wyebot advance the Meraki platform capabilities to create practical business and tech solutions. Discover your IT potential and request a demo at apps.meraki.io.

The post Find Wyebot in the Meraki Marketplace and Make WiFi Optimization Your Simplest To-Do Task appeared first on Wyebot.

Here are a few likely scenarios and ways to prep your WiFi networks.

Future Technologies

More Immersive Devices

VR or smart glasses are about to hit the market in 2023. If we look five years into the future, it’s entirely probable that we will see these in the office. No, they won’t be worn by every employee, but a few employees, off-and-on throughout the day? That is likely.

Cloud-Only

Some enterprises may never be able to move fully to the cloud, but for others a cloud-centric design is already reality. With more cloud management technology entering the market, some of tomorrow’s network engineers will never work with on-premise servers.

High-Bandwidth Prioritization

WiFi 6 and WiFi 7 deliver higher maximum speeds and better network capacity. With these solutions already on the market, we are definitely going to see new technologies emerging that take advantage of these capabilities. The future could see 4K video as the new norm in office communications and presentations, with some of the technologies previously prioritized for gaming making their way into enterprises.

Battery-Free IoT Technology

There is interest in ambient power-enabled IoT devices and 802.11 WLAN support of these devices. Their creation and adoption are expected to reduce maintenance costs and further IoT applications in new arenas. The exploding Internet of Things is not stopping.

Devices Change, But Optimization Stays the Same

Thinking of some of these technologies being commonplace is astounding. However, while specific devices and capabilities are changing, the solutions needed for WiFi network optimization remain the same. That’s good news because it means that the solutions IT professionals use now will be just as useful in the future. More than useful, in fact, they will be just as critically necessary to safeguard business continuity. 

Why? Because what enterprises need now is:

• AI-powered insights for immediate, real time analytics
• Proactive alerts to replace manual problem tickets
• Historical wireless traces to remove all network mysteries
• Automated troubleshooting to streamline problem resolution

These capabilities are necessary because WiFi and wired networks already consist of hundreds and thousands of data-intensive devices. These devices influence every department and user responsibility. Ensuring operational efficiency and business continuity depends on an optimized, reliable WiFi network. Achieving such a network is only possible with automated analytics because the sheer number of devices, software, and infrastructure makes it impossible for IT teams to analyze all network data in real time. Without real time insights, IT is left playing catch-up. This is not the mark of an optimized enterprise.

The devices that join the network in the future might change, but these necessities will not. If enterprises find a solution today that delivers on these needs, they can rest assured that it will continue to optimally work into the future.

This isn’t to say that new upgrades won’t be necessary. Solutions should be able to adapt to changes like new WiFi standards. However, the high-level capabilities will be the same.

Choosing Network Automation

Two technologies best deliver these business critical capabilities: AI-powered WiFi automation and network automation solutions. These solutions automate problem detection, notification, and mitigation for either the WiFi ecosystem (WiFi automation) or the WiFi and wired ecosystems (network automation).

Enterprises that adopt these solutions are secure in their knowledge that their network is available at all times and always able to meet user needs. As noted above, they protect operational efficiency with:

• AI support

With AI engines, these solutions learn to recognize normal network behavior. When that behavior changes, the solution recognizes the issue in real time and proactively alerts IT with recommendations for quick resolution. These actions are taken regardless of how many new devices join the network.

• Proactive alerts

WiFi automation and network automation solutions move enterprises from reactive processes to proactive processes. This allows IT to solve problems sooner and faster, often before users are ever impacted. As networks adapt to new technologies and requirements, it’s more important than ever that IT is kept abreast of the dynamic nature of the network ecosystem.

• Historical wireless traces

Historical wireless traces serve two purposes: first, they give IT detailed insight into past network performance, keeping teams informed even when they cannot be onsite; secondly, they identify long-term trends in network utilization and performance, trends that are often overlooked with only isolated issue alerts. With this information, decision makers can make personalized upgrade plans that are cost-effective and future-proofed.

• Automated troubleshooting

Thanks to automation, IT can review network performance, run tests, and resolve issues from any location at any time. This saves enterprises time and money, and returns time and energy to IT.

With technological and network complexity and dependency growing, all enterprises need the assurance of a reliable, well-designed WiFi network. Adopt a WiFi automation or network automation solution today to deliver that assurance now and in the future. For more information, contact us about a free trial or demo of the Wireless Intelligence Platform.

The post The Future of Enterprise WiFi appeared first on Wyebot.