AirMagnet Reduces Logicalis' Wireless Network Implementation Costs by 50 Percent
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov 13, 2007 — AirMagnet Inc., the leader in security, performance and compliance solutions for wireless LANs, has been working with Logicalis, an international provider of integrated IT solutions, to help the company deliver wireless network planning and analysis to customers. Using AirMagnet's award-winning wireless LAN products, Logicalis has been able to save 50 percent on each wireless network implementation. Logicalis employs more than 1,200 people worldwide that help design, deploy, integrate and manage networks and systems for more than 5,000 customers in a range of sectors including education, health care, manufacturing, retail, banking and finance.
Unlike wired networks, wireless networks are subject to constant change – simply moving an object can alter the radio frequency (RF) signal, which in turn, can have a direct effect on network performance. This is has been especially challenging in environments such as hospitals and warehouses because of the increased network interference and the risk of security breaches.
"At Logicalis we aim to provide the best service possible to our clients," said Jon Stanton, principal technical specialist for Logicalis. "We work to install fast, high-powered wireless networks in all environments. However, this can present a number of challenges because objects such as glass, stone and metal can all degrade signal quality. Installing wireless networks has therefore traditionally been a lengthy process as we have had to use a number of tools and adopt a ‘trial and error' approach to ensure optimum network performance."
In hospitals for example, network downtime can have serious consequences. Logicalis has found that radiology departments can be particularly difficult to install wireless networks because the heavy machinery and X-rays can cause significant network interference. In a retail environment, access points must often be hidden for aesthetic value, but obstructions between the wireless access point emitting the signal and work stations can cause diffraction, refraction and reflection of the RF signal – all resulting in patchy or interrupted service.
To address these issues and provide customers with high performance wireless networks, Logicalis utilizes a variety of AirMagnet's award-winning wireless LAN products including AirMagnet Survey PRO and AirMagnet Laptop Analyzer.
AirMagnet Survey PRO accurately maps out the wireless network to ensure complete RF signal coverage. It provides an accurate representation of real-world situations by collecting live signal, packet and spectrum data, which allows users to simulate and measure network performance. In addition, AirMagnet PRO provides a scientific report that outlines configuration settings to install the network and enables Logicalis to overcome common causes of interference.
According to Stanton, "AirMagnet provides highly intuitive and easy-to-use tools that have helped us save time and money when installing wireless networks. AirMagnet Survey PRO has made installing wireless networks approximately 50 percent less expensive than it used to be because it reduces the amount of time taken to identify and overcome installation problems. This not only brings down cost in the short term, but also minimizes the need for maintenance in the long term, giving Logicalis a greater competitive edge."
Logicalis also uses AirMagnet Laptop Analyzer to troubleshoot wireless networks and quickly detect network vulnerabilities once the network has been installed. AirMagnet Laptop Analyzer is a portable tool that performs live network tests and automatically pinpoints the source of network problems including security breaches, traffic/infrastructure overloads, hardware failures, connectivity issues and RF interferences.
"You would be surprised to discover the number of factors that can cause network interference once a network has been installed," said Stanton. "Even cordless telephones can result in network downtime due to interfering RF signals. Any network problem is obviously very frustrating, especially in organizations that increasingly rely on new wireless technologies such as voice-over-wireless phones. We use AirMagnet Laptop Analyzer as a fault finding tool, enabling us to quickly detect the source of any problem, be it physical or a security threat. Once this has been identified, the team at Logicalis can quickly act to resolve the problem, providing the best, most efficient service possible to our clients and reducing costs by 50 percent."
To read the entire Logicalis case study, please visit AirMagnet Customer Testimonials.
About AirMagnet Inc.
AirMagnet Inc. is the world leader in wireless network security, performance and compliance solutions. The company's products – available in handheld, laptop and enterprise configurations – provide an integrated set of solutions to plan, set up, secure and manage wireless networks. AirMagnet has more than 6,000 customers worldwide in industries as diverse as manufacturing, financial, retail, service, health care, utility, transportation, education, government and technology, including 75 of the U.S. Fortune 100. AirMagnet solutions solve Wi-Fi connection problems, block unauthorized access, simplify site surveys and guarantee WLAN performance, compliance and security. Additional information about AirMagnet and its products is available at www.AirMagnet.com.
©2007 AirMagnet Inc. All rights reserved. AirMagnet® and AirWISE® are registered trademarks, and the AirMagnet logo is a trademark, of AirMagnet Inc. All other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
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