Networking & Wifi

The Backbone of Your Business.

Enterprise-grade routing, switching, and wireless infrastructure designed for high availability, security, and performance.

Not ready for a full quote? Talk to an engineer first.

Overview

ZEI engineers commercial network infrastructure that the rest of your facility depends on — structured cabling, managed switching, Wi-Fi 6E / 7, next-generation firewalls, and SD-WAN. Built for high-availability operation, segmented properly, and managed cleanly.

Technology Partners

  • Cisco enterprise networking
  • Ubiquiti enterprise networking
  • CommScope network infrastructure solutions
  • Cambium Networks wireless infrastructure
  • Leviton network and electrical infrastructure
  • Corning fiber optic infrastructure
  • Cisco enterprise networking
  • Ubiquiti enterprise networking
  • CommScope network infrastructure solutions
  • Cambium Networks wireless infrastructure
  • Leviton network and electrical infrastructure
  • Corning fiber optic infrastructure
Representative real-world environment where ZEI deploys networking & wifi
In the field

A representative environment where ZEI engineers, deploys, and supports networking & wifi.

Problems We Solve

Where current systems fall short.

  • Wi-Fi dead zones and roaming failures interrupting users and guests
  • Flat networks where security cameras share a broadcast domain with payroll
  • Outages caused by aged switches, untested failover, or single points of failure
  • Slow, painful site-to-site VPN that does not survive carrier failover
  • Networks no one understands because they were never documented
Core Capabilities

Robust Infrastructure

Your security and A/V systems are only as reliable as the network they run on. We build networks that never go down.

High-Density Wi-Fi

No more dead zones.

Wi-Fi 6/6E access points strategically deployed using predictive heatmapping to ensure seamless roaming and high capacity.

Next-Gen Firewalls

Secure the perimeter.

Advanced threat protection, deep packet inspection, and secure VPN access to protect your corporate data from external threats.

Cloud Networking

Visibility and control.

Manage your entire network stack—switches, routers, and APs—from a single cloud dashboard with deep analytics.

SD-WAN

Connect your branches.

Securely and efficiently connect multiple office locations with software-defined routing that prioritizes critical traffic.

Typical Components

What gets installed.

A real deployment is more than the headline product. These are the components we typically specify and integrate.

Structured cabling

BICSI-compliant Cat6, Cat6A, and OS2/OM4 fiber backbone with proper pathways, dressing, and labeling.

Core & access switching

Managed switches (Cisco, Meraki, Aruba, Juniper, UniFi) with proper VLAN segmentation, QoS, and PoE budget.

Wi-Fi access points

Wi-Fi 6 / 6E / 7 APs deployed via predictive site survey and verified by post-install heatmap.

Next-gen firewall

NGFW (Fortinet, Palo Alto, Meraki MX, SonicWall) with deep packet inspection, IDS/IPS, and SSL inspection.

SD-WAN / ZTNA

Software-defined WAN with carrier diversity, performance-based routing, and zero-trust remote access.

Network monitoring

Centralized monitoring of switches, APs, firewalls, and circuits with alerting on capacity and outages.

Power conditioning & UPS

Rack-level UPS with managed PDU so the network survives short outages without disruption.

Integrations

Connects to what you already run.

Our networking & wifi integrate with your existing identity, communication, and security systems for unified operations.

Active Directory integration
Active Directory
Slack / Teams integration
Slack / Teams
HR Platforms integration
HR Platforms
VMS Systems integration
VMS Systems
Alarm Panels integration
Alarm Panels
Fire Systems integration
Fire Systems
Building Mgmt integration
Building Mgmt
Custom API integration
Custom API
Deployment Process

How it gets built.

Every project follows the same engineering-led sequence — designed, documented, and delivered with no surprises.

  1. 01

    Site survey & predictive design

    Walk the building, capture floor plans, run predictive Wi-Fi modeling, and document existing pathways and equipment.

  2. 02

    Architecture design

    Logical network diagram, VLAN plan, IP addressing, QoS plan, and security policy documented before purchase.

  3. 03

    Cabling install

    Backbone fiber, horizontal Cat6/6A, IDF/MDF builds, and certified test results for every drop.

  4. 04

    Equipment staging

    Switches, APs, and firewalls pre-configured at our shop so on-site install is plug-and-play.

  5. 05

    Cutover & validation

    Phased cutover with rollback plan, post-install heatmap, throughput tests, and acceptance.

  6. 06

    Documentation & handover

    As-built drawings, IPAM, VLAN map, runbook, and admin training delivered as part of project close.

Engineering Considerations

What our engineers look for.

  • Predictive Wi-Fi site survey is done before AP placement is finalized — guesswork creates dead zones.
  • Security devices, access control, and surveillance traffic live on dedicated, isolated VLANs.
  • Cabling is engineered to a 10+ year service life: Cat6A or fiber for long runs, Cat6 for short runs only.
  • Core, distribution, and access tier separation matches the building's physical layout, not vendor templates.
  • Documentation (IPAM, VLAN map, port map, IDF/MDF photos) is a deliverable, not an afterthought.
Maintenance & Support

After the install.

Service tiers built around what your facility actually needs — not a one-size-fits-all SLA.

Essentials

Annual preventive review, firmware updates, and remote support during business hours.

Pro

24/7 remote monitoring of all network devices, 4-hour critical response, and quarterly capacity reviews.

Managed

Fully managed network operations including change management, security policy administration, and Wi-Fi optimization.

Reference Architecture

How the system fits together.

Reference architecture diagram for networking & wifi
Networking & Wifi — reference architecture
Architecture Options

Network Architecture

Building the right foundation for your bandwidth needs.

Cloud-Managed (Meraki/UniFi)

Modern, intuitive networking with centralized visibility.

  • Single pane of glass management
  • Zero-touch provisioning
  • Automatic firmware updates
  • Built-in analytics and reporting
  • Ideal for distributed enterprises

Traditional Enterprise (Cisco/Aruba)

Highly customizable, CLI-driven infrastructure.

  • Maximum configuration flexibility
  • Complex BGP/OSPF routing
  • Deep hardware redundancy
  • No recurring cloud licensing required
  • Ideal for massive campus environments
Industries

Where this system fits.

Industry

Education

Creating safe learning environments with integrated lockdown systems, vape detection, and campus-wide mass notification

Industry

Healthcare

Securing hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies while maintaining strict HIPAA compliance and ensuring a safe environment for patient care

Industry

Hospitality

Discreet, high-performance security and networking solutions that protect guests and staff without disrupting the hospitality experience

Industry

Logistics

Securing massive distribution centers and tracking fleet movement with long-range surveillance, yard management, and access control

Industry

Manufacturing

Industrial-grade security and process monitoring to protect intellectual property, ensure OSHA compliance, and minimize downtime

Industry

Retail

Integrated loss prevention and retail analytics to protect your bottom line while gathering actionable intelligence on customer behavior

Industry

Banking

Protecting financial assets, sensitive data, and personnel with integrated security systems that meet strict regulatory requirements

Industry

Condominiums

Elevating the resident experience while securing property perimeters, amenities, and common areas with smart building technology

Industry

Airports

Comprehensive security and networking solutions designed to meet the rigorous compliance and operational demands of modern transportation hubs

Industry

Utilities

NERC CIP compliant security solutions for power plants, substations, water treatment facilities, and critical energy infrastructure

Industry

Government

NDAA-compliant security infrastructure designed to protect municipal, state, and federal government facilities and personnel

FAQs

Frequently asked.

Cloud-managed (Meraki / UniFi) or traditional (Cisco / Aruba)?

Cloud-managed is right for most distributed enterprises — single dashboard, zero-touch provisioning, and minimal CLI experience required. Traditional enterprise is right when you need deep customization, BGP/OSPF routing, or strict no-cloud policies. We deploy both and will recommend based on your environment, not a vendor preference.

Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 — does it matter yet?

For dense, modern client mixes (laptops, phones, AR/VR, latency-sensitive UC), Wi-Fi 6E's 6 GHz band is genuinely useful today. Wi-Fi 7 adds value primarily where wired-equivalent latency matters. We design AP density and band steering to actually use the new spectrum, not just check a spec box.

Can you take over an existing network?

Yes — we do "lift the hood" engagements where we audit the network, document it (often for the first time), and stabilize it before deciding whether to refresh. Many clients stay with their existing hardware after the audit; some choose a phased refresh.

How do you handle multi-site networks?

A standard architecture (same VLANs, same naming, same firewall policy templates) at every site, plus SD-WAN for inter-site connectivity, makes a 50-site network supportable by a small team. Centralized monitoring and a single management dashboard make problems visible regardless of where they happen.

Do you do structured cabling for new construction?

Yes. We coordinate with the GC and electrical contractor during rough-in, install BICSI-compliant cabling, certify every drop, and deliver as-built documentation that the building owner can hand to a future contractor.

Let's build your system.

Tell us about your facility. Our engineering team will design a system tailored to your security, connectivity, and automation requirements.

Request a Quote