Network Infrastructure & Wi-Fi Optimization Project

Enhancing Connectivity, Security and User Experience through Structured Network Improvement

1. Project Overview

To address connectivity issues and support a growing workforce, I initiated and coordinated a project to optimize the office network and Wi-Fi infrastructure. This involved assessing existing performance gaps, collaborating with the network engineering team, and executing a structured improvement plan covering coverage, segmentation, security, and reliability.

My role focused on project coordination, requirement analysis, documentation, and stakeholder alignment, while the network team handled the technical configurations and deployment.

2. Background & Challenges

The existing network setup began facing several issues as the organization expanded:

Challenge	Impact
Weak Wi-Fi coverage in meeting rooms & corners	Frequent disconnections and complaints from staff
Single flat network for all departments	Security risks, broadcast traffic, and no segmentation
Unmanaged guest Wi-Fi access	External users connected to main network (potential vulnerability)
No centralized documentation or network layout	Difficult to troubleshoot or expand infrastructure
Occasional IP conflicts and latency spikes	Productivity loss and inconsistent connection quality

3. Project Objectives

• Improve Wi-Fi coverage and signal stability across all working areas

• Implement network segmentation (VLANs) for departments and guest access

• Enhance security with access separation and better authentication practices

• Work with the network team to apply changes in a controlled, planned manner

• Document the entire network flow, layout and configuration process for IT governance

  
  

4. Planning & Collaboration

Stakeholders involved:

• IT Infrastructure Lead (You) – Project coordination, user issue analysis, documentation, testing feedback

• Network Engineering Team – Technical configuration, access point installation, VLAN setup, firewall changes

• Department Managers – Provided feedback on areas with poor connectivity

• Management Team – Approved budget and downtime windows for implementation

  
  

Key planning steps:

• Conducted Wi-Fi heatmap tests and user feedback sessions

• Identified high-density device areas and coverage blind spots

• Designed proposed network layout (core switch → access switches → AP placements)

• Mapped out VLAN requirements for departments, guests, servers and IoT devices

• Scheduled deployment during low-traffic hours to minimize disruption

  
  

5. Implementation Timeline

Phase	Duration	Key Tasks
1. Assessment & Survey	Week 1	Measured signal coverage, collected complaints, documented existing network layout
2. Network Design Proposal	Week 2	Proposed AP placement changes, VLAN structure and firewall rules; reviewed with network team
3. Deployment & Configuration	Week 3–4	Network team reconfigured switches, deployed additional access points, created VLANs and SSID mappings
4. Testing & Optimization	Week 5	Performed post-deployment tests, latency checks, roaming tests, and security validation
5. Documentation & Handover	Week 6	Created final network documentation, Wi-Fi layout diagrams, and escalation SOPs

6. Solution Highlights

Wi-Fi Coverage Improvement

• Additional enterprise-grade access points installed in blind spots

• Signal overlap fine-tuned to reduce interference and dead zones

• Band steering & load balancing enabled for higher performance

  
  

Network Segmentation (VLAN Implementation)

VLAN	Purpose
Staff Network	Secure internal access for employees
Development VLAN	Segregated network for servers/testing environments
Guest Wi-Fi	Isolated subnet with internet-only access
IoT / Devices	Printers, displays, IP cameras separated from core network

Security Enhancements

• Guest Wi-Fi isolated from internal systems

• MAC filtering & WPA2-Enterprise authentication applied where required

• Restricted inter-VLAN communication using firewall policies

  
  

Documentation & Handover

• Created updated network topology diagram

• Wi-Fi SSID & VLAN mapping sheet

• Troubleshooting guide for IT team

• Device inventory and IP address management template

  
  

7. Before vs After (Impact Table)

Area	Before	After
Wi-Fi Coverage	Dead zones & frequent drops	Full-floor coverage & stable connections
Security	Single flat network	Segmented staff, guest, admin networks
Guest Access	On same network as employees	Isolated internet-only guest VLAN
Documentation	No centralized network map	Full topology, config & IP tracking
Scalability	Hard to add new devices	VLAN-based design allows easy expansion

8. Key Contributions

• Initiated the project based on user pain points and risk assessment

• Coordinated between IT, network team, and management for approvals

• Helped conduct Wi-Fi surveys and coverage testing

• Created documentation: network diagrams, SSID/VLAN mapping, SOPs

• Ensured minimal downtime through planning and communication

• Verified improvements through post-deployment testing and feedback collection