Extreme WiFi
Elevating Connectivity: How Trowers & Hamlins LLP Revolutionised Their Network with Extreme Networks and Appurity
Our client
Trowers & Hamlins LLP is an international law firm with offices in the U.K. and across the Middle East and South East Asia.
Specialising in commercial legal services, with a focus on sectors such as manufacturing, real estate, energy, and construction, Trowers & Hamlins caters to a diverse client base, including international organisations, public sector organisations, financial institutions, and both local and central government bodies.
Background and Challenges
Prior to engaging Appurity, Trowers & Hamlins faced challenges with its existing WiFi infrastructure. The firm was a legacy Aerohive customer, relying on an on-premises solution that eventually struggled to meet the demands of a modern, mobile workforce.
The onset of the pandemic coincided with Trowers & Hamlins’ transition from desktop PCs to laptops, a move necessitated by the evolving needs of the firm’s employees. Many laptops no longer have ethernet adaptors as standard – so a comprehensive and effective WiFi improvement solution was required.
Trowers & Hamlins’ existing legacy network set-up simply wasn’t able to support the connectivity requirements of over 1200 users, each potentially running multiple devices over WiFi.
Furthermore, not all of Trowers & Hamlins’ offices were running the legacy Aerohive solution. In some overseas locations the solutions were not yet at enterprise-grade level. Ultimately, there was urgency for a centrally managed WiFi solution that could be rolled out across multiple locations, setting a consistent and high standard of WiFi connectivity and security for all offices.
Trowers & Hamlins turned to Appurity, a trusted partner with whom they had previously partnered on mobile device deployments, to manage and implement their network upgrade project.
“Appurity built the whole Extreme Networks environment in the background, created our instance, and on-boarded all our devices. We were immensely impressed with their commitment to delivering a personalised service and going above and beyond in every aspect of the project. The new Extreme WiFi solution has significantly enhanced our operational efficiency and security.”
James Chandler, Senior Infrastructure Analyst at Trowers & Hamlins
Solution Implementation and Rollout
Appurity comprehensively upgraded Trowers & Hamlins’ WiFi infrastructure with Extreme Networks.
Leveraging their expertise in Extreme Networks’ technology – a natural choice given Trowers & Hamlins’ existing use of Extreme for their LAN – Appurity worked with the Trowers & Hamlins team to revamp their in-office networks.
The process began with precision planning, including heat mapping of office floor plans to determine optimal placement for access points. The planning phase of the project was thorough, with the Appurity team going to great effort to understand and refine Trowers & Hamlins’ exact networking requirements.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and global chip shortages, Appurity managed the rollout efficiently, ensuring minimal delays and keeping Trowers & Hamlins informed every step of the way. Appurity installed access points, and oversaw the tenant and backend setup.
“We are thrilled with the outcomes of our project with Trowers & Hamlins. We knew Extreme Networks would be the right fit for the firm, and it’s always rewarding to see the tangible benefits of our solutions in action. The improvements across Trowers & Hamlins’ WiFi estate are a testament to our team’s dedication and expertise. We look forward to continuing our support and partnership with the firm.”
Steve Whiter, Director, Appurity
Benefits and Results
The impact of the new WiFi solution was immediate.
In London alone, coverage improved significantly with the installation of additional access points, enhancing reliability for all users. The introduction of a guest network with a captive web portal reduced the burden on the service desk by enabling self-service access for clients and visitors, echoing the convenience of hotel WiFi systems. Extreme’s enhanced security features and ability to create PPSKs for regular users further streamlined operations, making the firm’s WiFi access seamless and secure.
The service desk benefitted from the implementation of location-specific SSIDs for IT teams, facilitating the quick onboarding and configuration of new devices.
Additionally, the Extreme Cloud IQ system provides valuable insights and visibility into network health and usage, allowing for remote troubleshooting and management, a crucial feature for a firm with global offices.
Appurity provides ongoing support to the Trowers & Hamlins team with a maintenance contract.
The Future
Appurity is working with the Trowers team on additional security enhancements, while continually reviewing their operating systems to identify weaknesses in terms of attack vectors, and considering mobile security best practices.
Additional initiatives include ways to increase productivity and further improve the mobile user experience, and the provision of faster, more seamless access to resources.