Portsmouth City Council Achieves Rapid WiFi Deployment and Enhanced Security with NetSpert’s Innovative Meraki Solution

Accelerating Digital Transformation in Care Homes

Portsmouth City Council faced the challenge of rapidly deploying a robust WiFi solution across three care homes while simultaneously enhancing network security. With expiring trial licences adding urgency to the project, the council turned to NetSpert for their expertise in swift, efficient implementations.

“We needed a partner who could not only meet our technical requirements but also work within an extremely tight timeline,” explained Simon Whitworth, Architect at Portsmouth City Council. “NetSpert’s innovative approach and technical prowess made them the ideal choice for this critical project.”

Innovative Solutions for Rapid Deployment

NetSpert’s team of senior security and network engineers devised a comprehensive strategy to address the council’s needs. The solution centred around two key components:

1. Automated WiFi Deployment: Leveraging Python scripting and the Meraki API, NetSpert developed an automated onboarding process for Access Points. This innovative approach allowed for the rapid provisioning of over 70 Access Points in just a few hours, significantly reducing deployment time.

2. Enhanced Security with High Availability Firewalls: NetSpert implemented two Meraki MX950 firewalls in a high-availability configuration, ensuring uninterrupted protection for the care homes’ network traffic.

“The automation capabilities we brought to this project were game-changing,” said Ross, Lead Engineer at NetSpert. “By utilising the Meraki API, we were able to meet the council’s urgent timeline without compromising on the quality of the implementation.”

Overcoming Challenges with Expertise

The project’s tight timeline presented a significant challenge, with the risk of service interruption if the trial licence expired. NetSpert’s team worked tirelessly to ensure all components were in place before the deadline.

An additional hurdle arose when missing Meraki licences were discovered in the customer’s account. NetSpert’s proactive approach led to swift collaboration with the customer and supplier to resolve the issue, preventing any delays in the project timeline.

Transformative Results for Patient Care

The successful implementation has had a profound impact on Portsmouth City Council’s care homes:

• Efficient Patient Monitoring: Care home staff now utilise the new WiFi service to monitor patient vital statistics in real-time, enhancing the quality of care.
• Robust Security: The high-availability Meraki firewall configuration ensures that sensitive patient data remains protected at all times.
• Future-Proof Infrastructure: The scalable solution provides a foundation for future digital initiatives within the care homes.
• Significant Cost Savings and Environmental Benefits: By repurposing over 70 existing Access Points, NetSpert eliminated the need for purchasing new hardware. This approach not only delivered substantial cost savings to the council but also aligned with environmental initiatives by reducing electronic waste.

“NetSpert’s innovative approach to repurposing our existing hardware was a game-changer,” noted Simon Whitworth. “The cost savings were significant, allowing us to allocate resources to other critical areas. Moreover, it’s gratifying to know that our technology upgrade also supported our commitment to reducing e-waste.”

A Partnership Built on Trust and Expertise

Throughout the project, NetSpert maintained close collaboration with Portsmouth City Council through regular team calls and emails. This open communication ensured that the council’s needs were met at every stage of the implementation.

“The level of expertise and commitment demonstrated by NetSpert was exceptional,” Whitworth commented. “Their ability to navigate challenges and deliver results under pressure has set a new standard for our IT projects.”

Looking Ahead: Lessons Learned and Future Applications

The success of this project has yielded valuable insights for both NetSpert and Portsmouth City Council. A key lesson learned was the importance of identifying and preparing all necessary licences before the project start date, a practice that will be applied to future deployments.

As Portsmouth City Council continues to modernise its healthcare IT infrastructure, the foundation laid by this project opens doors for further innovations in patient care and operational efficiency.

Products and Solutions

• Meraki Wireless Access Points
• Meraki MX950 Firewalls
• Custom Automation Scripts utilising Meraki API