{"id":988890,"date":"2026-10-17T20:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T16:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techservice.ge\/?p=988890"},"modified":"2026-10-17T20:06:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T16:06:02","slug":"office-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techservice.ge\/en\/ofisis-qselis-dagegmva\/","title":{"rendered":"How to plan an office network for 20, 50 or 100 employees"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Slow internet, dropped video calls, and weak Wi-Fi can hinder employees' daily work. Simply purchasing a faster internet package isn't always enough to solve the problem. The cause of the delay can be a congested wireless network, an incorrectly selected device, or a faulty cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Office network planning begins with an assessment of the number of employees and devices, work schedules, and space.<\/strong> Then, Internet connection capabilities, cable infrastructure, Wi-Fi coverage, and security rules are determined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cisco focuses on business-class devices, scalability, and backup solutions when it comes to networking for businesses. This approach is useful for both small offices and growing companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What should we evaluate before setting up a network?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The number of employees is only a starting point. 20 people may have 20 computers, 20 phones, several printers, and conferencing equipment. Accordingly, the number of devices connected to the network will be greater than the number of employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before planning, prepare the following information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • How many employees work in the office at the same time?;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • How many computers, phones, printers and other devices are connected to the network;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Which applications are critical \u2013 CRM, ERP, cloud storage, video conferencing, or other;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • What size files are being sent and downloaded?;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • How many floors, rooms and work areas are there in the office?;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • What is the plan for increasing the number of employees?;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • How long an outage is acceptable for a business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    For example, a design studio that sends large files and a company that mainly uses email and web applications may need different networks, even with the same number of employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What does an office network consist of?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The main components of the network are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some devices combine several functions. However, the choice should be based on the required capabilities and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to Cisco, a switch connects office devices together, while a router manages the movement of data between different networks and the Internet. A switch that supports PoE can also power a compatible access point or IP phone over a network cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Office network for 20, 50 and 100 employees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The table below represents An example of indicative planning, not a norm set by manufacturers<\/strong>. One cable workstation and additional shared devices are allowed per employee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If a large portion of employees use Wi-Fi only, the number of cable ports needed will decrease. If each workstation has a computer and a separate IP phone, or there are many cameras in the office, the need for ports and PoE power will increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The final number of access points should be determined based on space, simultaneously active devices, and radio frequency research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Network planning for 20 employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In a small office, reliable connectivity and easy management are priorities. An initial planning option might include a business-class router or firewall, a managed switch, several access points, and a UPS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Count the ports in advance. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    20 workstations + 2 printers + 3 APs + 1 NAS = 26 ports.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In this case, a 24-port switch will not be enough. Then you need to take growth into account and separately check the ports needed for connections between devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When it comes to Wi-Fi, a small open office and several closed rooms of the same size require different layouts. So place access points according to work zones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Network planning for 50 employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In an office of 50 people, attention is paid to simultaneous workloads: video calls, cloud applications, guest devices, and meeting rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At this stage, the practical priorities are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Managing switches from a single system;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Separation of corporate and guest networks;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Checking the bandwidth of connections between switches;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Planning Wi-Fi based on meeting room occupancy;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Automatic notifications about problems;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Assessing the need for backup internet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      For example, gathering 15 people in a conference room can dramatically increase the load on a single access point, even if the connection in the rest of the office is working properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Network planning for 100 employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      For 100 employees, network management and recovery capabilities are just as important as speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Determine in advance what will happen if the main switch, firewall, or internet connection goes down. For critical work, consider two internet connections, redundant devices, and a suitable UPS system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Cisco's Network Design Guide describes architectures ranging from small, single-switch networks to larger, highly available infrastructures. The practical conclusion is this: 100 employees do not automatically require a complex, multi-tiered network. The architecture must be adapted to the space, load, and continuity requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How to plan office Wi-Fi?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Wi-Fi planning has two tasks: Signal coverage and sufficient performance<\/strong>. A good signal still doesn't mean that many users will be able to work comfortably at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      HPE Aruba's planning documentation takes into account the office layout, device layout, and high or low density environment. Ubiquiti's planning tool is also based on the space plan, work areas, and customer capacity requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Practically this means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • The layout should take into account walls, floors and work areas;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Installation of the access point must comply with the instructions for the specific model;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Channels and transmission power must be adapted to the environment;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Before adding a device, the cause of the overloading of the existing network should be assessed;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Actual measurement is required after installation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Cisco Meraki recommends research both before and after deployment. Its guide also explains the importance of selecting the right channels and power to minimize interference and channel congestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What internet speed does the office need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Choosing internet speed based solely on the number of employees is not accurate. You need to assess peak load, upload speed, latency, and connection stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        A useful working formula is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Peak concurrent load + background traffic + growth reserve.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        For example, if you plan to allocate 4 Mbps per active video call, 15 simultaneous calls will require approximately 60 Mbps in each direction. This will be added to other work traffic. This is just an example calculation; you should check the actual requirements based on the software used, video quality, and number of participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        When evaluating a provider's offer, check:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Download and upload speed;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Service Level Agreement \u2013 SLA;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Conditions for responding to damage;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Need for a static IP;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Backup connection option.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Two providers create a better reserve if a significant part of their infrastructure is also independent. This issue should be clarified with the providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          How to protect the office network?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          One of the foundations of security is network segmentation, which is the logical separation of devices for different purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Fortinet's small office architecture also includes VLANs to separate guest, printer, and video surveillance traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          For example, you can highlight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Creating a VLAN should be accompanied by configuring access rules.<\/strong> Network segmentation alone cannot provide isolation if traffic flows unrestricted between segments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Also plan to update devices, protect administrator accounts, back up configurations, and securely manage remote access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          How to budget for network setup?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          The full budget includes equipment, installation, configuration, and after-sales service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Evaluate separately:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Router or Firewall, Switches and Access Points;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Cables, sockets, patch panels and network cabinets;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • UPS and power supply arrangement;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Testing and marking of cable lines;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Wi-Fi research and final measurements;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Licenses, subscriptions, and technical support;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Future expansion works.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Compare the one-time cost with the total cost over several years. The choice is influenced by both the purchase price, ease of management, and support terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            What should be checked before handing over the network?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            After completing the installation, test the network under real operating conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Test the cable lines and check their markings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. Measure Wi-Fi in workplaces and meeting rooms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. Test multiple simultaneous video calls and file transfers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            4. Verify guest network isolation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            5. Test switching to a backup internet connection, if provided.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            6. Check the UPS operation with a real load.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            7. Keep backup copies of your network diagram and configurations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              The Cisco Meraki research guide also emphasizes testing with actual client devices, as their wireless capabilities vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              Is one Wi-Fi router enough for 20 employees?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              The answer depends on the space and workload. Don't assume that a single device will suffice: evaluate the coverage, number of active devices, and required management features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              How many access points does an office of 50 people need?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              The exact number cannot be determined based on employees alone. The 3\u20136 APs given in the article are an initial assumption; the final number must be confirmed by the office plan and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Is a wired network needed if employees use Wi-Fi?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              Cabling infrastructure is often required for access points, printers, servers, and other fixed devices. Choose the method for connecting workstations based on their workload and mobility needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              When is a second Internet provider needed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              When an outage causes significant disruption to your business, make a decision by weighing the potential loss against the cost of a backup connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              How to plan network expansion?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              Consider additional cable points, free ports, PoE power supplies, cabinet space, and management system capabilities in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Start with an office assessment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              The first step in planning a network for 20, 50, or 100 employees is to study the work needs and space. Based on this, the project prepared should show the layout of devices, cable diagrams, security rules, budget, and inspection criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              If you are planning to move to a new office or upgrade your existing network, request a technical assessment to ensure the proposed infrastructure fits your current workload and growth plans.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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