Network management · Canada
Service group: Managed ITBusiness network management that keeps every port, VLAN and link accounted for
The switches, cabling closets, internet circuits and site-to-site connections between your people and their work, designed with intent, configured consistently and changed only with a record.
At a glance
- Service
- Recurring administration of business local and wide area networks, delivered by Podium Catchers
- Best suited to
- Canadian offices, clinics, yards and multi-site organizations of roughly 5 to 200 employees with managed switches or more than one internet connection
- Core inclusions
- Switch and router configuration, VLAN and IP addressing plans, site-to-site connectivity, internet failover, configuration backups and network documentation (as scoped)
- Related services
- Firewall rule management, Wi-Fi design and network monitoring are offered as separate services and can be combined
- Not included by default
- Network hardware, structured cabling, ISP contracts and after-hours change windows unless written into the proposal
- Pricing basis
- Per site and per managed network device, confirmed in a written quotation; published figures are proposals pending approval
- How to start
- Book a consultation or a Network Health Assessment to document your current network before choosing a plan
What network management means
A business network is more than an internet connection. It is the addressing plan that decides which devices can talk to each other, the switches that carry voice, cameras, printers and computers, the VLANs that keep a guest phone away from your accounting server, and the links that join a head office to a warehouse or second clinic. When nobody owns those decisions, the network grows by accident.
Network management is the ongoing work of designing, configuring and changing that infrastructure on purpose. We maintain a documented IP and VLAN plan, keep switch and router configurations consistent and backed up, manage site-to-site connections and internet failover, and coordinate with your internet providers. Every change is requested, approved, recorded and reversible.
Firewall policy, wireless design and continuous monitoring each have their own dedicated service pages. Network management is the layer that ties them together into one coherent design.
Network problems we see most often
One flat network for everything
Computers, cameras, phones, printers, building controls and guest devices share a single subnet, so one compromised device can reach every other.
Unmanaged switches daisy-chained
Small desktop switches added over the years under desks and in closets create loops, bottlenecks and outages no one can trace.
No record of the configuration
Port assignments, VLAN tags and static IP addresses exist only on the devices themselves. If a switch dies, its settings die with it.
Single internet connection
When the one circuit drops, phones, cloud apps and payment terminals all stop, and nobody has the ISP account number to hand.
Key capabilities
Network design and segmentation
VLANs that separate staff, voice, cameras, IoT, servers and guests, with routing and access rules that reflect how your business actually works.
Switch administration
Port configuration, Power over Ethernet budgeting, spanning tree, link aggregation and firmware maintenance for managed switches.
Multi-site connectivity
Site-to-site VPN or SD-WAN links between offices, with consistent addressing so shared services work from every location.
Internet redundancy
Dual-WAN failover using a second wired or cellular connection, with testing to confirm critical traffic actually moves when the primary fails.
Configuration backup and change control
Automatic configuration backups, a change log for every adjustment, and a rollback plan before anything is modified.
Documentation you own
Network diagrams, IP address management records, rack and port maps, and ISP account details in one maintained place.
What is in and out of scope
Your proposal lists each site and managed device.
Typically included
- Configuration and firmware maintenance for listed switches and routers
- VLAN, subnet and DHCP scope management
- Site-to-site VPN and dual-WAN failover configuration
- Configuration backups and a documented change log
- Network diagrams and IP address records kept current
- Coordination with internet and telecom providers
Requires separate scope or quotation
- Purchase of switches, routers, cabling or circuits
- Structured cabling, patch panel and rack installation
- Office relocations and network redesigns as projects
- Firewall rule management, Wi-Fi design and network monitoring unless added to scope
- Telephone system programming beyond network configuration for voice VLANs
Equipment we commonly manage
We confirm models and firmware support status during discovery.
- Cisco Meraki MS switches and MX security appliances
- Ubiquiti UniFi switching and gateways
- Aruba Instant On and Aruba CX switches
- Fortinet FortiSwitch managed through FortiGate
- Netgear and TP-Link Omada business switches
- Cellular failover devices from vendors such as Cradlepoint and Peplink
- Business fibre, cable and fixed wireless internet services from Canadian carriers
Who needs managed networking
Offices with mixed devices
Workplaces running VoIP phones, security cameras, printers and computers on the same infrastructure.
Multi-location businesses
Companies connecting a head office to branches, job sites or warehouses that need consistent access to shared systems.
Organizations growing quickly
Teams adding staff, floors or sites whose original small-office network no longer copes.
What you gain
- Segmentation that limits how far a problem can spread
- Faster fault-finding because the network is mapped
- Business continuity during an internet outage
- Configurations that can be restored to replacement hardware
- Changes made deliberately, with approval and a record
- A network design that can grow with new staff and sites
How we work
Network discovery
We map devices, links, VLANs and addressing, and capture existing configurations before changing anything.
Design recommendations
We propose a target segmentation and redundancy design, with priorities and costs separated into phases.
Written scope
You approve a proposal naming sites, devices, inclusions and exclusions, with any redesign quoted as a project.
Onboarding
Configuration backups, documentation and administrative access are established, and urgent issues are corrected.
Ongoing management
Requests and changes are handled through change control, with quarterly reviews of capacity and design.
Ways to engage
Each option is confirmed by a written quotation.
Network Health Assessment
A fixed-scope review of your current network that produces a diagram, findings and prioritized recommendations.
Managed network plan
Recurring management per site and device, optionally combined with firewall management and network monitoring.
Within a Managed IT package
Network management included alongside help desk and Microsoft 365 administration in the Business or Advanced packages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between network management and network monitoring?
Monitoring watches the network and alerts when something fails or degrades. Management is the hands-on work of designing, configuring and changing the network. Monitoring tells us something is wrong; management is how it is fixed and prevented.
Do we need to replace our switches?
Not necessarily. We manage existing business-grade equipment that is still supported by its vendor. Unmanaged consumer switches usually need replacing to support VLANs and remote management, and we will explain why before you buy anything.
Can you set up a backup internet connection?
Yes. We configure dual-WAN failover with a second circuit or cellular service, test it, and document which traffic is prioritized when the backup is in use. The second circuit is contracted with your chosen provider.
Do you run network cabling?
No. Structured cabling is done by licensed cabling contractors. We can specify requirements, coordinate with the contractor and configure the equipment once installed.
Related services
Products and packages
Industries we support
Service areas
Further reading
Get your network documented and under control
Book a consultation or a Network Health Assessment. You will receive a diagram, findings and a written scope before any commitment.