The Challenges of Navigating IT Responsibilities in a Multi-Company Office Environment

Recently, I encountered a situation that has become increasingly problematic in my workplace. A few months ago, our company relocated to a new office building. This move was orchestrated by the investment firm that oversees us alongside a few other companies it owns, all of which will eventually operate from the same space. As a start-up consisting of just a handful of employees, we were the first to move in, while the other firms are scheduled to follow once their areas are complete.

During the transition, I naively inquired about the IT setup we would have. As I was exploring options for internal servers, I made the decision to assist another engineer in setting up a basic Wi-Fi network with several consumer-grade routers. Even though it allowed us to get online, the network is essentially configured straight from the box, with minimal effort put into its security or efficiency. Now, employees from both the investment firm and our start-up are sharing this unreliable network, and it’s becoming evident that this arrangement is far from ideal.

To complicate matters, I recently learned that there are no plans to appoint professional IT staff. Conversations among management hinted that they are considering changes to the network I established, and I suspect they may soon approach me for further adjustments. However, my background is in mechanical engineering, and my IT expertise is limited to building personal computers and some experience with software engineers during my academic journey. This leaves me feeling unqualified to manage a network that needs serious attention—especially with the potential influx of additional companies.

As I prepare for upcoming discussions with management, I realize I need to advocate for the hiring of a dedicated IT professional. However, articulating the need for such an investment can be challenging when I lack deep technical knowledge. I want to communicate the numerous risks associated with multiple companies sharing a single consumer-grade network, but my technical vocabulary is limited.

Here are some points I plan to emphasize in my discussions:

1. Security Risks: I will illustrate how the current setup exposes all companies to potential security breaches and data leaks, especially as sensitive information may be shared across different entities.

2. Network Performance: I intend to explain how bandwidth issues could arise as other companies start utilizing networks for high-density applications, leading to slow speeds and connectivity problems.

3. Compliance and Regulations: I will raise concerns about compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that might necessitate a more robust network setup, particularly