The IT Dilemma: When a Move Turns into a Networking Nightmare

A couple of months ago, my company relocated into a new building as part of a broader consolidation strategy led by our parent investment firm. This new space is designed to accommodate several companies, including ours, all under the same corporate umbrella. As a startup with a small team of fewer than a dozen people, we were the first to move in. The investment firm was mostly settled in, while other companies are slated to join us once their renovations are complete.

In a moment of enthusiasm, I took the initiative to ask about the network infrastructure when we relocated, having been involved in IT discussions in the past. I naively volunteered to assist an engineering colleague in purchasing routers at Best Buy, effectively setting up a basic Wi-Fi network to provide internet access during this transitional period. Fast forward to today, my team and the investment firm’s employees are sharing a single Wi-Fi network utilizing consumer-grade equipment, which is fundamentally insecure and unmanageable.

What I recently discovered, to my dismay, is that there are no plans to engage professional IT support. Conversations overheard among managers suggest that changes to the network configuration might soon fall on my shoulders. While I can assemble a gaming PC and have some technical know-how from my time in college, I am primarily a mechanical engineer, not an IT expert. The current network arrangement is far from optimal in terms of security and performance, especially once our neighboring companies start to ramp up their operations.

As I brace myself for the inevitable request to modify network settings, I recognize a crucial oversight: the need for dedicated IT professionals to manage this setup. However, I am at a loss regarding how to articulate this need effectively to decision-makers who may not fully grasp the complexities of network management.

Steps to Advocate for Professional IT Support

1. Identify Security Risks: It’s essential to underscore the security vulnerabilities of having multiple companies sharing a basic, consumer-grade network. Each business’s sensitive data could be exposed, leading to possible breaches that might endanger the entire operation.

2. Discuss Performance Limitations: Share insights about bandwidth and performance concerns. With numerous users connecting to a single network, congestion is likely, which can hinder productivity—an issue most organizations cannot afford.

3. Highlight Non-Compliance Risks: Depending on the nature of our businesses, there may be regulatory requirements regarding data security or IT infrastructure. Indicating potential legal implications can emphasize the importance of having