1200 Retail Stores.
One Unified, Secure WiFi
Network Transformation
From clunky WiFi to full observability: how a retail giant upgraded their store networks with Cisco Meraki WiFi and enhanced security with Palo Alto Firewalls.
The Client
A US-based global Fortune 500 departmental store chain.
The Challenge
A major U.S. retail chain faced increasing operational challenges due to outdated network infrastructure. legacy WiFi systems lacked sufficient observability and remote management capabilities, leading to inefficiencies across their stores, distribution centers (DCs), e-fulfillment centers (EFCs), and corporate offices. Simultaneously, the existing firewall infrastructure was no longer meeting the security demands of the company's growing digital footprint, increasing the risk of vulnerabilities in customer and operational data management.
In brief, the company wanted an enterprise WiFi solution to:
- Update their aging WiFi infrastructure: The legacy systems installation provided minimal observability and complex management, resulting in limited device performance and connectivity issues.
- Minimize security risks: The company's outdated firewall infrastructure exposed them to growing customer interactions and operations risks in stores, distribution centers, and corporate offices.
- Improve operations: In-store devices require reliable, fast connectivity for essential customer-facing functions, such as in-store mobile checkout, price checks, and loyalty program enrollments.
Share this Document
The Solution
To address these challenges, GSPANN partnered with the company to implement a phased upgrade across the WiFi and firewall infrastructure. This enterprise WiFi solution leveraged next-gen firewall and cloud-managed networking solutions.
WiFi Migration to a Cloud-Managed Wireless Solution
- Cloud-managed wireless solution: GSPANN deployed new WiFi infrastructure across 550 stores with a velocity of 10 stores per night, installing approximately 40 access points per store. The new WiFi cloud management solution gave the company centralized control, enabling seamless configuration and monitoring across all locations.
- In-store operations enhancement: Devices like price scanners, mobile devices, and customer engagement tools were connected to authenticated WiFi while guests accessed customizable, secure guest networks.
- Bandwidth optimization: The solution empowered the company to optimize bandwidth utilization by leveraging multiple network connections, reducing operating costs, and improving performance.
Firewall Migration to Next-Generation Firewall
- Security enhancements: GSPANN upgraded the company-wide firewall infrastructure by deploying Palo Alto Networks firewalls in 1200 stores at a pace of 12 stores a night across four time zones in the US. The new firewall infrastructure enabled streamlined app and content management, with features such as External Dynamic Lists (EDL) and simplified rule-based log forwarding to enhance overall network security.
- Scalable management: The Palo Alto Networks firewall enabled centralized policy enforcement and security monitoring across all connected stores, ensuring a consistent security posture.
Business Impact
- Enhanced network visibility and control: Cisco Meraki's cloud-based management enabled the company to gain real-time insights and manage their entire network infrastructure through a single pane of glass. This increased visibility has reduced downtime and improved operational efficiency across stores.
- Improved customer experience: The introduction of high-speed, reliable WiFi enhanced the in-store customer experience by supporting mobile checkouts, loyalty enrollments, and seamless access to the company's digital services. Guests also benefited from faster, more secure WiFi access.
- Stronger security posture: Palo Alto Networks' advanced firewall capabilities significantly improved network security by offering robust content filtering and real-time threat protection. At the same time, centralized management simplified the company's ability to respond to security events.
- Operational efficiency and cost savings: The combined solution of new WiFi and firewall infrastructure reduced network management complexity, device replacements, compatibility challenges with SD-WAN technologies, and costs. The solution also increased customer and business data bandwidth efficiency and security. Zero-touch provisioning reduced the toil on resources for network maintenance.
- Cloud management advantages: Cloud-managed WiFi reduced the company’s maintenance burden by outsourcing updates and patches to the service provider, freeing up resources. The solution's flexibility and ease of setup is ideal for the company’s dynamic business environment, allowing for quick adaptations to changing needs without extensive IT intervention.
Technologies Used
Related Capabilities
Automate, simplify, monitor: Engineering reliability into every system.
Site Reliability Engineering integrates software engineering with operations to create highly reliable systems. By defining service levels, embracing calculated risks, automating tedious processes, implementing robust monitoring, ensuring reliable releases, and reducing complexity, SRE transforms chaotic IT operations into streamlined, dependable infrastructure that supports business growth.
