PostWorks NY Builds Centrally-Managed Unified Wired/Wireless Infrastructure with Enterasys

Integrated infrastructure chosen over Cisco to improve visibility and security for post-production video house


Andover, MA — Enterasys Networks, a Siemens Enterprise Communications company, today announced that PostWorks NY, a post-production video editing house, has deployed Enterasys solutions to improve management, visibility and control of its integrated wired/wireless network. Choosing Enterasys over Cisco, PostWorks’ fully integrated infrastructure includes Enterasys Wireless, Enterasys S-Series modular switches and Enterasys D-Series Gigabit Ethernet workgroup switches. The new infrastructure has resulted in a drastic drop in help desk tickets, reduced the complexity and cost of network management and tightened data security.

Before moving to the Enterasys Wireless solution, PostWorks’ three dedicated network personnel got between 40 and 60 help desk tickets daily due to various wireless problems. “Without the ability to centrally manage our wireless networks, this volume of requests took too much of our time, cutting into the time we could have been spending on planned projects,” said Pat Gombos, director of information technology, PostWorks NY. “We needed a way to minimize busy work so we could focus on strategic initiatives.”

To address the lack of network management, PostWorks began evaluating wireless vendors. Finding Cisco to be beyond its budget, PostWorks consulted with CDW, which recommended Enterasys. “We had no problems with the Enterasys Wireless evaluation unit, and help desk tickets went from 60 to zero immediately,” said Gombos. “We had to buy it.” After such a good experience with the Enterasys Wireless deployment, PostWorks later replaced its Cisco switches with Enterasys D-Series and S-Series switches to create an integrated wired/wireless network.

Before upgrading to Enterasys, IT was required to configure each network device individually, which could take days. When PostWorks moved to Enterasys Wireless, the company’s 50+ wireless APs were also replaced. With all remote upgrades, the process was scheduled overnight so that when employees came to work, everything was changed over and working. Now, any monitoring changes are just as seamless. If a user reports slow speeds, IT can pinpoint the laptop and identify the problem right away.

Tight network management is imperative not only for PostWorks IT operations, but also for its business model. With television networks and film studios cracking down on piracy, solid policies and auditing of PostWorks’ wireless network helps protect data, as leaks traced to PostWorks would hurt business. “Our clients need assurance that our network is secure before they will allow PostWorks to handle their intellectual property,” said Gombos. “One slip up and we’ve lost business. We can’t let that happen, and the management and security features with the Enterasys solution help PostWorks maintain our good reputation and help our clients maintain confidence in our operation.”

About Enterasys Networks and Siemens Enterprise Communications

Siemens Enterprise Communications is a premier provider of end-to-end enterprise communications, including voice, network infrastructure and security solutions that use open, standards-based unified communications and business applications for a seamless collaboration experience. This award-winning “Open Communications” approach enables organizations to improve productivity and reduce costs through easy-to-deploy solutions that work within existing IT environments, delivering operational efficiencies. It is the foundation for the company’s OpenPath® commitment that enables customers to mitigate risk and cost-effectively adopt unified communications. Jointly owned by The Gores Group and Siemens AG, Siemens Enterprise Communications includes Cycos and Enterasys Networks. For more information about Siemens Enterprise Communications or Enterasys please visit www.siemens-enterprise.com or www.enterasys.com.