Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

Service Description

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service provides user mobility within an agency office building to authorized state government employees and visitors Guest Access to the Internet. This is accomplished by wirelessly integrating/extending the agency's Local Area Network. WLAN service is an extension of the customer's Local Area Network that includes IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless access points (APs) and their communication with wireless Network Interface Cards (NICs) in laptops and other devices. ITS provides design, implementation, and remote monitoring and management of a customer's WLAN infrastructure from the ITS Network Operations Center.

WLAN service is designed to serve agency staff and authorized agency visitors and guests. It is a shared technology and offers no guarantees for consistent bandwidth or performance. During the design phase, ITS will determine access point locations based on coverage and device counts that will allow for optimum speed and access.

WLAN service is designed to support two types of wireless users in compliance with statewide IT security policies and standards:

• Secured users
  • State employees/contractors
• Non-secured users
  • Guests with Internet access only

Service capability and components include:

• Extension of mobility within an agency office building - users can connect to critical business information wherever they are to improve their productivity
• Ability to share information with fellow employees and guests
• Enhanced collaboration in meeting conference rooms
• Fully managed service that meets State CIO security standards and policies
• All hardware and software components required to deliver the WLAN service

Service implementation and support includes:

• Network assessment and design consultation regarding service options based on business needs
• Each WLAN deployment is tailored to customer coverage and security requirements
• Service delivery within 30 to 45 days, upon successful completion of site survey (if applicable), design and engineering activities, and procurement of any equipment and services
• Additional structured cabling and equipment requirements may delay service delivery
• Support is 24/7 via ITS Network Operations Center and the ITS Service Desk
• Fault Management and Network Monitoring
• Configuration Management and Archive
• Performance Management
• ITS Service Operations provides service based on ITIL methodologies for Incident, Problem, Change, Configuration and Release Management processes
• Planning and conducting routine maintenance to the infrastructure, resulting in optimum network performance and stability

Benefits

• Extension of mobility within an agency office building - users can connect to critical business information wherever they are to improve their productivity
• Ability to share information with fellow employees and guests
• Enhanced collaboration in meeting conference rooms
• Fully managed service that meets State CIO security standards and policies designed for two types of wireless users — secured and non-secured
• Proactive WLAN Performance Management and Troubleshooting includes performance alerts on such items as Bandwidth, Configuration, RF Coverage, and Interference. Remote Troubleshooting of wireless performance issues if any.

Customers

ITS provides Wireless Local Area Network services to the entities within the North Carolina government sector listed below. ITS currently manages more than 20 customer sites with less than 200 wireless Access Points.

• State Agencies
• Boards and Commissions
  

How Do We Charge?

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

Product Category	Product Description	Rate	Unit
WLAN	WLAN Services-AP	$39.00	AP/Monthly
WLAN	WLAN Site Installation (up to 5 APs)	$933.00	One-Time (per Site Installation)
WLAN	WLAN AP Install above Base	$148.00	One-Time (per AP installation above Base)

Agency Office Building:

• One-time costs
  • ITS site installation / implementation of WLAN Access Points (up to 5 APs)
  • Each additional WLAN Access Point installation above Base
• Monthly recurring charges consist of the following:
  • ITS costs for hardware, software, maintenance, and management of WLAN Access Points

Campus Environments:

• Pricing for Custom Solutions is available via custom quote

Next Steps

1. Send an email to the ITS Service Desk with a completed WLAN Services Request form requesting WLAN services.
2. An ITS Service Transition team member will contact you to determine the scope and requirements of your request.
3. Upon agreement of scope and cost estimates, ITS Services Support will schedule a time with you to begin implementation.

If you would like to learn more about our WLAN services, obtain a quote, or get additional information, contact the ITS Service Desk at 919-754-6000 or 1-800-722-3946, or email ITS.incidents@its.nc.gov.