UniFi, installed right, and someone to call when it isn’t.
A lot of Pittsburgh offices, shops and job trailers run on Ubiquiti UniFi. Often it was set up once by a former employee or an installer who has since moved on, and nobody has the login. CTS installs, configures and remotely manages UniFi networks for small businesses, and takes over the ones somebody else left behind. We run UniFi on our own network, so this is gear we live with every day.
From the first access point to the fiftieth firmware update
Four parts of every UniFi network, and what CTS handles in each.
Installation
We walk the space, plan coverage, and mount and cable the gear: the gateway, PoE switches and access points, labeled so the next person can follow it.
- Wi-Fi coverage planning by room
- Access points mounted and cabled
- Cloud Gateway or Dream Machine setup
- Clean, labeled network closet
Configuration
A business network shouldn't be one flat Wi-Fi. Staff, guests, cameras and the card reader each get their own network, with firewall rules between them.
- Separate VLANs for staff, guest, cameras, POS
- Guest Wi-Fi with its own password or portal
- Firewall rules and content filtering
- VPN for remote staff or a second site
Remote Management
UniFi's cloud console lets us reach your network without a truck roll. Changes, troubleshooting and firmware updates happen remotely, on a schedule you know about.
- Remote changes and troubleshooting
- Firmware kept current, scheduled after hours
- Configuration backups
- One number to call when something drops
Ownership & Add-Ons
UniFi's core network gear has no per-device license fees. What matters is who owns the account: we make sure it belongs to the business, not a person.
- UniFi account owned by the business
- Named admin access, no shared passwords
- UniFi Protect cameras and Access door control
- Everything written down for you
Three UniFi problems we see all the time
Nobody has the login
The person who set it up left, and the console is tied to their account. We regain access where we can. When we can't, we re-adopt the devices into an account the business owns, after hours, so the network is only down for the changeover.
The back office has no Wi-Fi
Usually one access point is doing the work of three, or two are fighting over the same channel. We measure what's really happening, move or add access points, and set channels and power so the far rooms get a signal.
Cameras on the register's network
Cameras, smart TVs and guest phones on the same network as the card reader is a real risk. We split them into separate networks with rules between them, without re-wiring the building.
What owners ask us first
Can you take over a UniFi network someone else set up?
Yes, and it's one of the most common jobs we do. We start by checking what's there and who controls it. If the old login is gone, we move the devices into a business-owned account, which can mean resetting some of them, so we schedule that for after hours.
Do we need a UniFi console or Cloud Key?
Every UniFi network needs something running the UniFi Network software. For most small offices that's a UniFi console on site, such as a Cloud Gateway or Dream Machine, which also acts as the router and firewall. We'll tell you which one fits your size.
Is UniFi good enough for a business?
For most small offices, yes: it's solid, business-grade gear without license fees. If you need a vendor support contract, strict multi-site policy or cellular failover managed in one dashboard, Cisco Meraki can be the better fit, and we support that too.
Find out what your UniFi network is really doing.
Book a 30-minute call and tell us what you're running. We serve Pittsburgh and the surrounding region on site, and manage networks remotely. Ubiquiti UniFi support is part of our managed IT services. We also support Cisco Meraki and eero.
Ubiquiti, UniFi and related marks are trademarks of Ubiquiti Inc. Caruso Tech Services is an independent IT provider and is not affiliated with, authorized by or endorsed by Ubiquiti.