Integrating Three Sites with High-Speed Connectivity, Unified Systems and Seamless Operations
The Challenge
A well-established UK-based printing company had recently acquired another print and logistics business. As a result, they now operated from three locations — their existing HQ and two newly acquired warehouses located nearby.
The acquired company relied on unreliable business broadband, IMAP-based email, and locally stored files. The lack of modern infrastructure and integration risked disrupting operations. With large graphics and print jobs being exchanged daily, the business needed a fast and reliable solution that could:
- Provide high-speed connectivity across all three sites
- Modernise communications and file sharing
- Improve network reliability and security
- Be implemented quickly, without relying on leased line lead times
Astec was brought in to deliver a business-aligned, flexible solution tailored for their rapid growth and operational demands.
Initial Discovery
Astec carried out a site and infrastructure audit across all three locations. Key findings included:
- The existing broadband at the warehouses was unstable and underperforming
- The HQ’s leased line contract was nearing renewal and not cost-effective
- Email systems at the acquired company were outdated (IMAP)
- Files were stored locally, creating a risk of data loss and limited collaboration
- There was no unified network or security architecture in place across sites
We worked closely with the client’s leadership and operations team to define their technical priorities — fast, secure, and seamless connectivity, simplified file sharing, and future-proof IT infrastructure.
Proposal Stage
Astec put forward a business-specific plan to meet operational and cost requirements, including:
- Leased Line Optimisation: Sourced a faster, more cost-effective leased line for the HQ to ensure it could act as the central network hub.
- Line-of-Sight Wireless Connectivity: Partnered with trusted engineers to deploy high-speed point-to-multipoint wireless links between the HQ and both warehouses. This included:
- 60GHz wireless bridge technology
- Secure switch installations
- Custom bracketry and cabling
- Cherry picker access for roof-mounted equipment
- Unified Microsoft 365 Platform: Migrated the acquired business from legacy IMAP to Microsoft 365:
- Seamless transition to Outlook for email
- SharePoint Online for central file storage and collaboration
- Email security measures and SaaS-level backups
- Enterprise Firewall Deployment: Installed an enterprise-grade firewall at the HQ to manage all traffic between the three sites.
- Logical network separation using VLANs and IP subnets
- Centralised access policies and threat inspection
- All Users, One Network: Designed the new environment so that all users — regardless of site — had fast access to the tools and files they needed.
Deployment
Astec worked in close coordination with stakeholders to ensure everything was deployed with minimal disruption:
- Wireless links were tested and installed with minimal lead time, delivering fibre-like speeds between the HQ and both warehouses.
- Microsoft 365 migration was staged to avoid downtime, with user training and pre-migration data capture included.
- Firewall deployment included predefined VLANs for each site, ensuring logical network separation and simplified network management.
The connectivity rollout extended secure, high-speed internet access to both warehouses — eliminating previous bottlenecks and broadband-related dropouts.
Service Go-Live
- All Users Live on M365: Mail, calendars, and file collaboration unified across all three sites.
- Print Jobs, Seamless: Large files sent between locations with no delay — crucial for print prep and design workflows.
- Modern Collaboration Tools: Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint standardised across users.
- High-Speed Network: All sites linked with reliable, always-on connectivity.
Post-Onboarding & Ongoing Support
- Live Monitoring: Astec continues to monitor the wireless links, firewall, and Microsoft 365 environment.
- Future Flexibility: The infrastructure allows for further growth — additional offices can be added without redesign.
- Dedicated Support Team: Ongoing IT support from engineers familiar with the sites and setup.
- Account Management: Regular check-ins with a dedicated account manager ensure the solution continues to support evolving needs.
Outcomes
- Empowering Business Growth: The infrastructure now supports their growing operation with speed and stability.
- Tailored for Their Success: A bespoke solution that avoided costly leased line delays.
- A Personal Touch: Ongoing support and account management from a familiar Astec team.
- Collaborative & Efficient: Cross-site file sharing and print collaboration just works.
- Secure & Scalable: Centralised firewall and VLANs protect data while allowing flexibility for future expansion.
- Cost Savings: Upgraded HQ connectivity at a lower cost, eliminated the need for leased lines at new warehouses.
“Astec helped us tie everything together across three sites. Fast print file transfers, cloud emails, shared access — we can just get on with the work now.”
