Self-Storage Company Uses Ericsson Enterprise Wireless to Ensure 24/7 Connectivity Nationwide
NetCloud Service for Branch Helps Meet Growing NeedsA publicly traded company with nearly 750 self-storage facilities across the U.S. required a reliable and scalable networking solution for its widely distributed locations. The company's existing network infrastructure, which relied on third-party managed, USB-based modems for failover, presented significant challenges.
The company transitioned to Ericsson's NetCloud Service with LTE-enabled SD-WAN routers to meet its growing need for consistent and remotely manageable network connectivity. This shift enhanced their operations by improving uptime, reducing the cost of IT support, and streamlining the deployment process across all locations.
Challenge | Supporting Reliable, Cost-Effective Connectivity Across All Facilities
The organization’s business hinges on reliable, always-on connectivity across its hundreds of self-storage facilities. Each location has multiple mission-critical systems that require constant network access, including:
- Door and gate access systems
- Point-of-sale (POS) systems
- Video surveillance security systems
- Network video recorders (NVR)
- Office computers
- VoIP phones
- Printers
- Guest Wi-Fi access points
Their previous solution - third-party-managed USB-based 3G/4G modems plugged into routers for failover - created a host of issues. The modems were often lost, broken, or damaged, and they didn’t provide the robust network capabilities necessary for managing the growing number of connected devices. Additionally, the company’s lean IT team couldn’t efficiently manage these remote sites, leading to expensive third-party technician truck rolls to troubleshoot or replace devices.
The challenge was clear: the company needed a solution that provided reliable, cost-effective, and remotely manageable connectivity across all its facilities without requiring frequent on-site IT support.
Solution | Ericsson Enterprise Wireless NetCloud Service for Branch
The company deployed Ericsson’s NetCloud Service for Branch Connectivity to address these challenges in every new facility. This solution included:
Cloud-Based Management
NetCloud Manager allows centralized control over all devices across the U.S., offering easy policy management, IP configuration, VPN setup, and firmware updates without on-site intervention.
Multi-WAN Branch Routers and Adapters
Ericsson Cradlepoint E3000 routers and W1855 wide-band adapters provided reliable LTE and 5G failover, ensuring constant connectivity even during wired internet outages.
24/7 Support and a Lifetime Warranty
The support package they utilized reduced the need for third-party technicians.
Zero-Touch Deployment
New routers and adapters could be pre-provisioned with custom configurations and shipped directly to facilities, allowing plug-and-play setup without on-site IT staff.
According to the Vice President of Information Technology, the ease of managing all devices through Ericsson’s NetCloud Manager was a major advantage. The company could oversee hundreds of locations from a single platform, saving time and resources.
Results | Companywide LTE / 5G Failover
Wireless Failover
The solution equipped the company with cellular failover for all its locations, ensuring that critical devices and applications stayed online even during disruptions to wired internet service. This capability was especially important in regions prone to hurricanes or severe weather. With LTE failover, stores in affected areas could maintain operations without significant downtime.
The business’s Infrastructure Manager noted, "The value of constant connectivity has changed over the years. Today, our mission-critical needs include real-time inventory at the store level. Having 100% uptime is more important than ever."
Built-In Multi-WAN Flexibility
Ericsson's dual-modem routers provide flexibility by supporting multiple WAN types. Depending on each facility's performance and cost-effectiveness, the company could switch between wired broadband, LTE, and other options. In many locations, LTE/5G was used as the primary WAN connection, while in others, it served as a backup.
This flexibility allowed the company to adapt its network setup based on specific regional needs, ensuring reliable connectivity across its entire network.
Day-1 Connectivity
New storage locations could begin operations before wired connections were installed, thanks to Ericsson routers and adapters. This capability provided day-1 connectivity, enabling office work, security systems, and other essential technologies to function immediately. This not only accelerated project timelines but also saved significant costs associated with delaying store openings due to connectivity issues.
Streamlined Hardware Stack
Ericsson’s all-in-one solution consolidated the hardware stack at each location. With built-in LTE failover, IPsec VPN, and security services like firewalls, they no longer needed separate devices for these functions. This simplified the deployment process and reduced the number of hardware components that must be shipped, managed, and maintained.
The infrastructure manager pointed out that “the fact that wireless failover, IPsec VPN, and the firewall and security services could all be accomplished through the same box really attracted us to the Ericsson brand. There aren’t many companies that offer that.”
Remote Management and Troubleshooting
NetCloud Manager enabled the company’s IT team to manage all devices remotely. This single-pane-of-glass tool gave them the power to create policies, troubleshoot devices, update configurations, and monitor the network without ever having to send a technician to a physical location. This remote management capability drastically reduced costs associated with truck rolls and on-site IT visits.
As the Vice President of IT noted, “From a network management perspective, what we used to pay in a month, we now basically pay for the entire year with NetCloud. When you multiply that over hundreds of stores, the cost savings are huge.”
Benefits | Increased Uptime, Scalability, Cost Savings, and More
Increased Uptime
Cellular failover ensures that critical systems—like POS, security cameras, and access control—are always online, regardless of wired internet outages.
Scalable and Flexible Network
The ability to switch between multiple WAN types provides flexibility across different locations, and Ericsson’s scalable solutions can grow with the business’s expanding network.
Cost Savings
The company has achieved substantial cost savings by reducing the need for third-party managed services and cutting the frequency of truck rolls. The cloud-based management system allows a small IT team to oversee hundreds of locations efficiently.
Fast Deployment
With zero-touch deployment and pre-provisioned routers, the company can open new locations faster without on-site IT support.
Enhanced Security
Ericsson’s built-in security features, including Unified Threat Management and application-based control, protect the network from various threats. The system’s scalability allows the IT team to deploy advanced security measures as needed across the network.
The organization’s adoption of EEWS’s NetCloud Service and LTE-enabled routers has revolutionized the way the company manages its distributed network. By ensuring 24/7 uptime, reducing IT costs, and providing a flexible, scalable solution, EEWS has become a cornerstone of the company’s technology infrastructure. The benefits extend beyond just cost savings - EEWS’s reliable connectivity ensures that the business can continue to focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, knowing their network is always up and running.
About MCA and Our CNS Team
MCA is one of the largest and most trusted integrators in the United States, offering world-class voice, data, and security solutions that enhance the quality, safety, and productivity of customers, operations, and lives. More than 65,000 customers trust MCA to provide carefully researched solutions for a safe, secure, and more efficient workplace.
Our Cellular Networking Solutions (CNS) team (formerly known as USAT) is made up of certified experts in designing and deploying fixed and mobile wireless data connectivity solutions for public and private enterprises nationwide - complete with implementation, training, proof of concept (POC), system auditing, and on-site RF surveying services with optional engineering maintenance contracts.
Our extensive Cradlepoint catalog of world-class routers, adapters, and software designed for remote monitoring and management in even the harshest environments allows us to deliver a full suite of reliable technologies capped with a service-first approach.
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