We live in a world where staying connected at all times is essential. Whether it’s to scroll through social media or respond to important emails on the go, staying connected is a must. Enter the guest WiFi network—a feature rapidly being adopted by businesses of all sizes. But what exactly is guest WiFi, and how does it benefit a business?

What is a Guest WiFi Network?

A guest WiFi network is a separate wireless network created by your router that is specifically designed for guests and customers. Unlike the primary network used by your staff, the guest network is completely segregated. This is to make sure that guests have internet access without compromising your internal network’s integrity. When you set up a guest WiFi, you are establishing a new network that operates independently from your primary network. Oftentimes this secondary network comes with its own name and password.

To create a guest network, you usually enable it through an existing router. It’s configured using a separate Service Set Identifier (SSID) that is dedicated to guests. Most modern routers have made this process quite simple. You can typically create a separate network by navigating to the network setting using a browser.

Benefits of Having a Separate Network for Guests

For most businesses, offering a guest network is more than just a courtesy. It’s a strategic asset that presents a range of benefits. Here are just a few:

1. Improved Security: By separating your main network from your guest network, you reduce the risk of unauthorised access to your sensitive information. Guests often use devices with varying security levels, which could introduce threats like malware or hacking. What’s more is that many cyber criminals exploit guest WiFi to intercept data, as these networks frequently have weak or no passwords. Having this separation means all your business data remains secure even when visitors use your internet connection.

2. Bandwidth Allocation: With a dedicated guest network, you’re in control of the bandwidth that is allocated to your secondary network. You can limit the resources guests can use which is great for reducing network congestion on your main network.

3. Easy-to-manage: Guest networks also offer an easy way to manage your network. When visitors arrive, you can easily give them access to the guest WiFi without sharing your primary network's password. This is great for reducing the need to juggle multiple passwords or risk sharing sensitive login details. Many modern routers offer straightforward guest network setup and let you manage them through user-friendly interfaces. By monitoring the guest network separately, you can track usage and address issues more effectively.

4. Improved User Experience: A separate guest network improves the user experience for everyone involved. For your guests, it means a hassle-free way connection that gets them online easily. For you, it means peace of mind that your primary network remains uncompromised. Plus, it’s a great way to retain customers, especially for businesses in the hospitality industry. Providing easy access to the internet makes customers more likely to return, as they can stay connected while at your business.

5. Marketing Opportunities: From a marketing perspective, guest WiFi is a great way for businesses to gather valuable marketing opportunities. This is because many companies implement a login or registration process for WiFi access. As long as you make your guests use their email or social media accounts to log in, you have information that can be used in many different marketing efforts. This data is a great way to get customers more involved and boost sales by giving them targeted marketing messages and special deals. You can also add analytical tools to keep an eye on how people use the network and learn things that can help you make business decisions and improve services.

6. Increased Foot Traffic: Businesses can get more customers through the door by letting guests use their WiFi. Many people rely on WiFi to stay connected while on the go, so having a reliable guest network can help attract new clients. This can result in higher sales and revenue, as well as the possibility of upselling and cross-selling items or services.

How Does Guest WiFi Work?

Guest WiFi works by creating a separate network for visitors. When guests connect, they see a distinct network name (SSID) separate from the main network. Access is often controlled with a password that can be shared without compromising the main network’s security.

Setting up Guest WiFi involves configuring the router to create this secondary network, a feature many modern routers support easily.

Administrators can set a unique SSID and password, define specific IP ranges, and manage bandwidth with limits and time restrictions. Security measures like WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) or WiFi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) encryption and client isolation are essential to protect against potential threats. Regularly updating the guest network password helps maintain security.

Setting Up a Guest WiFi Network

Setting up guest WiFi may seem like a daunting task, especially if you have no experience setting it up. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set one up for your business:

Step-by-Step Guide to Configuring a Guest Network:

Step 1: The first step is to identify the type of hardware you’ll need for your new network. This might be a separate router, an access point, or a feature on your existing router that supports guest networks. It’s good to double-check that your current router supports this functionality as not all routers have it.

Step 2: The next step is to log in to your router’s dashboard. Typically, you can do this by entering your router’s IP address into a web browser. Common IP addresses are 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, but this can vary by router brand. Then, log in with your administrator credentials. If you have trouble finding these details, check your router's manual or the label on the router itself for details.

Step 3: Once you’ve logged in, look for an option to set up a guest network. From here, you’ll typically be able to customise the network name (SSID) and password for your guests. It’s important that even though this is a guest network, it still has a strong password to prevent unauthorised access. Use a secure password and follow standard guidelines such as including a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Set the security mode to WPA2 or WPA3, as it's the most secure option available. Some advanced routers may offer extra security features like client isolation. Enabling client isolation is a good idea, as it prevents guests from accessing devices on your main network.

Step 4: After you’ve completed the necessary settings, save your changes. After this, it’s good practice to test the guest network. You can do this by connecting a device to make sure everything is working correctly. If you encounter any issues, log back into the router interface and double-check your settings.

Share Your Guest WiFi Password With Your Visitors:

One of the best ways to share your guest's WiFi password quickly is by using a QR code. Using a QR code, allows your visitors to quickly connect without the need to type in lengthy and sometimes complicated passwords. When they scan the QR code with their smartphone, the device seamlessly connects to the network. To create one, you can use a free online online tool like qrstuff.com. All you need to do is input your WiFi SSID and password to create the code.

Another effective way is to invest in attractive and informative signage or posters. Place clear signage and posters in key areas like the entrance, reception or reception to ensure guests can easily find the WiFi connection details. You can also include instructions on how to access the network to minimise confusion. What’s more, is that using your brand’s colours and logo on these posters can create a lasting impression on visitors.

Ensuring Security in Guest Networks:

Maintaining security in guest WiFi networks is an important way to protect your business’s integrity and sensitive data. Start by implementing strong encryption protocols like WPA2 and WPA3. This will protect the internet traffic on your wireless networks. You should also regularly update your router’s firmware and software to address any vulnerabilities.

You should also consider implementing a captive portal. A captive portal is a customised login page that displays terms of use and may require additional authentication before granting internet access. This ensures your guests are aware of your usage policies and also helps monitor and log their online activities.

Another key step is to make sure your guest network is equipped with strict firewalls and access controls. This includes configuring the firewall to inspect both incoming and outgoing traffic. We also recommend using access control lists (ACLs) which outline a list of things users can and cannot do while on the network.

Lastly, continuously monitor and audit the guest WiFi network using Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and regular vulnerability scans. Review these logs daily and maintain an audit trail to quickly identify and address any suspicious activities. By following these strategies, you can keep your guest WiFi network secure and reliable without compromising your overall network security.

Choose Edmondson’s IT Services For Your Guest WiFi Network

With WiFI constantly evolving and new advancements being released on a regular basis, it can be difficult for businesses to keep up with the latest advancements. This is why, at Edmondson's IT Services, we strive to simplify the process while also providing high-quality WiFi to improve your productivity and help you better manage your systems. We can take your business to the next level by putting innovation at the forefront of what we do. All our services are future-proof to help you feel more confident about your business network.

We can help you secure WiFi for your business so that no unauthorised users can access it. If you want to offer a private guest network to your customers? No problem, we can help with that too. We can also set up a data collection point for your network so that you can learn more about them before granting access to your network.