“AirWave [is] critical in building our national Wi-Fi system because they are providing us with the tools we need to ensure that our network is cost-effective, while remaining completely safe and secure. Our multi-unit managers can feel confident in the network, not having to worry about Wi-Fi hacking problems.” --- Wendy's

Wireless networks have become essential to retail operations – and wireless devices are necessary for everything from shipping, pricing, inventory management, merchandising, point-of-sale applications, payment processing, and more. As a result, wireless networks are installed literally everywhere in retail organizations: inside stores, outdoors (in parking lots and outdoor display areas), distribution centers, sales offices, corporate headquarters, key supplier locations, and more. Some of these locations have only one or two wireless access points, while larger facilities can have thousands.

While retailers cannot function without wireless networks, WLANs are also a point of vulnerability if they are not properly managed, especially if they are used to process payments.

Driven by the need for wireless but keenly aware of the potential security issues, every retailer must have a centralized wireless management solution that provides total visibility and control – while helping the IT organization drive down support costs.

Some of the world’s largest retailers have selected the AirWave Wireless Management Suite because it gives them centralized, remote visibility to every store, access point, and user connected to their wireless network at all times.

Efficient, centralized control over some of the largest and most distributed networks in the world
The AirWave software installs quickly and easily on a server in the NOC, so you do not need to install client software or agents in every store location. The software communicates efficiently with your wireless access points and controllers, without requiring significant network overhead. Even of some of your stores locations have only 50KB lines or intermittent satellite connections, the AirWave software can poll and configure the devices at an interval that you specify. And with the AirWave Master Console, you can monitor even vast networks with tens of thousands of nodes from one web-based console.

Dramatically lower support costs by eliminating onsite dispatches
For retailers, every time a technician has to be dispatched to a remote store location can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The AirWave software provides centralized monitoring and reporting, allowing you to diagnose and resolve many common wireless issues without onsite dispatch. And thanks to AirWave’s easy-to-use screens designed specifically for the helpdesk staff, most problems can be resolved without escalation to overworked network engineers.

One solution for the entire IT staff – including the retail and distribution groups as well as corporate IT
Retailers often divide their IT staff by group or along functional lines: one team supports the stores and distribution centers, while another supports corporate environments. Or, the helpdesk supports end users while network engineers design the infrastructure and help implement new technologies.  The AirWave software is easy to use for everyone from the most recent helpdesk hire to the most experienced network engineer – and allows you to define what level of access each employee has to the management system and what information each can see.

Automated compliance management to ensure that you’re ready for PCI audits
Any large retailer using wireless technology can expect PCI auditors to focus on WLAN security, to ensure that the wireless network is not a point of vulnerability for cardholder data. By automating audits of the network infrastructure ensuring compliance with your network security policies – and providing the reports and logs you need to verify compliance – AirWave can save your organization large amounts of time and money during the audit process.

Tracking the location of every device and user on your network to eliminate lost and stolen devices – and improve network performance
Retailers can lose millions of dollars worth of handheld devices and scanners per year. AirWave’s VisualRF module and QuickView screens allow you to see exactly where any devices connected to your wireless network are located – and to determine where they were last connected if they aren’t currently on the wireless network. You can even configure AMP to generate a high priority alert if any device that you have marked as lost or stolen ever reappears on your network. The VisualRF mapping and location module also makes it dramatically easier for your helpdesk to support end users – allowing them to quickly determine where users are located, assess what is happening in the area, and take whatever corrective actions are necessary.

Extending the useful life of your existing wireless infrastructure
In retail organizations with thousands of stores, it can cost millions upon millions of dollars and take many years to upgrade the network infrastructure in every location. Since wireless technology evolves so quickly and product lines change constantly, this means that every retailer needs to manage a mix of state-of-the-art wireless equipment and older legacy equipment. Rather than forcing your IT organization use multiple different management solutions or to upgrade your existing infrastructure before you are ready, AirWave provides robust support for both current generation products and legacy devices dating back to the earliest days of Wi-Fi – enabling you to manage and control your entire network from one console.

Integrated support for multiple brands of wireless hardware from a single console
Retailers are among the most likely organizations to have wireless infrastructure from multiple different vendors simultaneously: Cisco, Symbol/Motorola, Aruba, Trapeze and many others. This happens naturally when different groups within the organization make their own buying decisions or when networks evolve gradually over many years – and can happen overnight when one chain buys or merges with another retailer with a different infrastructure.

Automation and scalability for vast wireless networks
With wireless networks in hundreds or thousands of locations, even the most routine management tasks can consume enormous amounts of time and resources. Provisioning new devices, distributing software patches and updates, changing device configurations, conducting compliance audits and rogue AP checks – performing any one of these tasks manually could take thousands of man-hours every year. With AirWave, such routine tasks are automated, and can even be scheduled to occur when network usage is low, freeing your IT staff to focus other, more pressing concerns.

Automated rogue detection – no matter where the rogues are located.         
No retailer can tolerate rogue access points. Yet, with hundreds or thousands of locations, it is extremely difficult to police the network to ensure that your employees aren’t connecting APs without your knowledge or permission. IDS systems with hardware sensors may take years to deploy in thousands of locations. AirWave's RAPIDS module, with wired network scanning, makes it easy to detect rogues anywhere on the network without proprietary sensors.