Case

Hemsö builds the property IT infrastructure of the future

Think of a school, a hospital or a retirement home. Behind the people and activities that bring these buildings to life lies an invisible but vital IT infrastructure. For years, Hemsö, one of Sweden's leading real estate companies, lacked a clear overview of this critical infrastructure. To create a secure, scalable and future-proof IT platform, something needed to change.

Hemsö owns and manages properties for public services, from schools, care facilities and nursing homes to research buildings, ice rinks and swimming pools. But just a few years ago, the digital infrastructure was fragmented and difficult to manage.

Security drives the property IT infrastructure transformation

When Hemsö embarked on its digitalisation journey, the IT portfolio consisted of a range of local solutions with widely varying security levels. This made it difficult to gain a clear overview, maintain consistent security standards, and manage operations and troubleshooting efficiently. Trials with 4G routers had taken place, but the approach remained ad hoc: alerts were sent by email and had to be handled manually.

Each property was connected in its own way. No one really had much control over how, what and why it was connected. So we developed a concept early on that we call the Hemsö Hub.

Jens Larsson

Technology Developer at Hemsö

The Hemsö Hub is the heart of each property’s IT infrastructure. It houses an edge computer that controls and monitors building systems and devices, including ventilation, solar panels and sensors. The hub also connects to the Hemsö property network.

A POC that felt too good to be true

To achieve the goal of installing a hub in every building, Hemsö needed a scalable, secure and centrally managed IT infrastructure. After evaluating several SD-WAN suppliers, Hemsö initiated a proof of concept (POC).

During the POC, Conscia’s Managed SD-WAN solution, based on Cisco Meraki, was up and running in just 30 minutes, while other vendors took weeks and still failed to deliver a fully functional solution.

Everything ran so smoothly that it almost felt too good to be true.

Jens Larsson

Technology Developer at Hemsö

New IT infrastructure across 300 properties in 2.5 years

Rolling out new IT infrastructure to more than 300 properties, from Ystad in the south to Boden in the north, was no easy task. But with the right partners, tools and processes, Hemsö managed to do just that, working with a new logistics partner and Conscia.

One key lesson along the way was the importance of considering the entire process, from purchasing, warehousing and logistics to installation and commissioning. This requires effective partnerships and clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

Ownership and responsibility

Hemsö owns the Cisco Meraki platform, while Conscia handles the day-to-day operations, allowing Hemsö to retain control while reducing the workload on the IT team. SD-WAN and Azure integration enable centralised management and seamless connectivity to cloud services. In addition, decisions are made quickly, with a focus on solutions.

I can log into the Meraki Dashboard myself to see what’s going on. And if a major issue comes up, I can always turn to Conscia and say, ‘I need your help to resolve this.’ That gives me peace of mind.

Jens Larsson

Technology Developer at Hemsö

Security, efficiency and future-proof operations

Hemsö has now almost completed the rollout, and the results speak for themselves.

Hemsö now often detects problems before tenants notice them, and security has improved significantly, according to Jens. This is largely thanks to network segmentation, which separates Hemsö’s systems from tenants’ networks and minimises the risk of intrusion. SCADA systems automate work orders and alarm management, significantly streamlining operations. The new infrastructure also provides a foundation for technologies such as IoT sensors and AI-based control systems.

Despite initial resistance, everyone now understands why we did this. The hub has become the heart of the properties, a central node that connects building management, ventilation and technology.

Jens Larsson

Technology Developer at Hemsö

Smarter properties and new opportunities

The project is nearing completion in 2026, but the work is far from over. As the project transitions into day-to-day operations, Hemsö and Conscia will fine-tune rules and configurations to determine which systems can communicate and which traffic should be blocked. This will further strengthen security at the application level and across network traffic. The partnership will also expand to integrate more AI, IoT, and advanced building management technologies, such as more energy-efficient ventilation units and EV charging stations. Hemsö now has a platform capable of supporting their complex environment, from swimming pools to large campus networks with 20 to 25 buildings per property.

The right partner makes all the difference

For Jens and Hemsö, working with Conscia has been one of the smoothest experiences on their digital journey. Direct access to the right people and quick decisions mean that problems are dealt with immediately, without unnecessary layers of decision-making. Jens knows he can rely on Conscia when an issue arises, which has built strong trust.

“We quickly got a dedicated contact person and a technician who knocked on the door immediately. It was a very clear aha moment, that it could actually be this smooth.

Jens Larsson

Technology Developer at Hemsö

The operational benefits of Conscia’s managed services

Conscia’s Managed SD-WAN solution offers Hemsö a number of tangible benefits that directly address their needs. Centralised, cloud-based management gives Hemsö full control over their 300 properties through clear dashboards. This allows the IT team to monitor networks, traffic and security in real time, without having to send staff to each property.

The managed service reduces the workload on Hemsö’s IT team by allowing Conscia to handle day-to-day operations, monitoring and troubleshooting. This reduces the need for local IT expertise and gives Hemsö confidence that the network remains up to date and secure. Hemsö also gains access to Conscia’s expertise in IT infrastructure and cybersecurity, supporting continuous infrastructure optimisation.

Conscia acts not just as a supplier, but as an extension of Hemsö’s team, providing ongoing advice and support for both strategic planning and day-to-day operations.

Key capabilities of Managed SD-WAN

• Network segmentation keeps Hemsö’s networks and systems separate from tenants’ networks, significantly improving security.
• Real-time monitoring of system health ensures that alerts are not lost in manual processes.
• Proactive, data-driven management is delivered through Conscia’s automation platform, CARA.
• Seamless integration with Azure simplifies cloud service management.
• A unified, scalable infrastructure supports future innovations such as AI, solar panels, charging stations and IoT sensors.

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