With a growing number of devices and an increasingly digitalized operation, Leksand Municipality realized they needed to modernize their network infrastructure to improve accessibility, flexibility, and security. Leksand opted for the cloud-based network solution Cisco Meraki, which Conscia implemented.
Need for a Secure and Scalable Solution
Like all municipalities, Leksand Municipality has a large number of devices connected to the network, making them vulnerable to overloads. This can lead to frequent system crashes and the need to constantly fix urgent issues. It was clear they needed to upgrade their network to meet current standards and needs, both from a security and user perspective.
“As a municipality, we manage devices in various locations and environments, ranging from ski slopes to swimming pools and high schools. All this needs to be handled within the same network infrastructure. Some environments are also connected 24/7,” says Stefan Vestlund, Service Manager for the municipality’s network.
With the previous network infrastructure, handling the increasing load of more and more devices was challenging. Stefan explains that they needed a solution with greater capacity that was secure and easy to scale for the future.
Cisco Meraki manages everything on one platform
“Conscia has had a close relationship with Leksand Municipality for some time and has developed an understanding of their unique needs. Naturally, we suggested Cisco Meraki, a solution well-suited for public sector organizations,” explains William Halldin, Account Manager at Conscia Sweden.
Conscia implemented a comprehensive Cisco Meraki solution, which manages everything from switches to security devices in the cloud on a single platform. Cisco Meraki minimizes the need for local network expertise, provides better control, and increases security, making it ideal for municipalities.
“As a municipality, we rarely get the opportunity to replace everything completely. Traditional solutions often involve patching up existing systems. However, thanks to our partnership with Conscia and the implementation of Cisco Meraki, we have had the opportunity to start from scratch. This allows us to utilize the new infrastructure in the best, most secure, and efficient way possible,” says Joacim Gifting, IT Manager at Leksand Municipality.
Easy to Manage and Secure
Stefan explains that Leksand is a relatively small municipality. Among the approximately 1500 employees, most are generalists rather than specialists.
“For us, finding a simple way to manage networks, servers, and clients was important. Meraki is stable, works well, and is easy to handle for different skill levels and various parts of the organization,” says Stefan.
With a new network infrastructure in place, Leksand Municipality has improved both security and network performance.
Access to knowledgeable support
Stefan emphasizes the importance of their close contact with the team at Conscia. He often consults with Conscia’s experts to discuss various issues and receive support:
“They are extremely knowledgeable and have valuable expertise!”
After implementing Cisco Meraki, Conscia also helped Leksand Municipality secure a beneficial agreement that bundled all necessary licenses in one package.
“We received excellent support in exploring the possibilities of an Enterprise agreement with Cisco for our Meraki solution. Thanks to Conscia’s extensive network, we secured more favorable deals, better support, and longer license validity,” says Joacim.
Continued collaboration for a safer network in the municipality
With a multi-year agreement, Leksand Municipality and Conscia look forward to continuing their close collaboration. Plans are in place to further develop and secure the municipality’s network infrastructure.
“We want to keep enhancing the security of our solutions and scale up as needed together with Conscia,” concludes Stefan.
