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Managed IT

Network Deployment, Management & Configuration

We build networks that are documented, segmented and patched, so one infected laptop can't easily reach everything else, and we help keep them that way.

Ask about Network Services
Your networkSample view
  • FirewallFirmware update scheduledManaged
  • Remote access (VPN)Sign-in without MFA blockedContained
  • Business Wi-FiGuest network kept separateManaged
  • SwitchingUnused live port disabledManaged
  • ConfigurationConfiguration backup completedManaged
  • Firewall rulesRule change to approveDecision needed
Illustration · not live data

In short

Network deployment, management and configuration covers designing, installing and running the switches, routers, Wi-Fi, firewalls and VPN that connect your business. Catharsis is a Sydney cyber security company, so we build your network to make it harder for attackers to get in and to limit how far they can move if they do.

01Who it's for

Is network deployment and management right for you?

It suits organisations that need a network built and run with security in mind, not just connectivity.

Built for

  • Businesses with 5 or more staff whose network grew one device at a time and is no longer documented
  • Organisations moving office, opening a new site or replacing ageing firewalls and Wi-Fi
  • Teams with staff working remotely who need secure access to office systems
  • Councils, schools, clinics and other regulated organisations that must separate guest, staff and sensitive systems

You probably need it if…

  • Nobody can say what every port and cable is for
  • Wi-Fi drops out in parts of the office
  • Your firewall hasn't been reviewed since it was installed
  • Guests and staff share the same Wi-Fi network
  • Your VPN still lets staff sign in without MFA

02What's included

What network deployment and management includes

Design & build

Network design

A documented design for your office or sites: internet links, firewall, switching, Wi-Fi coverage and how staff, guest, phone and device traffic are kept apart, so you have a plan to build from.

Switching and routing

Managed switches configured with separate network segments (VLANs), routing between sites and a clear record of which port connects to what, so faults are easier to trace.

Business Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi planned for coverage and capacity, with staff and guest networks kept separate, modern encryption, and access points managed centrally so settings stay consistent across the office.

Office moves and new sites

Planning and delivery of an office move or fit-out: cabling requirements, internet service orders, equipment installation and testing before your staff arrive.

Secure

Firewall deployment and management

Business firewalls installed, configured and maintained, with rules reviewed, firmware kept current and rule changes documented with the reason they were made.

Secure remote access

VPN access for staff working from home or on the road, protected with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and limited to the systems each person actually needs to reach.

Monitor & maintain

Monitoring and maintenance

Network devices monitored for faults, configuration backed up and firmware updated regularly, so many problems can be picked up before your staff notice them.

Bundles of blue network patch cables plugged into a switch, lit by status LEDs

Managed IT

A network you can understand

An undocumented network is hard to troubleshoot and harder to secure. We document your key network devices and settings, and tighten what isn't needed, so changes and problems are easier to spot.

03In detail

Network services, in depth

What does network deployment, management and configuration cover?

Your network is everything that connects your people to each other and to the internet: the internet link, firewall, switches, cabling, Wi-Fi and remote access. Deployment means designing and installing it; management and configuration means keeping it running, patched and documented after that.

Why does a security company care about your network?

Your network decides how easily an attacker can get in and how far they can move once inside. A flat network, where every device can reach every other device, lets one infected laptop reach your file server, accounting system and backups.

We design networks to limit that:

  • Segmentation: staff, guests, phones, printers and cameras sit on separate network segments with controlled access between them.
  • Firewall rules with a reason: rules are documented, and anything that isn’t needed is removed.
  • Patched equipment: firewall, switch and Wi-Fi firmware is kept up to date. The Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) guidance on securing edge devices explains why firewalls and VPNs are a frequent target.
  • Remote access: an old VPN without MFA is a well-known way in for attackers, so we treat it as a priority.
  • Logging: firewall logs are kept so suspicious activity can be investigated.

Firewalls and other network equipment can be supplied through our IT hardware procurement service, and their security subscriptions renewed through software licensing. For firewall alerts watched as part of a wider security service, see managed security, and if you want an independent check of how well your network holds up, a penetration test can show you what an attacker could reach.

How do network projects and ongoing management fit together?

A new design, an office move or a firewall replacement is run as a project. After that, ongoing management keeps the network monitored, patched and documented, and it can sit inside a wider managed IT support arrangement. New hardware for a move or new site is configured securely before it arrives.

04The process

How network deployment and management works

  1. Site survey and audit

    We document your current network, firewall rules and Wi-Fi coverage, and identify security gaps and single points of failure.

  2. Design and quote

    You receive a written design and a quote for equipment and labour, with options where there is a real choice to make.

  3. Install and configure

    We stage and configure equipment before installation, then deploy it in a planned window to keep disruption low.

  4. Test and hand over

    We test coverage, failover, VPN and firewall rules, and give you documentation of the finished network.

  5. Ongoing management

    If you choose managed networking, we monitor, patch and maintain the network and handle changes through our helpdesk.

05Frameworks

How this maps to the frameworks

Useful for your auditor, board or procurement team. The mapping shows where this service supports each framework. It doesn't replace a formal assessment.

Network Services: framework mapping
ControlASD EssentialsASD maturity model (current)ISO/IEC 27001NIST CSF
Firewall and network segmentationBoundary servicesNot applicableA.8.20, A.8.22Protect (PR.IR-01)
Secure remote access with MFABoundary servicesIdentity servicesMulti-factor authenticationA.6.7, A.8.5Protect (PR.AA-03)
Firmware updates for network devicesNot applicableNot applicableA.8.8Protect (PR.PS-02)
Firewall loggingNot applicableNot applicableA.8.15Detect (DE.CM-01)
Configuration backup and documentationNot applicableNot applicableA.8.9Protect (PR.PS-01)

06Pricing

Pricing and how to start

Pricing

Quoted for your environment

What changes the price

Network design, new equipment, office moves and installations are quoted as projects, based on site size, devices and the cabling or Wi-Fi coverage needed. Ongoing cost depends on the number of sites and devices. Network management is included in the Business and Secure+ managed IT plans, and additional site or firewall management starts from $99 per site per month, ex GST.

  • Monitoring of your firewall, switches and Wi-Fi
  • Firmware updates and configuration backups
  • Firewall rule changes through the helpdesk
  • Up-to-date network documentation
Get a quoteSee Managed IT plans

07FAQ

Network services, answered.

Can't see your question? Ask a specialist and get a straight answer.

Ask a specialist
What should we look for in a business firewall?

Look for VPN support with MFA, central management, and a security subscription that adds web filtering and intrusion prevention. Check the vendor will keep releasing firmware updates for the years you plan to use it. We recommend a model based on your size, number of sites and existing equipment, and can take over a firewall you already own if its vendor still supports it.

Why should guest Wi-Fi be separate from our staff network?

A guest on the same network as your staff can see and reach your computers, printers and file shares. If their device is infected, your systems are exposed too. Putting guests on a separate network that only reaches the internet removes that risk. We apply the same idea to phones, cameras and other connected devices, which are often hard to patch.

Can you manage our network during an office move?

Yes. We plan the network side of an office move from the start: cabling requirements, internet service orders, equipment placement, firewall and Wi-Fi configuration, and testing before your staff arrive. New internet services can take a while to connect, so involving us early reduces the risk of starting in the new office without proper connectivity.

Is a VPN still the right way to give remote staff access?

A VPN is still a sound choice for reaching systems that only exist in your office, such as a file server or an on-premises business application. It must be protected with MFA and limited to what each person needs. If most of your work is already in Microsoft 365 or other cloud services, staff may not need a VPN at all, which removes one thing to attack.

How often should firewall rules be reviewed?

Firewall rules should be reviewed regularly and whenever your systems change, such as a new application, a decommissioned server or a change of provider. Old rules tend to accumulate, and each one can leave a door open that nobody remembers. When we manage your firewall, rule changes are documented with the reason, so reviews are quicker and evidence is easier to produce.

Cyber Security

Managed Security

Your security tools run, watched and reported on by security specialists.

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