Modern networks carry everything—voice, video, SaaS, cameras, POS—and downtime isn’t an option. In this guide, Comstex breaks down how to choose the right stack (switching, Wi-Fi, routing/SD-WAN, security) and where Cisco, HPE Aruba, Dell, and Sophos shine. If you need to buy network equipment, we can size, supply, and deploy it end-to-end.

Who’s a good fit?

• Small offices & branches: HPE Aruba Instant On, Cisco Business, Sophos Firewall + APs — simple onboarding, sensible pricing.
• Growing mid-market: HPE Aruba CX + corporate Wi-Fi, Dell Networking for aggregation — strong “value for features.”
• High availability & scale: Cisco Catalyst/ISR + Firepower; Aruba CX core — deep feature set, enterprise resilience.
• Security-first & easy SASE: Sophos Firewall + Central, tight integration with endpoint and SD-WAN.

What you actually need to decide on (by network layer)

1. Switching (Access / Aggregation / Core)
   • Port mix: 1G/2.5G/10G/25G/40/100G, PoE budget for phones/cameras/APs
   • Features: VLANs, L3 routing (OSPF/BGP), stacking/VSF/VSS, EVPN/VXLAN (for DC), QoS, ACLs
2. Routing & SD-WAN
   • Throughput with encryption, HA options, intelligent path selection, zero-touch for branches
3. Wi-Fi
   • Wi-Fi 6/6E, MIMO, roaming quality, RF planning, controller vs. cloud, guest access and segmentation
4. Security (NGFW/UTM)
   • IPS/IDS, SSL/TLS inspection, web filtering, VPN, SD-WAN, reporting, identity/endpoint integration
5. Management & Monitoring
   • Cloud vs. on-prem, APIs/automation, role-based access, compliance/audit, alerting and reports

Vendor comparison at a glance

Three common build-outs (you can map yourself to one)

1) Office of 50–150 users (IP phones, cameras, cloud apps)

• Access switching: HPE Aruba Instant On or Aruba CX with 370–740W PoE.
• Aggregation/core: Dell S-series or Aruba CX with 10G uplinks.
• Wi-Fi: Aruba Instant On / Aruba APs (Wi-Fi 6/6E), cloud-managed.
• Security: Sophos XGS (SD-WAN, SSL inspection), site-to-site VPN.
  Why: Low TCO, fast rollout, clean cloud monitoring.

2) 300–600 users, multiple branches, uptime matters

• Switching: Cisco Catalyst or Aruba CX with stacking/VSF and redundant 10/25G uplinks.
• Routing/SD-WAN: Cisco ISR/SD-WAN or Sophos SD-WAN.
• Wi-Fi: Enterprise APs with controller or cloud (Cisco/Aruba).
• Security: Cisco Firepower or Sophos XGS with ATP.
  Why: Scales predictably, centralized control, HA options.

3) Small data center / server room (virtualization, backup windows)

• DC/ToR switching: Dell OS10 (EVPN/VXLAN if needed) or Cisco Nexus / Aruba CX.
• Uplinks: 25/40/100G, MLAG/VSX, QoS for backups and replication.
• Security: Edge NGFW + segmentation (VLAN/VRF/ACL).
  Why: High throughput, resilient core, clean east-west segmentation.

Sizing & pitfalls we fix most often

• PoE budget shortfalls. APs + cameras can exhaust power quickly—plan a 20–30% headroom.
• Choked uplinks. Dual 1G uplinks will bottleneck; plan 10/25G early.
• License blind spots. Controllers, NGFW features, and cloud management need subscriptions—include them in TCO.
• Big-bang migrations. Avoid “one-day cutovers.” Phase changes and prep a rollback plan.

How Comstex helps (design → supply → deployment → support)

Comstex delivers end-to-end network projects:

• Discovery & design: L2/L3 architecture, Wi-Fi planning, segmentation/Zero-Trust.
• Right-sizing: We match Cisco, HPE Aruba, Dell, Sophos models to your growth, bandwidth, and security needs.
• Supply & staging: Procurement, pre-configuration, on-site/remote rollout.
• Support & SLAs: Vendor care, monitoring, and change management.

Need network equipment? We can sell and implement it for you—start to finish.
Email: sales@comstex.com · Phone: +[your number] · Or leave a request on the Contact page.

FAQ

What’s a safe choice for a small office?
Aruba Instant On is budget-friendly, cloud-managed, and PoE-capable for phones/cameras.

Do I really need an NGFW?
If you have remote users, SaaS, or sensitive data, NGFW/UTM with SSL inspection and SD-WAN significantly reduces risk.

Can I mix vendors?
Yes. Common blends: Aruba Wi-Fi, Dell/Cisco core, Sophos perimeter. The key is solid design and tested interoperability.

How much growth margin should I plan?
Add ~30% headroom across ports, PoE, and uplink throughput to avoid near-term upgrades.