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When moving premises, network infrastructure decisions must be made before the building works start: once walls and ceilings are closed, every change is destructive. The item with the longest lead time is the internet connection, which should be confirmed before you even sign the lease. And a move is the only opportunity to rebuild the network from scratch with no additional building cost. This is the plan DataRoad - IT Services and Consulting follows with its clients.
Why the network is usually left until last — and what that costs
In most moves, IT comes in after the lease, the fit-out and the furniture. The result is weeks of working badly in the new space: outlets in the wrong place, weak Wi-Fi, temporary internet. The right order is the reverse.
The two lead times money cannot buy
- Internet connection — bringing fibre to a building that does not have it involves infrastructure, permits and sometimes street works. It can take weeks or months. Confirm coverage before choosing the space and place the order on the day you sign.
- Number porting — it has legal deadlines and depends on the losing carrier. Starting late means moving without the numbers your clients know.
An excellent space with no fibre available has forced companies to work for months on inadequate temporary connections.
Decisions to settle before the works
- Rack Space, ventilation, dedicated power sockets and security. A cupboard in the corridor with no ventilation is paid for in failures for years.
- Network outlets Count today’s headcount and add a margin. Extra outlets during the works cost little; too few afterwards means more building work.
- Cable routes Cable trays and routes agreed with the contractor, not improvised.
- Business Wi-Fi Access point positions come from a wireless coverage survey on the floor plan, with cable to each point, including ceilings and high areas.
- Power A dedicated circuit for the rack and space for a UPS.
- CCTV and access control They use the same cabling and belong in the same project.
DataRoad IT Unlimited
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A phased IT plan
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| Space chosen | Confirm and order internet; start number porting; inventory what exists and what is moving. |
| Before the works | Structured cabling design with an outlet plan; rack location; coordination with the electrician and contractor. |
| During the works | Run cable before ceilings and walls are closed; install the rack; certify the network with a per-outlet report. |
| Two weeks before | Internet installed and tested; network, Wi-Fi and phone system configured; everything tested with the space empty. |
| Moving week | Transport plan for servers and equipment; shutdown and start-up order; emergency contacts for all suppliers on a single sheet. |
Three rules for moving day
- Never on a Friday — a problem discovered late in the afternoon lasts the whole weekend. Move early in the week, with suppliers reachable.
- Test before people arrive — servers, network, internet, phones and printers validated with the space empty. Discovering a fault with forty people waiting is the worst-case scenario.
- Keep the old space for a few days — being able to fall back for a week is worth the cost; it is rarely used, but it changes everyone’s peace of mind.
Mistakes we see in almost every move
- Inherited, uncertified cabling The previous tenant’s cabling may be fine or unusable. Certifying it before deciding costs little.
- Sizing for today Companies that move premises are usually growing. Planning for current headcount books the next building project already.
- Forgetting peripherals Printers, time clocks and meeting room equipment always turn up at the end, with no outlet planned.
- IT left out of site meetings That is where cable routes and the rack location get lost.
- Installation without documentation Without a floor plan and outlet map, the first fault begins with guesswork.
Next step: plan the network for your new office
DataRoad handles office moves and business network installation from start to finish — from the design with the contractor to validation on the first working day. No-obligation proposal.
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