Cisco Cisco 2106 Wireless LAN Controller 白皮書
Total Economic Impact Study of Unified Wireless Network
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Benefits
The next component of this analysis examines the potential benefits of migrating to a controller-
based, wireless architecture. Interviewed customers identified the following benefits associated with
the Cisco Unified Wireless Network: 1) reduction in on-going administrative costs; 2) reduction in
site monitoring costs associated with RF monitoring and rogue detection; 3) improvement in end-
user productivity; and 4) reduction in guest access costs. This section illustrates the possible ways
to quantify the impact of these benefits based on the characteristics of the composite organization.
based, wireless architecture. Interviewed customers identified the following benefits associated with
the Cisco Unified Wireless Network: 1) reduction in on-going administrative costs; 2) reduction in
site monitoring costs associated with RF monitoring and rogue detection; 3) improvement in end-
user productivity; and 4) reduction in guest access costs. This section illustrates the possible ways
to quantify the impact of these benefits based on the characteristics of the composite organization.
Operational Cost Savings
The organizations that we interviewed migrated to a centrally managed, wireless architecture to
reduce the operational and administrative costs of managing a wireless network. For these
organizations, the wireless network is a business critical application. Customers interviewed either
used voice and/or location services or were seriously considering an investment in one or both.
reduce the operational and administrative costs of managing a wireless network. For these
organizations, the wireless network is a business critical application. Customers interviewed either
used voice and/or location services or were seriously considering an investment in one or both.
As the interviewees grew their autonomous wireless footprint, they realized that to proactively
maintain their network, they needed to increase the number of network administrators. With IT
operating budgets tightening, the migration to a centrally managed, wireless architecture provided
the opportunity to maintain and grow wireless network without incurring the cost to hire additional
staff.
maintain their network, they needed to increase the number of network administrators. With IT
operating budgets tightening, the migration to a centrally managed, wireless architecture provided
the opportunity to maintain and grow wireless network without incurring the cost to hire additional
staff.
To calculate this benefit, we assume that the composite organization implemented 750 access
points across four campuses. Based on the interviewees, we estimate that the network
administrators were required to annually perform three access point configurations manually. Each
access point update would require 15 minutes to complete and log. In addition to these updates, the
network administrators also spent on average eight hours per week troubleshooting and completing
wireless audits per location. With an average fully loaded hourly salary of $48 ($100,000/2080) for
network administrators, we estimate a cost savings of $106,872 annually ($48*(750*3*.25+8*4*52)).
Table 9 illustrates this calculation.
points across four campuses. Based on the interviewees, we estimate that the network
administrators were required to annually perform three access point configurations manually. Each
access point update would require 15 minutes to complete and log. In addition to these updates, the
network administrators also spent on average eight hours per week troubleshooting and completing
wireless audits per location. With an average fully loaded hourly salary of $48 ($100,000/2080) for
network administrators, we estimate a cost savings of $106,872 annually ($48*(750*3*.25+8*4*52)).
Table 9 illustrates this calculation.
Table 9: On-Going Administrative Cost Savings
Ref.
Metric
Calculation
Per period
F1
Total number of access points
750
F2
Annual number access point updates or configurations
3
F3
Average time required to update each access point (hour)
0.25
F4
IT staff fully loaded hourly rate
$48
F5
Number of hours per week to troubleshoot and complete
wireless audits per location prior to migration
wireless audits per location prior to migration
8
F6
Number of locations
4
F7
Weeks per year
52
Ft
Reduction in on-going administrative cost
F4*(F1*F2*F3
+F5*F6*F7)
$106,872
Source: Forrester Research, Inc.