Networking infrastructure that keeps security systems online.
Cameras, access panels, and intercoms are only as reliable as the network they run on. We build and manage Ubiquiti UniFi networks for Chicago buildings — with full remote monitoring, PoE power management, VLAN segmentation, and clean documentation. When something goes wrong, we see it before you do.
Why we standardize on UniFi
See everything
Every device, port, speed, brand, and traffic type — visible in one dashboard.
Remote control
Reboot cameras, adjust VLANs, limit speeds — all without a site visit.
PoE management
Power cameras & access panels via Ethernet. Cycle ports to restart frozen devices remotely.
Instant alerts
Get notified when a camera drops, a switch goes offline, or a UPS kicks in.
What makes Ubiquiti UniFi ideal for security systems
A regular network switch just moves data. A Ubiquiti UniFi switch gives you a window into your entire security infrastructure — and the ability to manage it from anywhere.
Full visibility into every connected device
Open the UniFi dashboard and you see everything: which camera is plugged into which port, what brand it is, how much bandwidth it's using, what type of traffic it's sending, and how much PoE power it draws. No guessing, no cable tracing, no toner testing. If a camera goes offline at 2 AM, we know which port, which switch, and whether it's a power issue or a network issue — in seconds, from a phone.
Compare this to a building with unmanaged switches: something stops working, and the first step is sending a technician to physically trace cables with a toner tool, check every connection by hand, and try to figure out what's plugged in where. That takes hours and costs money. With UniFi, we already know.
Remote camera restart via PoE port cycling
Security cameras sometimes freeze — it happens with every brand, from Hanwha Vision to Axis. With a regular switch, someone has to physically go to the server room, find the right cable, and unplug it. With UniFi, we click one button in the dashboard and the switch cuts power to that specific port for a few seconds, then brings it back. The camera reboots cleanly. Takes 30 seconds, no truck roll, no disruption to other devices.
This works for any PoE device — cameras, access control readers, intercom panels, and access points. If a device is unresponsive, the fastest fix is often a power cycle, and UniFi lets us do it remotely.
VLANs: splitting one network into isolated segments
Think of a VLAN like separate highways for different types of traffic. Your security cameras get their own lane, access control gets another, office computers get a third, and guest Wi-Fi gets a fourth. They all share the same physical cables and switches, but they can't see or interfere with each other.
Why does this matter? Because when a resident starts streaming 4K video or someone's laptop starts a large cloud backup, it won't choke your camera feeds. When a contractor plugs in an unknown device, it can't accidentally reach your NVR or door controllers. And when something goes wrong, you know exactly which segment has the problem — instead of troubleshooting the entire building network at once.
Bringing order to messy server rooms
Walk into most building server closets in Chicago and you'll find a tangle of unlabeled cables, multiple switch brands stacked on top of each other, and nobody who knows what's plugged in where. Adding a new camera or access panel means guessing, testing, and hoping.
When we migrate a building to UniFi, we clean everything up. Every port is identified in the management software — we label it in the dashboard and it stays labeled forever. Port 7 on Switch-2F is "Lobby Camera East." Port 12 is "Front Door Reader." No more cable tracing, no more mystery connections. Combined with proper cable management, color-coded patch cables, and rack organization, a chaotic closet becomes something anyone can understand and maintain.
Traffic insight and bandwidth control
UniFi doesn't just pass traffic — it shows you what kind of traffic is flowing through each port. You can see if a camera is streaming at the expected bitrate or if something is wrong. You can spot unusual traffic patterns that might indicate a misconfigured device or a security concern. And you can set speed limits per port or per VLAN, so one greedy device can't starve the rest of the network.
For NVR systems recording 20-50 cameras, this visibility is critical. If a camera suddenly starts sending double the expected bandwidth, we catch it immediately — before it fills the recording storage too fast or degrades other camera streams.
The network foundation for cameras, access, and intercoms
Whether it's a new build, a legacy upgrade, or a repair — every network project we deliver includes these fundamentals.
PoE switching
Power + data, properly sized
We calculate real PoE loads — including IR illuminators, PTZ heaters, and peak draw — and size switches with headroom. No brownouts when Chicago winter kicks in and every camera's heater turns on simultaneously.
UPS backup
Network survives power outages
A security system without UPS is a security system that goes blind during every outage. We plan battery backup for switches, NVRs, and access controllers so critical devices keep running when the grid drops.
Documentation
Every port, every VLAN, every device
Labeled ports, network diagrams, VLAN maps, IP address tables, and admin credentials — documented and handed off. When someone new takes over, they can understand the system in minutes.
New networks, upgrades, and repair
New network installation
Building a new security system? The network is the foundation. We install Ubiquiti UniFi switches, access points, and gateways with proper VLAN design from day one — so your Hanwha cameras, Brivo controllers, and 2N intercoms each get their own network segment with dedicated bandwidth and PoE power budgets.
Upgrading from unmanaged switches
Many Chicago buildings run security systems on cheap unmanaged switches — no monitoring, no VLANs, no remote access. When a camera drops, nobody knows until someone checks the monitor. We replace these with UniFi managed switches, migrate all connections port by port, label everything in the dashboard, and set up remote monitoring. The building goes from "blind" to fully visible overnight.
We often combine network upgrades with camera system upgrades or access control upgrades — when you're already touching the infrastructure, it makes sense to fix the network at the same time.
Network troubleshooting and repair
Cameras going offline randomly? Garage cameras dropping every afternoon? Access control reader losing connection? These are almost always network problems — overloaded PoE, bad cables, network loops, or a switch that's been running without a reboot for years. We diagnose the root cause and fix it properly, not just restart everything and hope.
Service areas
We install and service networks across Chicago and suburbs including North Shore (Wilmette, Winnetka, Evanston), Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Itasca, and Rosemont. See all service areas.
FAQs
Why do security cameras randomly go offline?
Usually it's a network issue, not a camera issue: PoE power budget exceeded, bad uplinks, network loops, unstable switches, or dead UPS batteries. With Ubiquiti UniFi, we can see every device's status, power draw, and connection quality remotely — so we diagnose the actual cause in minutes instead of sending a technician to check cables for hours.
Why Ubiquiti UniFi instead of other switches?
For security system networks, UniFi hits the sweet spot: enterprise-grade features (VLANs, PoE management, remote monitoring, traffic analysis) at a price point that makes sense for building networks. Cisco and Aruba offer similar features but at 3-5x the cost. Cheap unmanaged switches have none of these capabilities. UniFi gives us the visibility and control we need to keep security systems running reliably — and to fix problems remotely when they occur.
Do I really need VLANs for security cameras?
Yes, if you want reliability. VLANs isolate your camera traffic from everything else on the network. Without them, a guest streaming Netflix, a large file download, or a misconfigured device can slow down or disrupt camera recording. With VLANs, security traffic gets guaranteed bandwidth and can't be affected by other network activity. It also improves security — devices on the office VLAN can't access camera feeds directly.
Can you monitor and fix network issues remotely?
Yes. With UniFi's cloud management, we see every switch, access point, and connected device in real time. We can reboot a frozen camera by cycling its PoE port, adjust VLAN settings, check traffic patterns, and diagnose connectivity issues — all remotely. Many problems that used to require an on-site visit are resolved in minutes from our dashboard.
Can you clean up a messy server room?
Yes. We migrate to UniFi, label every port in the management dashboard, organize cables with proper management, and document the entire setup. No more mystery connections or cable tracing with a toner. Port 7 says "Lobby Camera East" in the dashboard — you always know what's plugged in where.
How much does a network upgrade cost?
It depends on scale. A single 24-port UniFi PoE switch with installation and configuration runs $800-$1,500. A full building network upgrade with multiple switches, access points, VLANs, UPS, and documentation might range from $5,000 to $25,000+. We provide detailed proposals after assessing your current setup. Read more about installation costs.
Service area: Chicago, North Shore, and nearby suburbs. Contact: (872) 254-5015 · [email protected]