12th October 2023
Ekahau Unveils Exciting New Features at Wi-Fi Day 2023
Wi-Fi Day 2023 was a highly anticipated event for wireless enthusiasts, and Ekahau did not disappoint. The event showcased a range of innovative products and features that aim to revolutionise the way we approach Wi-Fi optimisation and security. In this article, we will take a closer look at the key announcements made by Ekahau at Wi-Fi Day 2023.
Ekahau Optimiser: Enhancing Wi-Fi Performance and Security
One of the highlights of Wi-Fi Day 2023 was the feature rich improvements of the Ekahau Optimiser, a powerful tool designed to improve Wi-Fi optimisation. The Optimiser comes equipped with new custom action plans and export options, making it easier than ever to optimise your wireless network.
With the Optimiser, you can now benefit from custom configurations that are specifically tailored for each access point in your network. This level of customisation ensures that your network is optimised to its full potential. Additionally, the Optimiser has the ability to predict future network performance by providing accurate simulations of recommended changes before you deploy them. This feature acts as a crystal ball, allowing you to visualise the before-and-after heatmap changes.
For Meraki users, the Optimiser offers seamless integration with the Meraki Dashboard. You can now deploy optimised configuration action plans with just a few clicks, simplifying the deployment process. Furthermore, the Optimiser allows you to export reports in PDF format, making it easy to share recommendations and action plans with colleagues. These new features empower IT teams to instantly enhance Wi-Fi performance and security across their networks.
Ekahau Just Go Survey™: Redefining Wi-Fi Site Surveys
Wi-Fi site surveys have always been a crucial step in optimising wireless networks. However, they often require extensive preparation, including creating floor plans and scaling. Ekahau aims to change this with the introduction of Just Go Survey™, a game-changing feature that eliminates the need for floor plans and scaling.
Just Go Survey™ utilises the power of your iOS device’s camera, sensors, and Apple’s AR technology to map the environment and walls in real-time. As you walk around, the app automatically measures the walls and sketches the floor plan based on your movement. This automated mapping capability removes the friction of time-consuming prep work, making it faster and easier for anyone to conduct accurate Wi-Fi site surveys.
Whether you’re a seasoned Wi-Fi expert or just starting out, Just Go Survey™ allows you to collect enterprise-grade survey data with minimal effort. This feature is particularly beneficial in spaces where up-to-date floor plans are not readily available, such as older buildings that have undergone renovations. By automating the most tedious aspects of site surveys, Just Go Survey™ enables IT teams to focus on troubleshooting and optimising Wi-Fi networks. It seamlessly integrates with Ekahau’s Optimiser, generating improvement recommendations and click-to-accept action plans based on accurate survey data. We’re so excited to start using this feature!
New Security Visualisations: Identifying and Resolving Wi-Fi Security Threats
Security is a top priority for any wireless network, and Ekahau understands the importance of identifying and resolving security threats quickly. To address this, Ekahau introduced new Security Visualisations in their Survey app. These visualisations provide valuable insights that make it easier than ever to locate and resolve security issues on Wi-Fi networks.
The Security Visualisations feature helps you identify rogue access points and locate RF interference that can degrade network performance and compromise security. It maps the precise location of unauthorised rogue devices, allowing you to take immediate action. The Survey app also alerts you to any weak Wi-Fi encryption detected on the network, providing an easy fix when combined with Ekahau Optimiser recommendations for network encryption.
With these new security capabilities, anyone can find and resolve common Wi-Fi security pitfalls with minimal time and effort. The Security Visualisations feature is a valuable tool in creating a more secure enterprise Wi-Fi deployment.
Packet Capture in the Analyser App for iOS: Simplifying Network Analysis
Analysing network packets can be a challenging task, especially when dealing with multiple channels simultaneously. Ekahau addresses this challenge with the introduction of Packet Capture in the Analyser App for iOS. This feature allows you to capture packets on four Wi-Fi channels at the same time, providing immediate analysis and diagnosis of network issues.
Packet Capture for the Sidekick 2 enables you to capture packets across 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands, giving you a comprehensive view of network activity at the client level. This capability provides valuable insights into network performance and helps identify potential bottlenecks or sources of interference.
Sharing packet capture data with colleagues or network experts has also been made easier with Ekahau’s click-to-share functionality. You can now quickly export packet capture files and send them for further analysis, facilitating collaboration and problem-solving.
Automatic Floor Plan and AP Provisioning Integrations: Streamlining Network Deployments
Deploying access points (APs) can be a tedious and error-prone process, but Ekahau aims to simplify it with automatic floor plan and AP provisioning integrations. These integrations allow you to provision APs directly from Ekahau Insights to major vendor dashboards, eliminating the need for manual configuration.
By conducting a survey with Ekahau and using the Sidekick or Sidekick 2, IT teams can collect all the necessary data for dashboard provisioning. The locations of discovered APs can then be synced to popular dashboards such as Cisco Meraki Dashboard, Aruba Central, Mist AI Dashboard, and ExtremeCloud IQ. This integration saves time, reduces the possibility of placement errors, and sets the stage for ongoing network optimisations.
These integrations are especially valuable for new deployments, old deployments that were never properly provisioned, or situations where there are changes in floor plans and AP positions. By automating the provisioning process, Ekahau simplifies network deployments and ensures optimal performance.
What We Think.
Wi-Fi Day 2023 was a momentous event for Ekahau, as they unveiled a range of innovative features set to redefine the Wi-Fi optimisation and security landscape. The Ekahau Optimiser, Just Go Survey™, new Security Visualisations, Packet Capture in the Analyser App for iOS, and Automatic Floor Plan and AP Provisioning Integrations are all poised to make a significant impact on how we approach wireless network management.
These new features empower IT teams to enhance Wi-Fi performance, conduct accurate site surveys without the need for floor plans, identify and resolve security threats, simplify network analysis, and streamline network deployments. Ekahau continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of wireless surveys and optimisation, solidifying their position as a leader in the industry.
To learn more about these exciting developments, be sure to watch the full session recordings of Wi-Fi Day 2023, available on-demand. And stay tuned for future updates from Ekahau, as they always have something up their sleeves to further advance the world of Wi-Fi.
We’re so excited to start implementing some of these amazing features to our clients wireless surveys!
