Optimizing Wi-Fi Networks using Client Analytics
Thousands of Intel’s employees connect to the corporate Wi-Fi network every day. When connectivity issues occur, both productivity and user experience (UX) suffer. Intel IT makes every effort to optimize the network’s performance. Still, until recently, we had little visibility into client behavior through traditional network monitoring solutions because they report issues only from the network infrastructure perspective. At the same time, endpoint IT tools are limited to operating system data.
Based on its existing market presence with PC Wi-Fi products, Intel’s Client Computing product group developed Intel® Connectivity Analytics technology. The product group collaborated with Cisco—a well-known enterprise Wi-Fi network infrastructure supplier—and Intel IT to develop compelling use cases and solutions that utilize Intel Connectivity Analytics. Intel IT provided product feedback and practical applications of the technology in our enterprise environment and helped optimize the use cases over Intel’s network infrastructure. Our input helped to better define the data and analytics needed to achieve the desired business outcomes, such as faster troubleshooting, mean time to repair (MTTR), reduced network total cost of ownership, and a better UX.
Intel IT now uses Intel Connectivity Analytics—delivered through the Cisco Catalyst Center (previously Cisco DNA Center) and cloud dashboard—to improve the management of Intel’s Wi-Fi network. We are also working with the overall ecosystem to expand the use cases for Intel Connectivity Analytics and further enhance AI for IT Operations (AIOps). We have reduced some client-side troubleshooting from upwards of 15 minutes to 10–15 seconds. Similarly, finding the root cause for ubiquitous network issues—which could take days—now often takes seconds as well.
We encourage other IT departments to consider deploying IT tools powered by Intel Connectivity Analytics for Wi-Fi, which is built into Intel® Wi-Fi adapters and requires no software installation or maintenance. It can be utilized by Cisco and other Intel Connectivity Analytics Program members.
In addition, we are now working with the Intel Client Computing product group to develop an additional Intel Connectivity Analytics offering that shares data through a PC agent to the cloud and expands the available connectivity analytics beyond Wi-Fi to include Thunderbolt™ technology, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and more.