New Office Network Checklist: From Floor Plan to Handover

1. Requirements

• Headcount on day one and expected growth.
• Desks, meeting rooms, training rooms and common areas.
• Devices: laptops, desk phones, printers, displays, cameras, access control and sensors.
• Applications and where they run: cloud, head office or a local server.
• Security and compliance requirements for the business.
• Budget and the target move date.

2. Building and site assessment

• Building administration rules: work permits, accredited contractors, working hours and noisy-work restrictions.
• Which internet providers already have fiber in the building, and how cables enter it.
• Riser access, ceiling type and where access points can be mounted.
• Power availability, backup power and cooling for the telecom room.
• Site hazards such as flooding. For locations in the Philippines, GeoRisk Philippines' HazardHunterPH offers a free hazard assessment by location.

3. Internet and carriers

• Request proposals from at least two providers as soon as the address is confirmed.
• Ask about installation lead time, building entry, service levels and static IP addresses.
• Choose a backup link from a different provider or technology.
• Plan a temporary connection in case installation is delayed.
• If desk phone numbers are moving, start number porting early.

4. Telecom room

• A lockable room or cabinet with controlled access.
• Ventilation or cooling for the equipment's heat output.
• Dedicated power circuits, UPS and proper grounding.
• Rack space for today's equipment plus growth.
• Clear pathways for cabling to the floor and risers.

5. Structured cabling

• Data outlets per desk, meeting room, printer and display.
• Cable points for access points, cameras and access control, positioned from the Wi-Fi and security designs.
• Category 6A for access points that use multigigabit ports; Category 6 is often enough for desks.
• Permanent links within standard length limits.
• Consistent labeling of outlets, panels and cables.
• Certification test reports for every cable.
• Spare capacity in pathways and patch panels.

6. Network design

• IP address plan that does not overlap with other offices.
• Network segments for staff, voice, printers, cameras, building devices and guests.
• Firewall policy, remote access and site-to-site connectivity.
• Predictive Wi-Fi design from the final floor plan.
• Printer and wireless display discovery across segments.

7. Procurement and staging

• Bill of materials with lead times checked against the schedule.
• Configure and test equipment in a staging area before installation.
• Update firmware, label devices and back up configurations.

8. Security

• Administrator credentials stored in a password vault, with MFA where supported.
• Logging from firewalls and network devices to a central system.
• Physical security for the telecom room and network cabinets.
• Guest Wi-Fi isolated from internal systems.

9. Installation and testing

• Cabling certification results reviewed before equipment is installed.
• Wi-Fi validation survey against the design.
• Internet failover test with real applications running.
• Printing, scanning, phones and meeting room systems tested.
• Business applications tested by representative users.

10. Move and cutover

• Stage the move by team where possible.
• Provide on-site support on the first working days.
• Decommission the old office network and sanitize storage in devices being retired.

11. Handover pack

• As-built floor plans with outlet, access point and camera positions.
• Cabling and Wi-Fi test reports.
• Network diagrams, IP plan and device inventory with serial numbers and warranties.
• Configuration backups.
• Credentials handed over through a secure channel.
• Provider contracts, circuit IDs and support contacts.