Three castles, one network and security modernisation.

ASL Schlossbetriebe GmbH – Three castles, one holistic network and security modernisation

With its three flagship attractions – Augustusburg Castle, Scharfenstein Castle and Lichtenwalde Castle & Park – ASL draws thousands of visitors to the Chemnitz region every year. Across all three historic sites, IT must operate flawlessly – from ticketing systems to guest Wi‑Fi. To ensure this level of reliability going forward, Bechtle modernised the networks and firewalls at the three castles using Cisco Meraki components. What underpinned the success of the modernisation was a structured approach to infrastructure, multi‑site environments, security and ongoing operations. The result is a transparent IT environment that scales with demand while providing robust protection.

Project details.

Services

Security
Networking

Industry

Public sector

Manufacturer

Meraki

Company size

< 250 employees

Challenge.

For visitors to explore, experience and enjoy the grounds – whether at exhibitions, open‑air concerts or adventure days – the underlying operations have to run smoothly. Ticketing must work seamlessly, both online and on site, and guest Wi‑Fi needs to perform just as reliably, even when visitor numbers peak. This requires a consistent network architecture with clearly separated segments for administration, ticketing systems, guest access and other services. At the same time, ASL needed secure access for employees working from home as well as for external service providers. A new network was also expected to deliver greater transparency through effective monitoring, clearly defined processes and comprehensive documentation. Overall, ASL was looking for a stable IT foundation that supports operations reliably across all locations, while remaining flexible enough to evolve as requirements change.

Bechtle didn’t just deliver new technology – they helped us rethink our IT setup across all three sites. With locations that are so different, it was crucial that analysis, design and implementation all worked hand in hand, and Bechtle’s experts handled that extremely well. Their ongoing support also means everything continues to run smoothly, even during major events or periods of high visitor numbers.

Eckhard Müller, Technical Director, Augustusburg/Scharfenstein/Lichtenwalde Schlossbetriebe GmbH

Solution.

The solution was a new network and security architecture built on Cisco Meraki. Thanks to Bechtle’s Cisco framework agreement for public-sector organisations in the Free State of Saxony, ASL was able to source the required components quickly and efficiently, without the need for a separate tender process. Starting from the existing infrastructure, Bechtle developed a tailored concept and evolved it step by step. A high‑level design set out the overarching architecture, while a low‑level design specified the details – from network segmentation through to secure access models. Administration, ticketing systems, guest access and home‑office connectivity were all clearly separated and secured according to their specific requirements. Bechtle then implemented the new infrastructure across all three sites, deploying centrally managed firewalls, switches and WLAN components from Cisco Meraki. Modern access points now provide stable Wi‑Fi for visitors and employees alike, supported by a cleanly structured network in the background. Access models were rethought end to end, including secure remote access for remote users and external service providers. These are complemented by modern security mechanisms such as strong authentication and continuous monitoring. Migration took place gradually during live operation, ensuring that ticketing systems, applications and Wi‑Fi remained available at all times. Today, Bechtle supports ASL as a central point of contact for network operations, delivering a transparent, flexible IT environment operated around the clock as a managed service.

Business benefits.

A clearly structured network with cleanly separated segments ensures stable operations.
Centralised management via a single platform enables consistent, cross‑site administration.
Secure remote access supports flexible remote working while providing controlled access for external service providers.
Robust security through network segmentation, strong authentication and end‑to‑end security mechanisms.
A stable guest Wi‑Fi network that performs reliably and securely even during peak times and large events.
Full control is ensured through Bechtle’s managed services, with active monitoring, clearly defined processes and experienced specialists.