Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb NRW

Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb NRW – A secure network for all – Wi-Fi for BLB NRW.

Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb Nordrhein-Westfalen (BLB NRW) manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Europe. As the owner of nearly all properties for federal purposes, it leases and manages over 4,000 objects for the state’s authorities and institutions. To drive digitalisation and boost convenience for employees and guests, Bechtle implemented a secure and cross-location Wi-Fi for BLB NRW under a framework agreement with the state’s service provider, IT.NRW. The solution is standardised across all primary sites and security is guaranteed by keeping the internal network and Wi-Fi isolated.

Project details.

Services

Networking Solutions

Industry

Public sector

Manufacturer

HPE Aruba Networking

Company size

> 1,500 employees

Challenge.

North Rhine-Westphalia’s building and real estate management organisation, BLB NRW, oversees a portfolio of some 4,000 properties in the state. As a strong and reliable partner, BLB NRW constructs, owns and leases buildings to be used by the state’s citizens and federal government, contributing significantly to the administration and development of properties for federal purposes in Germany. New builds, restorations and modernisations are its bread and butter, but to meet the demands of today’s connected world of work, BLB NRW aspired to drive digitalisation at its seven sites forward and roll out a Wi-Fi network that its guests and employees can use securely and in accordance with the state’s policies. This would also entail a more flexible working environment in which staff at all locations could directly connect to the Wi-Fi. Security was a top priority throughout the project as the Federal Office for Information Security’s (BSI) requirements and state policies for the public sector all had to be adhered to. With this in mind, BLB NRW was looking for a solution that would not only comply with state-wide policies, but also meet the needs of users all while providing the highest levels of security and user-friendliness. One factor to consider was that the state administration’s network had to be kept separate from the Wi-Fi at all locations, but still had to be available to employees. A Wi-Fi solution standardised across all locations was to become the cornerstone of flexible working models as well as the basis for a modern, innovative environment to support digital work styles.

Due to strict regulations, we had never had the opportunity to implement a secure Wi-Fi compliant with all the policies and so we put the project on the back burner.
With Bechtle’s support, however, we’ve now been able to set up a future-oriented Wi-Fi infrastructure, which is critical for rolling out shared office concepts and modern working methods. By taking this step, we’ve become more flexible and efficient, setting course for whatever the future holds.

Kristian Bayerschen, Head of IT Service Management, Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb NRW

Solution.

When it came to selecting and procuring the required technology an services, BLB NRW made use of the existing framework agreements with North Rhine-Westphalia’s IT service provider, IT.NRW. This ensured an efficient and cost-effective realisation of the project, and allowed the organisation access to HPE Aruba Networking technologies, as well as Bechtle as a proven supplier and service partner. Bechtle has extensive experience in implementing highly complex IT solutions, particularly in the public sector, meaning the IT service provider was able to offer the necessary resources and technical expertise to set up a WLAN that met the high security standards of both the BSI and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Following an in-depth evaluation of site conditions, the partners determined that HPE Aruba Networking LAN/WLAN technology would enable the most secure solution that complies with the strict standards and also enables a seamless network integration. HPE Aruba Networking components are reliable and offer a standardised user experience across locations. Bechtle implemented the Aruba Central Platform—a cloud-based management solution that allows BLB NRW’s WLAN to be centrally monitored and managed for all locations. It was important, however, that the WLAN set up by Bechtle remained completely isolated from the state administration’s network—BLB NRW’s LAN—both in terms of software and hardware. To build a network infrastructure in such a way, HPE Aruba Networking switches, gateways, access points and all cabling had to be installed separately and so Bechtle installed the hardware step-by-step, starting with the larger sites. Each location received its own individual configuration of Aruba access points and gateways to create a secure employee network as well as a protected guest Wi-Fi with regular automated password changes. To work within the state administration’s network, employees need to connect via a VPN. The final step saw Bechtle extensively test the new Wi-Fi to ensure performance and security before the full rollout. Bechtle worked closely with IT.NRW and BLB NRW, handling everything from project management to communication site by site and in accordance with the project plan.

Business benefits.

Thanks to the Wi-Fi implemented by Bechtle with HPE Aruba components standardised across all locations, BLB NRW’s staff can now work more flexibly and efficiently than ever before. They can quickly and securely access the Wi-Fi, which in turn supports modern work paradigms and expectations such as working from home and shared desk concepts, and the separate and secure guest Wi-Fi gives visitors and external partners easy internet access. The new Wi-Fi has cemented BLB NRW’s position as a modern and future-facing employer and contributes to meeting the requirements of a digital world.