Managed Network in Switzerland: proactive management, integrated security, and guaranteed performance for your corporate network
The network is the nervous system of the modern enterprise. Every application, every user, every location depends on its availability and performance. Yet, in most Swiss SMEs, the network is managed reactively: action is taken when something breaks, often after operational damage — or worse, security issues — have already occurred.
Var Group offers a Managed Network service that transforms this approach: proactive 24/7 management, integrated security at every level, optimized performance, and a single point of accountability for the entire network infrastructure — LAN, Wi-Fi, WAN, firewalls, and cloud connectivity. All with contractually defined SLAs and a fixed, predictable monthly fee.
What is a Managed Network Service?
The Managed Network Service (MNS) is a service model in which a specialized IT provider takes full operational responsibility for the corporate network infrastructure: design, configuration, monitoring, maintenance, troubleshooting, updates, and security.
In a Managed Network model, the company does not need to worry about managing routers, switches, firewalls, access points, or WAN connectivity: the provider handles everything, 24/7, 365 days a year, with contractually defined SLAs and proactive interventions before issues impact operations.
The typical scope of a Managed Network Service includes:
- LAN management and monitoring (switches, structured cabling)
- Corporate Wi-Fi management (access points, controllers, roaming)
- Firewall and perimeter security management
- WAN and multi-site connectivity management (SD-WAN, MPLS, VPN)
- 24/7 proactive monitoring with automated alerting
- Firmware updates and security patch management
- Traffic optimization and QoS for critical applications
- Technical support and on-site intervention in case of failure
Why Swiss companies choose a Managed Network Service
The complexity of corporate networks has grown exponentially over the past decade: smart working, SaaS applications, video conferencing, IoT, distributed locations, and cloud environments have transformed the network from a simple infrastructure into a critical multi-layer system. Managing it without specialized skills and dedicated tools is increasingly risky.
An unmanaged network is a security risk
43% of cyberattacks enter organizations through network vulnerabilities: outdated firewalls, poorly configured Wi-Fi networks, VPN access with weak credentials, and insufficient segmentation. A Managed Network Service ensures that every network component is configured according to security best practices and consistently updated.
Network downtime costs more than you think
For a company with 50 employees, one hour of network downtime means 50 hours of lost productivity, inaccessible applications, customers unable to communicate, and in some cases, unmet contractual obligations. Var Group’s 24/7 proactive monitoring identifies anomalies before they become disruptions, drastically reducing both the number and duration of downtime incidents.
Multi-site management is complex without a dedicated provider
For companies with multiple locations — a common pattern in the Ticino business landscape — network management requires expertise across different WAN technologies (MPLS, SD-WAN, site-to-site VPN), coordination between sites, and centralized visibility. Var Group manages multi-site networks as a single, cohesive entity, with centralized visibility and coordinated interventions.
The network must support cloud and smart working
With the migration of applications to Microsoft 365, Azure, and other cloud services, traditional networks are no longer sufficient: a modern architecture is required to optimize traffic to the cloud, ensure secure connectivity for remote users, and enforce granular access policies. Var Group implements and manages SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and Zero Trust architectures to meet these needs.
What does the Managed Network service by Var Group include?
The Managed Network service by Var Group covers all layers of the corporate network, with an integrated approach that combines operational management, security, and performance optimization.
LAN management: switches and structured cabling
- Configuration and management of access, distribution, and core switches
- Network segmentation through VLANs to separate production, guest, and IoT traffic
- Monitoring availability and performance of each port and device
- Switch firmware updates with preventive testing
- Up-to-date documentation of network topology and device inventory
Corporate Wi-Fi management
- Design and optimization of Wi-Fi coverage based on floor plans and usage
- Centralized management of access points
- Segmentation of wireless networks with differentiated security policies
- Monitoring signal quality and usage to prevent congestion
- Automatic firmware updates for access points
- Support for multi-site environments with seamless roaming
Managed firewall and perimeter security
The firewall is the first line of defense for the corporate network. Var Group manages next-generation firewalls with an approach that goes beyond simple traffic filtering:
- Configuration and management of NGFW with deep packet inspection (DPI)
- Access policy management based on the principle of least privilege
- Intrusion Prevention System to detect and block attacks in real time
- Web filtering and application control to reduce the attack surface
- Site-to-site VPN and remote user VPN
- Continuous updates of security signatures and policies
- Centralized logging and event correlation for anomaly detection
WAN and SD-WAN management
For companies with multiple locations or remote workers, WAN management is as critical as LAN management. Var Group designs and manages reliable and secure WAN connectivity:
- SD-WAN: automatic routing optimization based on link quality and application type
- Automatic WAN failover: in case of primary link failure, traffic switches to the secondary link within seconds
- Traffic optimization toward cloud providers with cloud-aware SD-WAN
- Centralized visibility on the quality of each WAN link with proactive alerts in case of degradation
24/7/365 proactive monitoring
The core of the service is Var Group’s NOC (Network Operations Center), active 24/7 to monitor every component of the managed network:
- Monitoring availability, performance, and latency of every network device
- Multi-level alerting: email, SMS, and automatic escalation based on severity
- Real-time dashboards accessible to customers via a dedicated web portal
- Capacity planning: analysis of usage trends to anticipate saturation and properly size the network
- Always up-to-date network topology map with end-to-end visibility
Zero Trust and SASE architectures
The traditional perimeter-based security model — “inside the network = safe” — is obsolete in the era of cloud and smart working. Var Group designs and manages Zero Trust and SASE architectures that verify every access regardless of user or device location:
- Implementation of Microsoft Entra ID with Conditional Access for Zero Trust authentication
- Global Secure Access as a modern alternative to VPN
- Network microsegmentation to limit lateral movement in case of compromise
- SASE: integration of SD-WAN and cloud security into a unified architecture
- Network Access Control (NAC) to ensure only compliant devices can access the network
Networking technologies managed by Var Group
Var Group works with leading enterprise vendors, selected for reliability, centralized management capabilities, and integration with the most widely used cloud ecosystems among Swiss SMEs.
- Cisco / Cisco Meraki: Cisco switches, access points, and firewalls with cloud-first management through the Meraki Dashboard — the preferred choice for multi-site environments due to operational simplicity and centralized visibility.
- Fortinet: integrated security ecosystem with Security Fabric, enabling unified management of firewalls, switches, and Wi-Fi with security event correlation.
- Aruba (HPE): enterprise Wi-Fi and switching solution with Central for cloud management, particularly suited for environments with high user and device density.
- Microsoft (Entra ID, Global Secure Access, Azure Virtual WAN): for Zero Trust and SASE architectures integrated with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem already adopted by most Swiss SMEs.
Managed Network for multi-site companies in Switzerland
Network management for companies with multiple locations — a common pattern in the Ticino and Swiss business landscape — requires specific expertise that goes beyond simple local LAN management. Var Group manages multi-site networks as a single, cohesive infrastructure:
- Secure connectivity between sites (site-to-site VPN or SD-WAN with automatic failover)
- Uniform and consistent security policies across all locations, centrally managed
- Centralized visibility: a single dashboard to monitor all sites in real time
- Remote provisioning of new locations without the need for on-site intervention for initial configuration
- Optimized connectivity management to cloud and SaaS for each site
- Unified SLAs across all locations, regardless of their size or location
How does the Managed Network activation process work?
The transition to Var Group’s Managed Network follows a structured process that always starts with an analysis of the existing network, ensuring operational continuity during migration and immediately identifying critical issues to address.
1. Network Assessment
Comprehensive mapping of the existing network infrastructure: inventory of switches, routers, firewalls, access points, and WAN connectivity. Configuration analysis, identification of security vulnerabilities, and gaps compared to best practices. Delivery of a report with intervention priorities and risk assessment.
2. Solution design
Based on the assessment, we design the optimal network architecture tailored to the client’s needs: technology selection, VLAN definition, security policies, WAN architecture, and migration plan. Every decision is discussed and approved with the client before implementation.
3. Remediation and optimization
Before taking full operational responsibility, the Var Group team resolves critical vulnerabilities identified during the assessment: firmware updates, correction of misconfigurations, implementation of missing segmentation, and activation of monitoring.
4. Go-live with parallel coverage
The transition to full operations includes a 2–4 week parallel phase, during which Var Group’s NOC monitors the network alongside the client’s IT team. This ensures zero operational disruption and complete knowledge transfer of the specific environment.
5. Operational phase and continuous improvement
Once fully operational: 24/7 monitoring, proactive update management, periodic performance optimization, and quarterly reviews with a dedicated Service Delivery Manager. Every infrastructure change is documented and communicated.
Why choose Var Group as your Managed Network partner in Switzerland
Var Group is a Managed Service Provider based in Ticino, certified ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2024, with a team of network engineers certified.
- Local presence guaranteed on-site intervention or remote
- ISO 27001:2024 — the highest standard for information security
- NOC with 24/7/365 coverage and real-time alerting
- Certified team
- Partnerships with Cisco, Fortinet, Aruba/HPE, and Microsoft
- Contractually guaranteed SLAs
- Support: no language barriers
- A single provider for the entire network: no finger-pointing between different vendors
Request a network assessment
Not sure if your network is secure, high-performing, and properly configured? Var Group offers a no-obligation Network Assessment: in just a few hours of analysis, our engineers deliver a clear map of your network infrastructure, identify vulnerabilities, and provide you with a concrete improvement plan. Contact us today.