Solved IT scores goal with PFA

VAR rolls out Meraki wireless solution for Professional Footballers Association

Premiership footballers will be among the beneficiaries of a new wireless LAN solution at the offices of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) rolled out by VAR Solved IT.

Solved IT completed the deployment of a Meraki Cloud Managed Solution for the body in August. It is designed to allow staff using company-issued BlackBerry PlayBooks and bringing their own devices to connect securely to PFA data.

PFA guests, including professional footballers and dignitaries, can also gain secure public access via the connection.

Solved IT director Vincent Booth said the long-time SonicWall partner had tried and tested all the major WLAN solutions on the market before plumping for Meraki.

"SonicWall's SonicPoint solution is very cost effective and if you only want a corporate network, we would recommend it," he said.

"But when you have multiple sites and need guest access, Meraki is second to none. As it is all hosted in the Meraki cloud, which is made up of multiple datacentres operating on a follow-the-sun basis, it is a highly available, highly redundant solution that is at a low cost."

Booth said the PFA was one of the UK's largest BlackBerry PlayBook users.

"It was important that we could securely integrate the PlayBook into the network but, equally, provide a quality service for guests."

Solved IT already counts some Premiership football clubs among its client base and Booth hoped the PFA deployment would draw in more custom in the sector. It already suppiles the PFA with firewalls from SonicWall.