Why Your Vet Practice Needs a Network Checkup

Is your guest WiFi putting your clinical data at risk? Learn why network segregation is critical for modern veterinary practices.

Modern veterinary practices are no longer just clinics; they are data-driven businesses. From cloud-based Practice Management Systems (PMS) like RxWorks or Merlin, to digital DICOM X-ray files, your network traffic is increasing every year.

However, we frequently see practices still relying on the standard router provided by their Internet Service Provider (ISP) (see Hardware Procurement). While this might work for a small home, it creates significant risks and performance bottlenecks for a busy practice.

The Risk of Shared WiFi

If your reception staff, clients in the waiting room, and clinical card terminals are all connecting to the same 'BT-Hub-XYZ' network, you are vulnerable. Here is why:

• Performance: A client downloading a movie on the guest WiFi can choke the bandwidth needed for your PMS to load patient records.
• Security: If a client's device is infected with malware, it could potentially scan your network and attempt to access your server or local PCs.
• Compliance: Taking card payments on the same network as public traffic can be a violation of PCI-DSS standards.

The Solution: VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks)

The gold standard of practice security is Network Segmentation, often achieved using VLANs. Think of this as creating invisible, separate pipes inside your single internet connection.

1. VLAN 1 (Clinical): Reserved for staff laptops, the server, and digital imaging equipment. This gets priority bandwidth to ensure X-rays upload instantly.
2. VLAN 2 (Guest): An isolated network for clients. They can browse the web, but they cannot 'see' or access any other device on the network. We can also throttle the speed here so they don't slow down your work.
3. VLAN 3 (IoT/Payment): A dedicated, locked-down lane for card terminals and smart devices like blood analysers.

Why Upgrade to Managed WiFi?

By upgrading to a managed system (like Ubiquiti UniFi, see our Managed IT Support), you gain more than just security. You get Roaming. In a typical practice with thick walls and lead-lined X-ray rooms, signals drop as you walk around. With a managed system, your laptop automatically hops from one access point to the next as you move from consult room to theatre, without dropping the connection to your PMS.

Key Takeaway: Don't treat your practice network like a home network. Segment your traffic, secure your data, and keep your waiting clients happy without compromising clinical safety. Contact us about Strategic Projects for a WiFi survey.