Unified Networks for Multi-Site Warehousing

Case Studies

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Project Overview

Client: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Location: HM Naval Base, Portsea, Portsmouth

Sector: Heritage, Public Attraction, Defence-Adjacent Estate

Scope: Public Wi-Fi, Secure Operations Connectivity, Wireless Infrastructure

Environment: World-class visitor attraction within the UK’s largest active naval base

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is one of the UK’s most visited heritage destinations, home to internationally significant vessels and museums. At the same time, it operates within and alongside the Royal Navy’s largest active naval base, requiring heightened care around security, segregation, and operational sensitivity.

Cyber Ware was engaged to deliver a modern connectivity platform that would support public visitors, staff, and operational teams — without compromising security, safety, or the historic environment.

The Challange

The Dockyard needed a solution that would:

Support large volumes of public visitors with reliable, easy-to-use Wi-Fi

Enable staff and operational teams to work safely and efficiently

Respect strict security boundaries between public, operational, and restricted zones

Operate within a complex heritage environment, where cabling, fixings, and equipment visibility had to be minimal

Scale to support events, exhibitions, and seasonal peaks

Coexist with nearby active military operations without risk or interference

Above all, the solution had to be robust, secure, and discreet — delivering modern capability without detracting from the experience or the setting.

Our Approach

Cyber Ware approached the Dockyard as a multi-layered estate, not a single venue.

We began with detailed planning and surveys to understand:

Visitor flow and density

Building materials and signal behaviour

Security zoning and access requirements

Interference from surrounding infrastructure

From there, we designed a segmented wireless architecture, ensuring:

Public Wi-Fi was logically and physically isolated from operational networks

Staff and contractor access was secured and controlled

Performance remained consistent even during peak visitor numbers

Every aspect of the deployment was delivered with minimal visual impact, using carefully positioned access points and discreet cabling routes to preserve the historic character of the Dockyard.

Just as importantly, the network was designed to integrate with wider estate systems — supporting operational communications, safety processes, and future digital services.

The Outcome

The Dockyard now benefits from a connectivity platform that quietly underpins both the visitor experience and day-to-day operations — even within one of the UK’s most sensitive environments.

Visitors enjoy reliable public Wi-Fi, improving engagement, navigation, and dwell time

Staff and operational teams have secure, dependable connectivity to support safety, coordination, and daily tasks

Network traffic is fully segmented, protecting restricted operations while enabling public access

The solution scales effortlessly for events, exhibitions, and seasonal surges

All infrastructure blends into the environment, preserving the Dockyard’s historic integrity

Crucially, this has been achieved without compromising security, compliance, or heritage value — demonstrating how modern connectivity can coexist with both history and live operations.

Solution Architecture (at a glance)

While discreet by design, the underlying architecture is robust and future-ready:

Segmented wireless networks for public, staff, and operational use

Secure authentication and access controls

Centralised monitoring and performance management

Resilient design suitable for high-density public environments

Architecture aligned to security and compliance requirements of a defence-adjacent estate

This approach ensures the Dockyard can continue to evolve digitally while maintaining full control and confidence in its infrastructure.

From Heritage to the Future

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard proves that even the most complex environments — heritage sites, public attractions, and active operational estates — can be connected safely and intelligently.

By working closely with the Dockyard team and respecting both history and security, Cyber Ware delivered a solution that supports millions of visitors while operating seamlessly alongside one of the UK’s most important naval facilities.