A separate guest Wi-Fi network gives visitors internet access without exposing your business computers, file shares, printers, and internal systems. Without one, every device that connects to your office Wi-Fi can potentially see and communicate with every other device on the same network. That means a client's laptop, a vendor's phone, or a job candidate's tablet could be sitting on the same network as your accounting software and shared files.
Setting up a guest network is straightforward on most business-grade routers and access points. This guide walks you through the process step by step.
Why a Separate Guest Network Matters
The core issue is simple: any device on your main Wi-Fi network can potentially discover and communicate with other devices on that same network. That includes your file servers, printers, point-of-sale systems, and every employee's computer.
A guest who connects to your main network with an infected laptop could spread malware to your business machines without anyone realizing it. Even without malicious intent, a visitor running a network scanner or file-sharing software could accidentally expose your internal resources.
A properly configured guest network uses network isolation to ensure that visitor devices can reach the internet but cannot see or communicate with anything on your business network. This is not just a best practice; many compliance frameworks, including PCI-DSS and HIPAA, require network segmentation as a baseline security control.
What You'll Need
Before you start, confirm you have the following:
A business-grade router or access point that supports VLANs or guest network isolation. Most business-grade equipment from brands like Ubiquiti, Meraki, FortiGate, and SonicWall supports this. Consumer routers from Best Buy or Amazon often lack proper guest isolation, which is one of several reasons they are not suitable for business use.
Access to your router's admin interface. You will need the IP address of the router (commonly 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and the admin login credentials. If you do not know these, check the label on the device or contact your IT provider.
A plan for the guest network name and password. Choose a network name (SSID) that is clearly identifiable as a guest network, such as "YourCompany-Guest." Pick a password that is easy to share with visitors but completely different from your main network password.
Step 1: Access Your Router's Admin Interface
Open a web browser on a computer connected to your office network and type your router's IP address into the address bar. Log in with your admin credentials.
If you are using a cloud-managed platform like Ubiquiti's UniFi or Cisco Meraki, log in to the cloud dashboard instead. For UniFi, navigate to unifi.ui.com and sign in. For Meraki, go to dashboard.meraki.com.
Once logged in, look for a section labeled Wireless, Wi-Fi, Networks, or SSIDs depending on your hardware. This is where you will create the guest network.
Step 2: Create the Guest SSID
Create a new wireless network with a name like "YourCompany-Guest." In most router interfaces, you will find a button labeled Add Network, Create SSID, or Add Wireless Network.
Set the security type to WPA3 if your equipment supports it, or WPA2 as a minimum. Never leave a guest network open and unsecured, even though it might seem more convenient for visitors. An open network allows anyone within range to connect without a password, which is a security and liability risk.
Choose a password that is simple enough to share verbally or print on a card, but not something obvious like "guest123" or your company name. Something like "Welcome2Office" is easy to communicate and reasonably secure for a guest network.
Step 3: Enable Network Isolation
This is the most important step. Creating a separate SSID alone does not isolate the guest network from your business network. You need to enable isolation settings so guest devices cannot communicate with your internal resources.
Look for settings labeled Client Isolation, AP Isolation, Guest Policies, or VLAN Assignment in your router's configuration. Enable these options:
Client isolation prevents guest devices from communicating with each other. This stops a compromised device from scanning or attacking other guest devices.
Network isolation (sometimes called VLAN isolation or guest network isolation) prevents the guest network from routing traffic to your internal business network. The guest network should only have a path to the internet.
On many business-grade systems, the proper way to do this is to assign the guest SSID to a separate VLAN with its own subnet. For example, your business network might be on VLAN 1 (192.168.1.x) and your guest network on VLAN 10 (192.168.10.x), with firewall rules blocking traffic between the two.
How to verify it works: Connect a phone to the guest network and try to access a device on your main network, such as a shared printer or file server. If the isolation is working correctly, you should not be able to reach it.
Step 4: Set Bandwidth Limits
Without bandwidth limits, a single visitor streaming video or downloading large files on your guest network could consume a significant portion of your internet capacity, slowing things down for your entire team.
Most business-grade routers allow you to set bandwidth limits on a per-SSID or per-device basis. A reasonable limit for a guest network is 10 to 25 Mbps download per device, depending on your total available bandwidth. If your office has a 250 Mbps internet connection, capping guest devices at 10 to 15 Mbps each ensures visitors can browse the web and check email comfortably without impacting your business traffic.
Look for settings labeled Bandwidth Control, Rate Limiting, Traffic Shaping, or QoS (Quality of Service) in your router's wireless or network settings.
Step 5: Post the Credentials for Visitors
Make the guest Wi-Fi information easy for visitors to find without requiring your team to share it individually every time someone visits.
Print a small, clean sign for your lobby, conference room, or reception area with the guest network name and password. If your office has multiple meeting rooms, consider placing a card in each one.
Change the guest password on a regular schedule. Quarterly is a good baseline for most offices. If your office has high visitor traffic, such as a medical practice or coworking space, monthly is better. When you change the password, update all the printed signs at the same time.
Some business routers support a captive portal, which displays a terms-of-use page that visitors must accept before gaining internet access. This is a nice-to-have for liability purposes but is not required for most small businesses.
What About Employee Personal Devices
Personal employee phones, tablets, and smartwatches should also connect to the guest network, not your main business network. Only company-managed devices belong on the primary network.
If your business uses Microsoft Intune for device management (included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium), Intune can enforce this distinction automatically. Devices enrolled in Intune and marked as compliant can be granted access to the business network, while unenrolled personal devices are directed to the guest network. This keeps the boundary clear without relying on employees to make the right choice.
A written BYOD (bring your own device) policy should spell this out: personal devices connect to the guest Wi-Fi, company-managed devices connect to the business Wi-Fi. Keep it simple so there is no ambiguity.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Creating a separate SSID without enabling isolation. A second Wi-Fi name without VLAN separation or isolation settings gives the appearance of security without actually providing it. Guest devices can still reach your internal network.
Using the same password for guest and business networks. If they share a password, changing one means changing both, and visitors who know the guest password effectively know the business password.
Forgetting to test isolation after setup. Always verify by connecting a device to the guest network and confirming it cannot ping or access internal resources.
Skipping bandwidth limits. A guest network without bandwidth controls is an open invitation for your internet to slow down when multiple visitors are connected.
Need Help?
Setting up a properly isolated guest network involves more than just creating a new Wi-Fi name. If you want to make sure your guest network is truly segmented from your business systems, contact Athencia and we will get it configured correctly.
