From the Edge In: How to Build a Secure, Scalable Network for the Hybrid Enterprise

The hybrid enterprise is here to stay—and your network needs to catch up.

Between remote employees, cloud-based applications, mobile devices, and satellite offices, today’s network perimeter doesn’t exist.
Security, performance, and manageability now have to extend from the edge in—across campuses, branch locations, and home offices alike.

So how do IT leaders build a network that’s both scalable and secure, without multiplying complexity or creating blind spots?

With Extreme Networks’ edge-to-core architecture, powered by PCS, you can support a hybrid infrastructure that adapts as fast as your workforce moves.

The New Reality: IT at the Edge

In traditional models, traffic flowed in predictable paths—from user to datacenter. Security was centralized. Control was local. That world is gone.

Now, CIOs and network teams face challenges like:

• Decentralized users and devices
  Employees connect from home, on-site, or on the move—using both company and personal devices.
• Exploding attack surfaces
  Every access point, IoT device, and branch location introduces new risk if not properly segmented and managed.
• Disjointed management tools
  Multiple vendors and platforms make consistent visibility and control nearly impossible.
• Delayed provisioning for new sites
  Opening a new branch or location still takes weeks—or worse, requires flying out IT staff.

What Edge-to-Core Networking Looks Like with Extreme + PCS

Modern network infrastructure must be identity-aware, cloud-managed, policy-driven, and zero-touch from Day 1.
Here’s how PCS helps enterprises build that kind of architecture with Extreme Networks:

Unified Visibility Across All Locations with ExtremeCloud™ IQ

Manage everything from a single dashboard—core switches, branch APs, remote users, and IoT endpoints—regardless of where they’re deployed.

Identity-Based Access from Edge to Core

With integrated ExtremeControl, users are granted access based on who they are—not where they connect. That means consistent security policies, whether they’re in HQ or at a café.

Zero-Touch Branch Deployment

Through Fabric-enabled switches and cloud-based provisioning, PCS helps you spin up new sites in minutes, not days, with zero on-site configuration.

Built-In Segmentation and Threat Containment

Reduce lateral movement and isolate threats instantly using dynamic network segmentation—no need for complex VLAN redesigns.

Flexible Integration with Hybrid Infrastructure

ExtremeCloud IQ plays well with multi-vendor environments and public cloud services, giving you true agility without lock-in.

Case Study: Scaling Without Sacrificing Control

PCS recently partnered with a fast-growing enterprise expanding from a single HQ to five remote branch offices and a fully hybrid workforce.

Using ExtremeCloud IQ and Fabric-based edge switching:

• All branches were brought online in under 2 weeks
• Centralized policies were deployed once, enforced everywhere
• Network uptime across the enterprise increased by 99.9%
• IT reduced site visits by over 75% in the first quarter alone

The result? Security, performance, and agility—without the chaos.

Why PCS Makes Edge-to-Core Work

Extreme’s technology is powerful—but real transformation requires expertise. PCS brings:

• Strategic network design and assessments
• Custom configuration and cloud onboarding
• Policy development and security enforcement
• Ongoing support for growth, compliance, and optimization

Whether you’re a growing school district, distributed enterprise, or multi-site organization, PCS helps you design for what’s next—not just what’s now.

Build the Network Your Hybrid Enterprise Deserves

Supporting a modern workforce doesn’t mean sacrificing performance or security.
It means designing a network that works from the edge in—with control that scales as you do.

Book a Network Strategy Session with PCS and learn how to future-proof your infrastructure today.