Setting Up a Complete UniFi Network for Your Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hey everyone! Juan David here, Flytec’s Tech Lead Support and UniFi Certified Trainer, ready to help you build a complete UniFi network for your business. Whether you’re new to UniFi or expanding your setup, this guide will walk you through everything you need—from setting up wired and wireless networks to adding security cameras, door access, and phones, all with UniFi.

Step 1: Download the UniFi Apps and Get Started with UniFi Site Manager

Before diving into hardware, let’s start with the basics. To keep all your UniFi devices manageable in one place, download the UniFi Network app and head to the UniFi Site Manager at unifi.ui.com. The Site Manager gives you one interface to monitor and control all your UniFi equipment across multiple sites, whether it’s your main office, branch locations, or remote setups. This will be your central control hub for all the hardware we’re about to cover.

Step 2: Choose a UniFi Cloud Gateway for Network Management

The Cloud Gateway will act as the management and firewall hub for your network. You have a couple of solid options depending on your setup:

• UniFi Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max): Ideal if you prefer a desktop-mounted setup.
• UniFi Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro): Great for rack-mounted setups and offers powerful performance for larger networks.
• UniFi Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE): Adds PoE capabilities, making it a great choice for setups with multiple PoE devices like cameras and access points.
• UniFi Dream Machine Pro Max (UDM-Pro-Max): A high-performance option with dual hard drive bays for ample storage and support for larger networks

Both the UCG-Max and UDM-Pro allow you to manage your entire UniFi network from one place, and they include advanced firewall capabilities to secure your business network.

Step 3: Select PoE Switches to Power Your Devices

Next up, you’ll need Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches to provide power and connectivity to devices like cameras, access points, and phones. Here are a few top recommendations:

• USW-Lite-16-POE: If this is a smaller setup, the USW-Lite-16-POE is compact and versatile, perfect for essential PoE needs.
• USW-Pro-24-PoE: A reliable 24-port switch with PoE+ capability, which can handle most standard UniFi devices.
• USW-PRO-MAX-48-POE: Offers higher power output with PoE++ support and 48-ports, making it a strong choice if you’re using devices that require higher power, like certain access points or door security systems.

These switches give you flexibility in powering your devices, allowing you to scale and expand as needed.

Step 4: Setting Up Your Wireless Access Points (APs)

For reliable Wi-Fi coverage, you’ll need UniFi Access Points (APs). Here are a variety of top options to meet your specific networking needs:

• U7-Pro: This AP is high-performance, delivering fast speeds and covering large areas, making it great for high-traffic business spaces.
• U7-Pro-Max: A high-performance Wi-Fi 7 access point, ideal for handling dense, high-traffic environments with blazing fast speeds and superior coverage.
• U7-Outdoor: Designed for outdoor use, this AP extends Wi-Fi coverage to outdoor areas with weather-resistant capabilities.
• U6-Mesh: A versatile Wi-Fi 6 AP designed for seamless indoor and outdoor deployment, with weather-resistant capabilities and flexible mounting options.
• U6-Mesh-Pro: An upgraded version of the U6-Mesh, providing enhanced performance and coverage, ideal for high-demand indoor and outdoor scenarios.
• U6-Lite: A compact, affordable Wi-Fi 6 access point, perfect for smaller spaces or setups with fewer connected devices.
• U6-LR: A Wi-Fi 6 long-range access point, delivering extended coverage and excellent signal strength for larger spaces.

These APs ensure seamless connectivity across your workspace, providing stable Wi-Fi for all wireless devices.

Step 5: Adding Security Cameras

To keep your business secure, UniFi’s camera lineup offers excellent surveillance options with seamless integration into your UniFi setup. These high-definition cameras provide reliable monitoring:

• UVC-G5-Bullet: Ideal for versatile indoor and outdoor coverage with a compact design.
• UVC-G5-Dome: Best for discreet indoor monitoring with a wide-angle view to cover larger spaces.
• UVC-G5-Pro: A high-performance option offering 4K resolution and excellent low-light capabilities, designed for demanding environments.
• UVC-G4-PRO: A premium camera featuring a gigabit Ethernet port for high-speed connectivity and the ability to record at up to 50 fps, delivering smoother and more detailed footage compared to other models.

These cameras connect easily through the UniFi Protect application, allowing you to monitor all areas of your business directly from your UniFi Cloud Gateway.

Step 6: Secure Access Control

For door access and security, UniFi offers a comprehensive range of access control devices tailored for modern business needs.

• UniFi Access G2 Pro Starter Kit (UA-G2-SK-Pro): This kit provides all the essential components for managing secure entries and supports various authentication methods like PIN codes, NFC cards, and biometrics. It’s perfect for securing one door with a professional experience. The kit includes:
  • 1 x Door Hub (UA-Hub-Door): Acts as the central controller for door access, managing connected devices.
  • 1 x G2 Reader Pro (UA-G2-Pro): A high-performance reader for primary access, supporting PIN codes, NFC cards, and biometrics.
  • 1 x G2 Reader (UA-G2): Designed for door exit or as an additional entry reader (a second Hub is required for use on a second door).
  • 2 x Pocket Keyfobs (UA-Pocket): Preconfigured NFC keyfobs for easy user access.
• UniFi Access Doorbell (UA-Doorbell): Adds video and audio communication to your access setup, allowing you to see and interact with visitors through the UniFi Access application.
• UniFi Access Chime (UA-Chime): Complements the access control system by providing customizable audio notifications for entry events, ensuring a seamless visitor experience.
• UniFi Access Hub EAH-8: A powerful hub designed to manage up to 8 doors, making it ideal for large-scale installations.
  Note: Unlike the G2 Kit, the EAH-8 does not include access readers or access Keyfobs, which must be purchased separately to complete the setup.

These devices integrate smoothly with the UniFi Access application, enabling you to configure, monitor, and manage your access points effortlessly. Whether you're securing a single door or scaling up to multiple access points, UniFi Access solutions provide flexibility and robust security for any business environment.

Step 7: UniFi Phones for Business Communication

The Phone Touch Max (UTP-TouchMax) is UniFi’s top-tier VoIP phone, offering seamless integration into your UniFi network. With a touchscreen interface and easy access to contacts, extensions, and voicemails, this phone is perfect for businesses needing reliable, high-quality communication tools.

Bringing It All Together

Here’s a recap of the components you’ll need to build a complete UniFi network environment for your business:

1. UniFi Cloud Gateway: For centralize network management with options like the UDM-Pro for rack-mounted setups, the UDM-SE for added PoE, the UCG-Max for a desktop-mounted design, or the UDM-Pro-MAX for larger deployments with enhanced capacity and dual storage bays. These gateways provide seamless integration and robust firewall capabilities.
2. PoE Switches: Depending on your power and port needs, consider the USW-Pro-24-PoE for high-demand power setups, the USW-Pro-MAX-24 for maximum scalability, or the USW-Lite-16-POE for smaller installations.
3. Wireless APs: Reliable WiFi coverage is essential, and UniFi offers excellent options like the U7-Pro for high-performance indoor spaces, the U7-Pro-Max for dense, high-traffic areas, and the U6-LR for extended range in larger environments. These APs provide flexible, stable connectivity tailored to your needs.
4. Security Cameras: To enhance your surveillance setup, consider the UVC-G5-Bullet for versatile indoor/outdoor use, the UVC-G5-Pro for advanced image quality, or the UVC-G4-Pro, which offers gigabit connectivity and 4K resolution for critical applications.
5. Door Access: Secure entries with the UA-G2-SK-Pro, a complete starter kit for one door, or expand with the EAH-8 for up to eight doors. Add the UA-Doorbell for video communication or the UA-Chime for custom entry alerts.
6. Phones: The UTP-TouchMax is perfect for handling all business communications.

Each component integrates seamlessly with UniFi, providing a unified, easy-to-manage solution for businesses of any size. By setting up your UniFi network this way, you’re building a robust, scalable system that will grow with your business.

Happy networking, and as always, if you need more guidance, Flytec has you covered!