Banking on its game-changing cloud platform, Cloud4Wi emerges as the power player in enterprise Wi-Fi solutions segment

Wi-Fi signals can be intercepted by unauthorized individuals, who can then eavesdrop on network traffic and steal sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal data. Hackers can insert themselves between a user and a Wi-Fi network, intercepting and modifying data as it is transmitted.

Moreover, weak passwords can be easily cracked by hackers, allowing them to gain access to the network and steal sensitive data. Unauthorized access points can be set up by hackers to mimic legitimate Wi-Fi networks, tricking users into connecting to them and giving away their personal information. Wi-Fi networks can be vulnerable to malware attacks, which can infect devices connected to the network and steal or damage data.

With that said, we’re thrilled to present Cloud4Wi — it enables enterprises to offer a seamless and secure Wi-Fi access, while enhancing user experience and driving business outcomes – without any additional workload for IT staff. It serves clients globally.  

Cloud4Wi was founded in 2014 and is based in Brooklyn, New York.

CIO Bulletin reached out to Andrea Calcagno, co-founder and CEO of Cloud4Wi, and here’s what he had to say.

“Cloud4Wi enables enterprises to employ a lean IT strategy. This way, they can simply create and operate their Wi-Fi services, especially across distant sites, and save on the total cost of ownership by 30% while also easing the pressure on their IT department.”

Interview Highlights

Q. How can you secure a Wi-Fi network in a corporate environment?

Cloud4Wi provides a solution that is compliant with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint and the WBA industry-standard framework for WBA OpenRoaming, which is based on Passpoint.

The purpose of Passpoint is to increase the security of Wi-Fi networks. This technology ensures users are authenticated before accessing a network, and employs a variety of protocols and standards - such as certificate-based authentication and encrypted communication - to maintain high security.

Under the certificate-based authentication protocol, Passpoint uses digital certificates to verify users and devices. Similarly, under the encrypted communication protocol, Passpoint uses encryption to protect the communication between the user/device and the network. This prevents every form of eavesdropping on the network. The protected network credentials protocol allows Passpoint to keep network credentials securely on the user’s device, making it impossible for cybercriminals to access them.

Furthermore, the Wi-Fi Alliance has certified Passpoint, attesting to its compliance with all necessary security standards. Also, the central management of Passpoint networks enables network administrators to swiftly identify and respond to security concerns.

Q. In what way do you simplify Wi-Fi management?

Cloud4Wi enables enterprises to employ a lean IT strategy. This way, they can simply create and operate their Wi-Fi services, especially across distant sites, and save on the total cost of ownership by 30% while also easing the pressure on their IT department.

Cloud4Wi’s clients only need a few clicks to launch their customized Wi-Fi experience. By leveraging templates and a single cloud-based dashboard, they can simply design and manage their Wi-Fi services across all their locations worldwide, without having to manually configure and update each access point. Additionally, clients don’t need to replace their current Wi-Fi network because Cloud4Wi is seamlessly interoperable with the majority of Wi-Fi manufacturers. All they need to do is add Cloud4Wi on top of their existing Wi-Fi network.

Even better, clients can easily keep track of how much Wi-Fi is being used at each location. They have access to a variety of tools they might need, such as a health system dashboard, troubleshooting logs, Wi-Fi connection logs, and custom reports. Cloud4Wi also enables its clients to seamlessly move data to and from any existing third-party platforms. In addition to offering a comprehensive selection of APIs, webhooks, and gateway interfaces, the company can create custom integrations with its clients’ existing mission-critical systems (such as the marketing stack).

Moreover, Cloud4Wi offers a sophisticated toolkit for managing global data compliance effectively, streamlining workflows, and making routine tasks easier to complete. This framework includes processes for localizing policies and consent, managing consent, processing parametric data, and enforcing retention policies. 

Q. Why do leading global enterprises rely on Cloud4Wi?

Clients have chosen Cloud4Wi for its innovative technology as well as exceptional customer service. With both areas of expertise, we ensure satisfaction and success every time.

Leading global enterprises including Albertsons, Aldi, Burger King, Campari Group, Carmila (Carrefour Group), Guess, Gruppo FS Italiane, Prada Group, Puma, Raia Drogasil, and Valentino rely on Cloud4Wi to help them achieve their business goals.

To date, we have connected over 150 million mobile users across 70,000 locations in more than 150 countries.

“Inclusion of Cloud4Wi in our list of ‘5 Best Secure WiFi Solutions Providers’ speaks volumes about its organized innovation culture.”

Q. What solutions do you provide? What are their key features?

Cloud4Wi offers enterprises a cloud-based Wi-Fi solution that enables them to provide a seamless and secure Wi-Fi access while improving their user experience and achieving business goals.

The following four differentiators characterize Cloud4Wi’s enterprise Wi-Fi platform.

• Next-gen WiFi

As previously mentioned, Cloud4Wi’s solution complies with the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint and the WBA industry-standard framework for WBA OpenRoaming. These technologies address the challenges the Wi-Fi industry is presently dealing with, especially subpar user experience and limited security.

• On-site experiences

Cloud4Wi enables enterprises to utilize Wi-Fi events and Wi-Fi users’ behaviors to create whole new user experiences at their locations, with and without mobile app.

• Integrations

Cloud4Wi seamlessly integrates with the enterprises’ mission-critical systems to streamline their existing operational processes, enabling complex integrations suited to particular needs.

• Comprehensive compliance framework

Cloud4Wi helps enterprises comply with data regulation on a global scale.  In accordance with the individual consents obtained and local data protection compliance regulations, the company enables enterprises to carefully regulate the processing that applies to each customer contact.

Talk about your journey with the industries you currently serve.

Cloud4Wi’s journey has been characterized by a commitment to innovation and a focus on meeting the specific needs of its clients in a variety of industries. By providing a powerful enterprise Wi-Fi platform, the company has helped enterprises across many sectors (including retail, shopping centers, transportation, recreation facilities, and more) streamline the management of Wi-Fi services while driving business outcomes.

Andrea Calcagno | CEO & Co-Founder

Andrea Calcagno has spent the last 20 years working in the retail, technology vendor, and telco-media sectors, where he developed strong professional ties with top Fortune 500 leaders on a global scale.

He started his career at Telecom Italia Labs in Turin, where he performed advanced research and development activities on mobile access networks, receiving international patents on mobile broadband architectures.

He holds a master’s degree (summa cum laude) in telecommunications engineering from the University of Pisa.

“Leading global enterprises including Albertsons, Aldi, Burger King, Campari Group, Carmila (Carrefour Group), Guess, Gruppo FS Italiane, Prada Group, Puma, Raia Drogasil, and Valentino rely on Cloud4Wi to offer seamless and secure Wi-Fi access.”