Plan and document your VLAN architecture with subnet allocation, inter-VLAN routing, access control lists, and port assignments.
Effective VLAN segmentation improves both network performance and security by isolating traffic between departments, guest networks, and critical systems. This planning worksheet helps UK businesses design their VLAN architecture from scratch or restructure an existing setup. It covers subnet allocation, inter-VLAN routing configuration, access control lists, and switch port assignments to ensure a well-organised and secure network.
Network engineers and IT administrators at UK businesses who are designing, restructuring, or documenting their VLAN architecture for improved network segmentation and security.
Separate traffic by function, such as staff devices, guest WiFi, VoIP phones, and servers, assigning each its own VLAN and subnet. Most UK SMEs start with 4 to 8 VLANs depending on complexity, with inter-VLAN routing and access control lists restricting traffic between segments as needed.
Isolating guest WiFi onto its own VLAN prevents visitors from reaching internal servers, printers, or staff devices, significantly reducing the impact of a compromised guest device. This is one of the simplest and most common network segmentation improvements UK businesses make.
There is no fixed number, but a typical small office might use separate VLANs for staff, guest WiFi, VoIP, servers, and management traffic, so around 4 to 6 VLANs. Larger or multi-site networks often add more for departmental or compliance-driven segmentation.
Assign VLAN IDs and naming conventions, calculate subnets and IP ranges for each, plan inter-VLAN routing rules, and map switch ports to their assigned VLAN. This worksheet gives a structured format for designing a new VLAN layout or documenting an existing one before restructuring it.
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