AI-Enabled Managed Wi-Fi Security for Enterprises | ACT

• 14
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• 12 January 2026
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• 5 minutes

 

How ACT Managed SmartWiFi Adds a Proactive Layer of Security for Indian Enterprises 

 

For Indian enterprises, a reliable network has evolved from a business enabler to becoming the very foundation of operational and financial resilience. The security of this network is now a critical boardroom concern, demanding a fundamental shift in perspective: from viewing Wi-Fi purely as a cost consideration to recognising it as a critical utility; from simply reacting to security incidents to predicting and preventing them.

The financial imperative for this shift is stronger than ever. According to IBM’s 2025 report , the average total cost of a data breach for Indian enterprises has reached a record high of INR 220 million, a 13% year-on-year increase. Moreover, operational downtime presents a parallel threat: Indian businesses face a median annual cost of USD 76 million from high-impact IT outages, with 39% of organisations experiencing such disruptive outages at least once a week.

Another noticeable trend is the increased targeting of critical sectors in India. Healthcare was the most adversely hit by cyberattackers, with 8,614 weekly attacks per organisation. Another major target is the education and research sector, which alone faces over 7,000 cyberattacks per organisation every week.

Today, many of these sectors are rapidly modernising with institutions heavily relying on open access platforms and making use of personal devices to collaborate and store high-value intellectual property and sensitive data. An expansive digital footprint coupled with a limited security budget, makes this industry a major target for attackers.

This strengthens the case for robust, intelligent network security to be a core operational requirement irrespective of the industry. A proactive, predictive approach to Managed Wi-Fi security will not just be advantageous but also essential for business continuity and risk management. >

The Predictive Power of AI in Network Security

Artificial Intelligence is the catalyst that transforms Managed Wi-Fi into an active, intelligent defence enabler. AI drives a proactive security strategy through continuous learning and adaptation.

By establishing a behavioural baseline for every user and device, an AI-driven network can identify anomalous activity in real time, such as unusual data access patterns or lateral movement that may indicate a compromised endpoint. Crucially, machine learning models can detect the patterns of novel, zero-day threats that bypass traditional signature-based tools. Most significantly, AI enables automated threat containment, where malicious devices or traffic can be isolated within milliseconds, dramatically limiting the potential impact of an incident.

Building a Proactive, Intelligent Foundation

ACT Managed SmartWiFi is engineered with this predictive security ethos at its core. It integrates AI and robust security controls not as optional features but as foundational elements of the managed service, delivering a distinct advantage built on the following key pillars:

Security Embedded in the Connectivity Layer – With ACT Managed SmartWiFi, enterprise-grade security is inherent to the network. The solution provides, role-based access control, allowing administrators to enforce strict security policies and dynamically allocate bandwidth based on user roles – all this from a single dashboard. As a result, all employees, contractors and guests operate within secure, defined parameters.

For example, a modern medical institution with an associated university campus typically needs a complex connectivity solution. They do not want an equal amount of internet to be used by all and also want to control access to sensitive data based on need or role of the user. Their Wi-Fi needs to be made more intelligent, always-on and secure.

One way to achieve this is by role-specific controlled access to ensure that students, guests, staff, and administrators operate within strictly defined and segregated network segments. Sensitive systems like student-specific private data or patient records are protected from unauthorised access. Only authorised personnel are given permission to view or manage critical assets/resources.

Continuous Intelligence for Proactive Defence: The AI platform acts as a continuous monitoring system that analyses network performance and user behaviour. This constant analysis makes it possible for the system to detect subtle anomalies that could signify a security risk, such as a device participating in a botnet or a credential being misused, enabling pre-emptive action.

This is complemented by integrated threat prevention, including advanced firewalling and intrusion detection and prevention. Relentless network monitoring ensures threats are detected in real time with any malicious traffic blocked and admin alerted before the risk can escalate.

Adherence to the latest encryption protocols: All data in transit is secured as per the latest WPA3 encryption standards to prevent any instance of unauthorised access.

Enterprise-grade URL filtering blocks access to known malicious websites, phishing pages, and inappropriate content categories, thus safeguarding the network from web-based threats.

Management for Uninterrupted Vigilance – Security is a process, not a product. ACT’s 24/7 Network Operations Centre (NOC) provides proactive, expert monitoring and complete lifecycle management. This includes managing critical security updates and firewall patches, ensuring an enterprise’s security posture never lapses due to oversight or resource constraints.

This comprehensive managed service model directly addresses another key challenge for Indian enterprises: a severe talent shortage in this niche area of security. By outsourcing the complexity of network security, enterprises can achieve a stronger security posture while optimising their operational expenditure and reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

ACT Managed SmartWiFi addresses the complexities of modern-day network security needs into actionable defence through intelligent, layered controls. These enhancements to network security are particularly welcome for enterprises such as educational institutions or healthcare providers who must maintain a safe and productive online environment for a diverse spectrum of users.

Security as a Strategic Enabler

In an era where a single incident can incur costs in the millions and erode stakeholder trust, a reactive network security model is a real business risk. The future belongs to predictive, AI-enabled systems that detect threats and prevent incidents before they occur.

ACT Managed SmartWiFi represents this essential evolution. By fusing continuous AI-driven intelligence with robust, embedded security and expert, comprehensive management, it transforms enterprise Wi-Fi from a potential vulnerability into a resilient, strategic asset. It provides the intelligent and secure foundation that will allow enterprises to operate with confidence, scale with agility and focus squarely on growth.

Enterprises are often hampered by the cost and operational complexities of managing their Wi-Fi infrastructure all by themselves without a dedicated IT team.

ACT simplifies the tangles of network security and makes it proactive by partnering with enterprises all the way from the consulting to design, installation, monitoring and support using the power of AI. ACT Managed SmartWiFi - made for your business - can become the intelligent, secure backbone that your enterprise needs for future readiness.