Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about how ButeraNet engagements work, what's included, and what to expect.

Getting Started

How does an engagement begin?

A free 30-minute discovery call. We talk about what you have today, what's not working, and what success looks like. If we're a fit, we schedule an on-site assessment. If we're not, we tell you and recommend a better option.

What does the on-site assessment cover?

We walk the space, inventory every device, run baseline speed tests, identify dead zones and bottlenecks, and document the existing topology. You receive a written assessment report whether or not you proceed.

Do you charge for the assessment?

The first discovery call and the assessment visit are free. If you proceed to design and implementation, that work is quoted up front and approved before any equipment is ordered.

Pricing & Contracts

What does a typical engagement cost?

Network installs run from $2,500 for a small office to $25,000+ for a multi-room facility with server and compliance scope. Managed services start at $200/month. See the pricing page for the full tier breakdown.

What's the contract term?

Managed services are month-to-month with a 30-day termination clause. We don't lock clients into multi-year contracts — if the relationship isn't working, you should be free to leave.

Are there hidden fees?

No. Hardware is invoiced at cost plus a stated markup. Labor is quoted in the SOW. Monthly retainer is fixed. Out-of-scope work is approved in writing before it begins.

Hardware & Ownership

Who owns the hardware?

You do. Once we install equipment at your site, it's yours. We don't lease network gear or hold equipment hostage.

What brands do you deploy?

Standard stack: OPNsense or MikroTik for routing/firewall, UniFi for switching and WiFi, Synology or TrueNAS for on-prem storage. We choose based on the use case, not on vendor incentives.

Can I source the hardware myself?

Yes. We can provide the BOM and you can purchase directly. We bill labor only in that case and add a small coordination fee for warranty registration and configuration.

Service & Support

What's the response time?

Tier 1: 24 business hours. Tier 2 and 3: 4 business hours, with after-hours coverage for true outages. Critical incidents trigger a callback within 1 hour during business hours and 2 hours after-hours on Tier 3.

Do you offer 24/7 support?

24/7 support is available on Tier 3 and Compliance tiers. Lower tiers receive after-hours coverage for outages only. Full SLA terms in the engagement contract.

Where are you based?

Hawaii. All work — assessment, design, implementation, and ongoing support — is performed by a local engineer. No offshore call center.

Security & Compliance

Are you compliant with HIPAA / PCI / SOC 2?

We design networks that meet the technical controls required by these frameworks. The Compliance tier includes the documentation, log retention, and quarterly review cadence required by auditors. We are not auditors ourselves — we deliver the infrastructure and documentation that make the auditor's job straightforward.

What's included in security baseline?

VLAN segmentation, firewall hardening, automatic patching, MFA on admin accounts, encrypted backups, and monthly security review. This is baseline for every engagement, not an upsell.

Other Questions

I'm a nonprofit. Do you work with us?

Yes. ButeraNet is committed to one fully pro bono engagement per year for a local nonprofit, plus reduced rates for ongoing nonprofit clients. Contact us to discuss your situation.

What if I already have an MSP?

We can review the existing setup and provide a second opinion or migration plan. Transitions are scheduled around your operations — not ours.

Do you do residential work?

Generally no — we focus on business and institutional clients. For exceptional cases (home offices that need business-grade infrastructure), we'll consider it on a case-by-case basis.

Question not answered?

Email [email protected] or schedule a discovery call. We respond within 24 business hours.

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