An apparatus, comprising: a controller with logic operable to control the operation of a plurality of access points communicating with a plurality of mobile wireless clients in a network; wherein the controller is configured to determine, from the plurality of mobile wireless clients, a set of mobile wireless clients running critical applications in order to maintain network availability for the set of mobile wireless clients; wherein the controller is configured to determine a location of the set of mobile wireless clients; wherein the controller is configured to select an access point of the plurality of access points for the set of mobile wireless clients, based on a proximity of the selected access point to the location of the set of mobile wireless clients, to operate in a stand alone mode; wherein the controller is configured to send a first signal to the selected access point directing the selected access point to operate in the stand alone mode; wherein the controller is configured to send a second signal to an unselected access point (106, 108) of the plurality of access points to direct the unselected access point (106, 108) to send a message to the set of mobile wireless clients (126, 128), the message directing the set of mobile wireless clients to associate with the selected access point operating in the stand alone mode; wherein the controller is configured to send a third signal to the unselected access point (106, 108) directing the unselected access point (106, 108) to switch to a non-operational mode, wherein the unselected access point (106, 108) is configured to verify that the set of mobile wireless clients (126, 128) has associated with the selected access point operating in the stand alone mode prior to switching to the non-operational mode. a controller with logic operable to control the operation of a plurality of access points communicating with a plurality of mobile wireless clients in a network; wherein the controller is configured to determine, from the plurality of mobile wireless clients, a set of mobile wireless clients running critical applications in order to maintain network availability for the set of mobile wireless clients; wherein the controller is configured to determine a location of the set of mobile wireless clients; wherein the controller is configured to select an access point of the plurality of access points for the set of mobile wireless clients, based on a proximity of the selected access point to the location of the set of mobile wireless clients, to operate in a stand alone mode; wherein the controller is configured to send a first signal to the selected access point directing the selected access point to operate in the stand alone mode; wherein the controller is configured to send a second signal to an unselected access point (106, 108) of the plurality of access points to direct the unselected access point (106, 108) to send a message to the set of mobile wireless clients (126, 128), the message directing the set of mobile wireless clients to associate with the selected access point operating in the stand alone mode; wherein the controller is configured to send a third signal to the unselected access point (106, 108) directing the unselected access point (106, 108) to switch to a non-operational mode, wherein the unselected access point (106, 108) is configured to verify that the set of mobile wireless clients (126, 128) has associated with the selected access point operating in the stand alone mode prior to switching to the non-operational mode.