“A connected campus depends on several foundational layers working together: resilient wired and wireless networking; cloud and hybrid infrastructure; identity and security systems; and platforms that support learning, collaboration and research,” explains Nicole Muscanell, a researcher for EDUCAUSE. “Increasingly, institutions are also integrating IoT systems, such as smart buildings, energy management and physical safety technologies, into this ecosystem.”
The AI-Enabled, Microservices-Based Networking Layer
Wired and wireless networking make up the core of the connected campus, supporting real-time data, cloud services, AI-enabled tools and thousands of connected devices. This digital infrastructure is scalable, software-defined, secure by design and capable of supporting dynamic learning, research and operational environments.
“A connected campus is built on Wi-Fi 7, the next generation of access points for secure, high-performing coverage indoors and out and multigigabit and higher-powered PoE switches that can be managed centrally using an AI- and cloud-native platform,” says Mike Newcomb, field CTO for higher education at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “Ultimately, the quality of this infrastructure directly shapes the student, faculty, vendor and administrative experience.”
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A hallmark of this modern approach to networking is an AI-enabled, microservices-based cloud architecture that collects telemetry data from devices and enables the network to continuously learn, adapt and resolve issues automatically. Troubleshooting problems shifts from time-intensive inspection of individual devices to understanding and supporting the real-time experience of students, faculty and staff.
“This ensures a consistently high-quality user experience,” Newcomb says. “You can also tap into location-aware services, which are often within 1 to 3 meters of precision. Universities can then advance initiatives, such as wayfinding, automated attendance, blue light safety and asset tracking.”
A Secure Cloud Enables a Connected Campus
With the connected campus comes a reliance on cloud infrastructure and a recognition that threats can come from both inside and outside the network. Security tactics shift toward a focus on identity, context and behavior rather than network location. A zero-trust framework for managing security is required.
“Zero trust is the operating philosophy of the connected campus: never trust, always verify,” says Fadi Fadhil, director of field strategy for Palo Alto Networks. “It removes the idea of an ‘internal’ network. Whether a student is on the campus quad or at home, every request for data is verified based on identity, device health and context. In an environment as open and collaborative as a university, zero trust is what allows that openness to exist safely. It protects the ‘crown jewels,’ like sensitive research and personally identifiable information, while still allowing the free flow of information.”
DISCOVER: Quantifying cyber risk can help justify security investments.
A connected campus extends beyond the physical boundaries of a university. Students, faculty and researchers may be accessing university resources from campus, home, partner institutions and even other countries. Cloud-delivered security becomes essential using a secure access service edge (SASE) framework.
“SASE takes the security that used to live in a box on campus and puts it in the cloud,” explains Fadhil. “It ensures that a researcher in London has the same security posture and digital experience as someone sitting in the student union on campus. Instead of forcing traffic back through the campus network, security services are delivered from the cloud, protecting access to SaaS platforms, research applications, and collaboration tools.”
Safeguarding Data and Securing Collaboration
An often overlooked but essential system in the connected campus is the collaboration layer, which includes email, messaging/chat (Slack or Microsoft Teams), videoconferencing (Zoom or Google Meet), Voice over IP and collaborative workspaces (Asana or Trello). Communication, collaboration and sharing data are the lifeblood of the campus mission. Unfortunately, collaboration platforms are also a source for data breaches.
“In higher education, people are often pivoting between email and Slack or Teams,” says Ryan Witt, vice president of industry solutions at Proofpoint. “This is where the majority of breaches occur. You want to foster an ethos of collaboration and sharing data, but it needs to be secure. Having identity systems in place, knowing precisely who is on the system and what they have access to becomes really important.”
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