Simplifying and securing student and staff access to wireless / wired networks
Welcome to our Regional Support Centre Update
From working with our University, College and School customers, we have been asked on many occasions to provide updates on our work within the Education arena, to the surrounding Institutions who may find the information relevant to their particular environment. Having spoke to directly to the RSC's, it has been recommended to provide this information via our website so that any interested College can contact us directly as opposed to be 'harrassed' by cold calling sales people.
The main topic of this update is based around providing a flexible and secure means of allowing different types of users and their devices, access to key services on Wireless and Wired Networks.
Simplifying and securing student and staff access to wireless / wired networks
Over the past 18 months, there has been a huge growth in the demand for secure and flexible network access to key resources within Universities, Colleges and Schools. This was commonly driven by Halls of Residence environments, where the Institutions wanted to allow students to use their own laptops, PCs to gain access to the network. However, more and more Institutions now want to allow a wide range of users from staff and students to contractors and guests, access to their main campus networks without comprising security or creating support head aches for IT staff.
Wireless networking is increasing, students and staff want to roam with their computing devices and the experience between wired and wireless network access should be identical.
In order to address all of the key concerns when providing a flexible Network Access Control Service, we have been implementing the Bradford Campus Manager solution into over 50 Institutions who have had a wide range of requirements to allow secure network access, especially over Wireless networks. From our customer installations to date, our solution has addressed the following:
| Concern | Solution |
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Security- Allowing unknown users / devices on to our networks? |
BCM will ensure that only allowed and authorised users can access the network by forcing authentication whether over Wired or Wireless. |
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Since the device is not managed by us, how do we know its not vulnerable, therefore taking down our network with Virus or Spyware Outbreak? |
BCM can scan the device to ensure it has the appropriate level of protection (e.g. Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware) as set by the College, before allowing access. BCM can scan for; All or 1-2 Anti-Virus or Anti-Spyware Applications, OS Patches, Unauthorised Applications (e.g. Skype, P2P software), with full support for Microsoft, Apple Mac and Linux Operating Systems. |
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What happens if the device is vulnerable? |
It will then fail the scan and be switched into a quarantine network. The user will then be shown why they failed and be provided with links to self heal / remediate their device. Network Access will not be provided until they have successfully self healed their device. |
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Does the device need any software installed on it to be scanned? |
No, the BCM policy scan is client-less, no software has to be installed on to the device for it to be scanned. Also Administration rights are not required by the user. Firewalls do not have to be turned off either. |
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What is the IT Staff overhead? |
Very minimal, the BCM system will provide easy steps for the allowed users to understand the process of gaining network access without calling IT support staff. One of our customers used to get around 2000 calls per week for the first 2 months of term, after Campus Manager was installed, they had 186 calls over 7 months. |
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What information will the system provide? |
BCM is also a network element management solution. It will provide a full audit of all devices on the network including printers, servers, switches, Wireless Access Points. It will also provide client specific information such as IP and MAC address, Username, location, time, device health, what applications are being ran. |
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What is the typical feedback after BCM has been installed and is running on a network?
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Khipu Networks provide a range of products to compliment Bradford Campus Manager, these include Alcatel Aruba next generation wireless networks where we have experience of implementing both systems integrated together into Schools, Colleges and Universities.
Having worked with a number of Colleges to understand not only their technical but their commercial requirements too, we have put together a College-based pricing model for the solution, which has been very well received by our customers. As well as the pricing model, we also provide lease arrangements, as a result of customer demand, for Colleges and Schools over 3 and 5 year periods in order to fund the solution without the capital outlay. For further information on prices, please contact Khipu.
Information Links (please click on the following):
Bradford Campus Manager for Education Environments (with customer case studies)
Pre-Summer Incentives for Bradford Campus Manager
Enterprise Wireless (and request a free site survey)
Track and locate your assets over the Wireless Network
If you would like further information on our Bradford Campus Manager solution and Wireless offering, please contact us or register your interest
"During the evaluation stages, the Khipu team ensured that all of our NAC requirements were met, tried and tested. The Bradford Campus Manager System, along with Khipu's technical expertise and experience within the NAC arena, proved to be the best solution out there for our Cisco wired and wireless networks, hence our decision to award the Khipu team the NAC contract. The solution will be rolled out across our entire student and campus networks to secure and manage the users and devices that connect into our environment"
Amin Pradhan IT Director - Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies
With our new student laptop scheme, where we provide free laptops to all undergraduate students starting their first year at the college, we needed to ensure that our wireless and wired networks would be protected from these and the returning 2nd and 3rd year student devices, since we are not managing or maintaining them. The investment into the Campus Manager System, will allow us to control and manage student device access to ensure they are not ridden with problems such as Viruses and Spyware before accessing our clean network
David Riggs, IT Manager - College of St Mark and St John
