Revitalise education with a modern campus network

格雷格Kovich

2024年3月18日

一个现代, campus-wide network upgrade aligns capabilities with academic, research and business priorities today and tomorrow. 

In the 1970s memory-programmable controls and computers first appeared. That made interconnected 设备 possible, and by the early 2000s we had the internet in the palms of our hands. Today, Generation Z – those born between 1996 and 2010 –has never known a world without data sharing.

Doesn’t that mean it’s time to revitalise the way we teach?

一个现代 campus network makes it possible for academic institutions to unleash a raft of engaging and personalised teaching options that leverage digital age 技术. 大量用户, data, 设备, 应用程序s and systems can be supported end-to-end across wired and wireless networks, including off-campus locations. With fast access to the high-capacity bandwidth, 应用程序s and services that transform the learning environment are readily available.

Before an educational institution modernises its campus network, 在这里 are a few points to guide decision-making.

1. 为灵活性而构建

The first thing to consider is the fast-changing nature of technology. That means no educational institution can be certain of its long-term requirements. These uncertainties make it even more important to choose network approaches and 解决方案 that will continue to make sense and pay off in the long term.

Five factors give educational institutions the flexibility to manage network expenses and evolution in a way that will maximise network benefits and return on investment.

• Flexible deployment models with the ability to move to the cloud at your pace

• 灵活的财务模式, including a more predictable Network-as-a-Service model that minimises upfront investment and accelerates network upgrades

• Built-in features and functions with no extra fees or deployment effort for a faster, easier approach to advancing network capabilities

• Comprehensive network 解决方案 that ease adoption of advanced tools, 技术, 应用程序s and services without compatibility issues

• Environmentally friendly 解决方案 that reduce power and cooling requirements to lower energy consumption and achieve sustainability goals

2. Defend against cyberthreats

Cyberthreats are real – and even more so with online teaching.

Educational institutions should adopt a Zero trust network access (ZTNA) security 策略. 与ZTNA, 没有用户, 设备, or 应用程序 has implicit trust – no matter w在这里 it is located – which is the most effective way to reduce internal and external risks and manage the ever evolving cyberthreat landscape.

T在这里 is no specific technology or solution set that makes a network zero trust. Instead, every network solution must support mechanisms that contribute to the zero trust paradigm. 这些机制包括:

• 端到端加密 of every hardware and software element in the network to protect communications and information from origin to destination

• Unified network access control so that IT teams can consistently define which users, 设备 and 应用程序s can access different types of functionality

• Consistent 应用程序 of security policies across hardware and software elements from the same product family reduces the risk that different policies or policy versions will introduce vulnerabilities in the network

• Integration of network 解决方案 with existing or best-of-breed cybersecurity 解决方案, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, leads to a consistent and context-aware approach to cyberthreat mitigation

3. 流线提高效率

Education leaders should look for network 解决方案 that make it faster and easier for IT teams to deploy new 应用程序s and services and keep the network running at peak performance. This will save time and money and also reduce the burden on IT teams, allowing them to focus on strategic priorities rather than routine and mundane tasks.

Simplicity starts with 一个单一的 network infrastructure, 一个单一的, unified operating system and 一个单一的-pane-of-glass network management platform. 解决方案 must be straightforward and intuitive to increase operational efficiency and reduce the need for staff training. Software-defined 解决方案 and the ability to automate workflows will minimise the need to perform manual tasks to further streamline network operations.

Network 解决方案 that are based on open standards are designed to easily interoperate with other systems and 技术. 结果是, IT teams can avoid the hassles and additional points of failure and vulnerability that are introduced when adapters, converters and workarounds are required to overcome incompatibilities.

最后, network 解决方案 must come with simplified, 一站式服务的许可, strong warranties and technical support services. These elements are essential to eliminate unexpected, hidden fees as new or different requirements emerge and to ensure every network element provides maximum value over its lifespan.

现代化的伙伴

升级为现代, campus-wide network is a significant undertaking, and the technology partner’s approach to network infrastructure and 技术 is critical. A converged network that aligns network capabilities with academic, research and business priorities today and tomorrow is the optimal approach from operational and financial perspectives.

Academic institutions should work with a network partner that provides deep experience, technical expertise and a flexible, 具有成本效益的方法.