Case Study: Transforming Campus Connectivity for an Educational Institution with Unifi Technology

Ensuring Network Capability for NOW and Years to Come

INTEGY recently partnered with an educational institution to overhaul its outdated wired and wireless network infrastructure. The project involved replacing aged fibre cabling, upgrading switches, deploying a new wireless network, and segmenting network devices into secure VLANs. All these upgrades were implemented using the Unifi range of network equipment.

The result was a modern, high-performance network that significantly improved both connectivity and security across the campus.

Project Scope and Challenges

The educational institution faced several challenges with its existing network infrastructure:

Outdated and Unreliable Infrastructure: The network comprised old fibre optic cabling and a mix of 1Gbps and 100Mbps switches from various vendors. This setup limited the network’s potential, causing inconsistent performance across devices.
Substandard Wi-Fi: The existing wireless solution was out of license for updates, resulting in poor coverage and reliability issues.
Complex Network Management: The cabling in the switches was disorganised, making network management cumbersome. Additionally, all devices were on a single network segment, posing both performance and security risks.

INTEGY’s Approach

To address these challenges, INTEGY implemented a series of strategic upgrades using Unifi’s advanced network technology:

Fibre Optic Replacement:

OM4 Fibre Cabling: The outdated fibre optic cabling was replaced with OM4 fibre, providing the campus with reliable, high-speed connectivity capable of supporting current and future network demands.

Switching Upgrade:

Unifi 10Gbps Switches: We deployed new 10Gbps Unifi switches across the campus, ensuring all devices could benefit from high-speed internet connectivity. These switches were sized appropriately to handle the network’s demands, including access points and Teams phones.
Cable Management: Each communication cabinet was reorganized with properly installed Unifi switches, cable management solutions, and new patch leads. This eliminated the disorganized cabling and simplified network maintenance.

Wi-Fi Improvement:

Unifi Wireless Access Points: We deployed new Unifi wireless access points, strategically placed to optimize coverage and performance. This upgrade addressed the previous Wi-Fi coverage problems and provided a reliable wireless network for students, staff, and visitors.

Network Segmentation and Security:

VLAN Implementation: Devices on the network were categorized and segmented into their own VLANs, improving both performance and security. This segmentation was managed efficiently through Unifi’s centralized management system.
Guest Access Management: We implemented a guest Wi-Fi solution using Unifi technology, allowing the institution to provide time-limited internet access through vouchers, ensuring controlled and secure guest access.

Management and Monitoring:

Single Pane of Glass Management: With Unifi’s management platform, administrators now benefit from a centralized management solution, providing visibility and control over the entire network from a single interface. This has streamlined network operations and improved response times to issues.

Collaboration and Partnership

A key success factor in this project was the strong partnership between INTEGY and the client’s site team. While INTEGY led the overall network design and implementation, the client’s team played an active role in the deployment process. Notably, the client’s site team installed all 60 new Unifi wireless access points across the campus, demonstrating effective collaboration and shared ownership of the project.

Results

The project successfully delivered a modern, robust network infrastructure that has transformed the client’s campus connectivity:

Enhanced Performance: The entire campus now enjoys high-speed 1Gbps internet connectivity, with devices efficiently categorized and secured within VLANs.
Improved Wi-Fi Coverage: The new Unifi wireless network provides reliable coverage across the campus, meeting the needs of students, staff, and visitors.
Simplified Management: Network administrators can now manage the entire network infrastructure from a single interface, improving efficiency and reducing operational complexity.
Secure and Scalable: The upgraded infrastructure not only meets current needs but is also scalable to support future growth and technological advancements.

Conclusion

INTEGY’s successful deployment of a new wired and wireless infrastructure using Unifi technology for this educational institution demonstrates our commitment to delivering tailored, high-performance IT solutions. By working in close partnership with the client’s site team, we were able to overcome significant challenges and provide a network infrastructure that enhances both performance and security.

Call us today on 01392 796525 or Email us at ask@integy.co.uk

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