From distributed campuses to new digital initiatives and security requirements, network engineering teams are constantly facing evolving challenges.

These expansive networks are continually growing with more devices and more applications. Cloud computing, 5G, and integrated networks are contributing to classrooms transforming into digitally sophisticated environments. The integration of IoT and distance learning into curriculums has created an even greater need for always-on connectivity.

This white paper discusses the proper solutions for educational institutions to deploy to ensure scalability, high availability, and network resilience needs are met.

Download our whitepaper to:

• Understand connectivity requirements to support distance learning
• Learn how to manage growing IoT systems
• Ensure network resilience needs are met

Ensuring Uptime In Education

Distributed campuses and new digital initiatives pose constant challenges to network engineering teams managing education networks remotely. The constant addition of bandwidth-intensive applications and the integration of distance learning due to the global pandemic has placed a strain on the network. Increasing the likelihood of an outage and with limited technical staff at each location, any type of disruption would place learning at a complete standstill.

To ensure educational processes remain running smoothly, productivity is maintained and recovery costs are kept at a minimum, these institutions need a network safeguard.

Opengear’s proven solutions ensure always-on network resilience and maximum uptime for educational institutions. Deployed by K-12 institutions and universities of all sizes, our products ensure that infrastructure is scalable and able to be managed remotely.

To learn more about the importance of network resilience in education, read our infographic!

Supporting IoT Initiatives and Distance Learning

Educational institutions are integrating more smart Internet of Things (IoT) into their educational networks. IDC predicts that in 2025 there will be more than 40 billion connected devices. Implementing IoT in the classroom is no longer just about internet accessibility, it’s about extending connectivity beyond traditional smart devices to engage students, create immersive learning experiences, and solve common challenges.

Now that distance learning has been pushed to the forefront, IoT has become even more important. The integration of distance learning into digital curriculums has increased the need for constant connectivity so that faculty and students are able to interact through digital forms of communication. Learning management systems, such as Blackboard, video calls, and discussion boards are all critical for distance learning, solely done online they require always-on access.

Managing an IoT system in this environment involves the use of alternate connectivity and dedicated management devices that provide resilient access at the edge of the infrastructure. These devices require continuous monitoring, configuration, provisioning, and remediation to provide resilience.

Watch our animated video to learn about always-on connectivity needed in education.

Provisioning New Campuses

Educational institutions are constantly expanding with some facilities that can be located across the country. The Secure Provisioning NetOps module by Opengear enables engineers at these schools to ship equipment to new locations and provision it remotely, eliminating the need for highly skilled engineers on site.

Automating the initial provisioning, configuration management and disaster recovery of remote infrastructure, an Opengear appliance is incorporated into the initial rack shipped to the location, once powered on, it calls home over the embedded cellular module. TPM safeguards are embedded into the unit to ensure that the firmware, configurations, and authentication keys haven’t been tampered with prior to installation. Lighthouse Enterprise automatically pushes image, configuration, and script files to the device which then provisions other hardware at the location. Providing secure Zero Touch Provisioning to the entire local infrastructure from one appliance, the need for human interaction is eliminated, saving educational institutions resources.

Learn more about Secure Provisioning with Opengear.