This project will consolidate the wired and wireless networking equipment at UNK, UNL, UNO, and Greater Nebraska (Curtis, research locations, and extension offices across the state) into a single solution. Almost all existing network equipment and services will need to be replaced by June 30, 2021. This includes replacing over 2,300 switches and 10,000 wireless access points in over 325 buildings across the University system.
Scope of Work
UNK |
UNL |
UNO |
209 Switches |
1,169 Switches |
611 Switches |
1,117 AP's |
4,924 AP's |
988 AP's |
41 Buildings |
194 Buildings |
40 Buildings |
Benefits
- Increase building network speeds from 2 GB to 20 GB and address known low-performing wireless areas and dead spots to provide a better student learning/living experience.
- Standardize and improve guest wireless onboarding experience across the university for events and programs.
- Realize $6.36M in incentives from bulk purchasing versus independent campus purchases — in addition to more than $15M in contractual savings — to replace equipment that is at end-of-life or will be in the next 12 months.
- Improve scalability and support efficiency by implementing a single, modern solution across all locations.
- Improve security by grouping user roles and endpoint security posture.
- Access will follow a user regardless of location or wired/wireless connection, assuming they have a legitimate password and meet any minimum device requirements we set.
- We will be able to maintain the openness of a university, but hackers will no longer be able to walk on to campus and get access via a jack.
Also, if a device on the network is compromised, it will no longer be able to see other computers on the network to attack.