Modernising Network Infrastructure

About

The University of Huddersfield is a highly rated public research institution in West Yorkshire, UK, renowned for its exceptional teaching and career-focused approach.  It holds a prestigious TEF Gold Award for teaching excellence and boasts a strong employment record, with 94% of undergraduates securing work or further study within 15 months of graduation 

Background

The University of Huddersfield released a Network Tender in 2023 stipulating a modern Wired and Wireless networking solution to replace its ageing Broadcom Network Switches and Aruba 300 Series Access Points. 

Some of the key stipulations included:

  • Zero Trust Architecture
  • 99.999% availability
  • Unified Wired and Wireless Network Access Control
  • Campus and Data Centre micro-segmentation
  • Cloud first management
  • Wi-Fi 6E experience monitoring

The existing wired and wireless environment was no longer capable of supporting the increasing number of connected devices, growing bandwidth demands and evolving education applications.  As a result, users experienced inconsistent wireless performance, reduced capacity during peak periods, and areas of poor coverage across the Campus.

To support the Universities digital transformation programme, EE was engaged to design and deliver a complete replacement wired and wireless infrastructure, including the following professional services:

  • Wireless and Wireless solution design
  • Zero Trust architecture and advanced Cloud Based managed solution
  • Comprehensive high and low-level design documentation
  • Project management
  • Installation, configuration, testing, and commissioning
  • On-site knowledge transfer
  • Staff training with HPE Aruba courses and EE knowledge transfer
  • User and operational documentation
  • Full solution handover and project closure

Challenges and Solution

To modernise its campus network and support future digital initiatives, the University of Huddersfield required a high-performance, secure, and scalable infrastructure capable of meeting increasing demands for wireless connectivity, network resilience, and Zero Trust security. The existing environment needed to support growing numbers of users and connected devices while simplifying network management and improving operational visibility.

European Electronique delivered a comprehensive Aruba Networking solution, deploying Aruba Wi-Fi 6E technology with Aruba AP-635 Series Access Points across the campus.  Managed through Aruba Central, the new wireless infrastructure has significantly increased network capacity, improved performance, and delivered seamless, secure connectivity for students, staff, and visitors.

Aruba ClearPass provided secure network access control, enhanced visibility, and policy-based authentication.  Together, both platforms deliver proactive monitoring, simplified troubleshooting, and improved security, reducing operational overhead for the Universities Networking team.

To strengthen network security, Aruba ClearPass was implemented to provide intelligent network access control, role-based authentication, and comprehensive visibility of users and devices connecting to the network.  Combined with Aruba Central’s AI-powered monitoring and analytics, the University can proactively monitor network performance, simplify troubleshooting, accelerate issue resolution, and reduce the operational burden on the IT team.

Supporting the University’s Zero Trust strategy, EE also deployed Aruba CX10000, CX8360, CX8100, and CX6300 series switches, creating a secure, resilient, and highly scalable wired network.  Aruba Central licensing provides unified cloud-based management across both the wired and wireless environments, giving the University’s networking team a single pane of glass for configuration, monitoring, policy management, and lifecycle operations across the entire campus infrastructure.

Results

The new network infrastructure provides the University of Huddersfield with a secure, resilient, and future-ready digital platform that underpins the University’s long-term technology strategy through the deployment of an advanced Aruba-based Zero Trust architecture.

The solution delivers high-performance wired and wireless connectivity across the campus, providing a robust foundation for teaching, learning, research, and day-to-day operations.  Students, academic staff, professional services teams, and visitors now benefit from reliable, secure access to critical university applications and digital services, wherever they are on campus.

By implementing Aruba Central and ClearPass, the University has gained a centrally managed network with AI-powered monitoring, intelligent automation, and enhanced operational visibility.  These capabilities enable the IT team to proactively monitor network health, rapidly identify and resolve issues, simplify day-to-day administration, and optimise performance across the entire estate.

The modernised infrastructure supports the University’s strategic objectives by delivering:

  • High-speed, resilient wired and wireless connectivity across the campus.
  • Increased network capacity and scalability to support growing numbers of connected users, devices, and bandwidth-intensive applications.
  • Enhanced security through a Zero Trust approach, with role-based network access and policy enforcement for users and devices.
  • Improved visibility through advanced analytics, reporting, and real-time performance monitoring, enabling proactive management and informed capacity planning.
  • Greater operational efficiency through centralised management, automation, and simplified network administration, reducing operational overheads and improving service delivery.
  • A scalable, future-ready platform that enables the University to support emerging technologies, digital transformation initiatives, and evolving educational requirements.

The modernised infrastructure directly supports the Trust’s strategic objectives by delivering:

  • High-speed, resilient wired and wireless connectivity across the hospital estate
  • Increased network capacity to support modern clinical devices and applications
  • Enhanced visibility through advanced analytics, reporting, and performance monitoring
  • Improved operational efficiency through centralised management and automation
  • A secure network architecture with continuous monitoring and policy-based access control
  • A scalable platform capable of supporting future digital

Business Benefits

The network transformation has delivered significant operational and educational benefits, providing a modern, resilient infrastructure that supports both current requirements and future digital initiatives.  Key outcomes include:

  • High-performance, reliable connectivity across the campus, ensuring consistent access to digital learning resources, applications, and online services.
  • An enhanced user experience for students, academic staff, and support teams through improved wireless coverage, faster network performance, and seamless connectivity.
  • Greater operational efficiency through centralised network management, enabling IT teams to simplify administration, reduce manual effort, and accelerate troubleshooting.
  • Improved resilience and service availability, minimising downtime and ensuring critical teaching, learning, and business applications remain accessible.
  • Stronger cyber security and network access control, providing greater protection for users, devices, and institutional data while supporting secure access across the campus environment.
  • Comprehensive network visibility and analytics, enabling proactive monitoring, improved capacity planning, faster issue resolution, and data-driven decision-making for future.

Conclusion

The University of Huddersfield now benefits from a modern, resilient, and highly secure network infrastructure that provides a robust foundation for both current operational needs and future digital transformation initiatives.

The upgraded wired and wireless network delivers reliable, high-performance connectivity across the campus, empowering students, academic staff, and professional services teams with seamless access to the digital applications and resources they rely on every day.  By combining centralised management, intelligent automation, enhanced security, and a scalable architecture, the University has strengthened its ability to deliver an exceptional digital experience while reducing operational complexity.

With a future-ready platform in place, the University is well positioned to embrace emerging technologies, support evolving teaching and research requirements, and continue delivering secure, reliable, and high-performing network services for years to come.