Campus networks: what are they and why do they matter?

When you hear the term “campus network”, you might think of a sprawling university landscape bristling with technology. But these networks are not exclusive to educational institutions. They offer a centralized way to manage and distribute digital services in a range of settings, including industrial, healthcare and retail organizations.

However, managing these networks can be complex. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of campus networks, the challenges involved and the solutions.

What is a campus network?

A campus network, also known as a corporate area network, is a digital network that links buildings and infrastructure within a specific geographic area, such as a university campus, a hospital or a business park. It facilitates communication among digital devices, users and services within this locality.

Normally, a campus network is smaller and faster than a wide- or metropolitan-area network. It’s designed for flexibility, efficiency and seamless interconnection, making it an ideal solution for a range of organizations.

Where you’ll find campus networks

Corporate environments

Here, the campus network lays the foundation for employee and customer experiences and powers applications – including supporting rapid deployment. It also facilitates data access, storage and analytics, and is a crucial enabler of governance and compliance measures.

Education

In an educational setting, a campus network connects classrooms, student housing, libraries and administrative buildings. It is typically designed to promote information-sharing and support the learning process, enabling communication between students and faculty members.

The network also facilitates online learning by connecting students to digital resources and applications, irrespective of their location on the campus, and supports administrative activities such as student enrolment, records management and staff communication.

Financial services

Financial services institutions use campus networks for various purposes. Within the enterprise, the campus network supports including secure communication between departments, branches and offices. It also enables the seamless sharing of critical financial data and applications, fast and secure transaction processing (for example, when a low-latency network is required for trading floors and data centers) and the storage of sensitive data.

Manufacturing and industrial

Industrial institutions use campus networks to connect their manufacturing plants, warehouses and corporate offices to facilitate efficient communication and data sharing.

Campus networks play a key role in the digital transformation of manufacturing processes. They facilitate the real-time data exchange between production-line elements, enable remote monitoring and control of processes, and support predictive maintenance by connecting sensors and IoT devices.

Healthcare

In a healthcare setting, campus networks act as a vital link between departments, patient rooms, operating theaters and laboratories. They facilitate secure access to critical medical data and applications to improve patient care and the overall productivity of an institution. They can also enable telemedicine and support real-time patient monitoring.

Key challenges of campus networks

Managing a campus network can sometimes be complicated, especially if your organization has multiple campus locations or complex infrastructure.

User experience

A major obstacle in managing a campus network is providing a consistent user experience across campuses. Factors such as network congestion due to high traffic, obsolete network hardware or faulty network designs can lead to slower load times, service interruptions or inconsistent network performance that compromises productivity.

Campus networks should therefore be part of a broader network strategy that takes into account elements such as network design, hardware and software.

To combat efficiency issues, you can invest in high-capacity, high-speed hardware and optimize your network design for traffic flow. You can use network-monitoring tools to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement, and upgrade your aging hardware to improve load times.

Working with an expert partner can be helpful in guiding your organization to select compatible and reliable network hardware and software. They can also provide ongoing network support services to identify and resolve potential issues speedily.

Security

Most campus networks serve a multitude of users and devices, each with varying levels of usage, security awareness and hygiene. Weak links in your network can be exploited, leading to breaches and financial and reputational damage. Campus network security is therefore essential to protect your sensitive data from cyberattacks.

From network design to hardware and software selection, every step should prioritize security considerations, and you need to adopt a proactive approach. This includes implementing strong firewalls, conducting regular network audits and training your users on best security practices.

Furthermore, having a robust incident response plan in place is crucial to minimizing the impact of security breaches.

Consulting services can play a significant role here: security experts can give you real-time insights into possible security threats and recommend countermeasures. They can also help your organization align your hardware and software strategies with your security needs.

• ALSO READ → Accelerating your network: 10 ways to deliver a race-ready network every day

Campus networks: self-manage or outsource?

Given the complexities of managing a campus network, you may think twice before deciding to take this on in-house. Yes, self-managing a campus network puts you in full control, allowing you to tailor your network services to your needs and preferences. But it also involves a substantial investment in resources, including skilled staff, hardware and software. It also requires ongoing maintenance and updates, which can divert resources from other vital areas.

Outsourcing network management to a dedicated service provider can reduce the burden on in-house staff and keep costs in check. Managed network services maintain the efficiency and security of your campus network, including hardware and software. Working with a trusted provider will also give you access to the precise levels of customization and control you need.

• ALSO READ → Network as a service: how to choose the right provider

Implementing a campus network

Implementing a successful campus network requires thoughtful analysis of a host of elements, including a network architecture aligned with your business outcomes, the selection of hardware and software, and security precautions.

Network architecture

Designing your network architecture is a detailed process that includes identifying the optimal location for the main server, considering factors such as accessibility, security and infrastructure. It also includes mapping out the buildings that will be networked to understand the potential routing paths and how they will be connected.

The process must also consider physical barriers such as walls or floors that may affect signal strength and, therefore, the overall performance of your network.

Hardware

Hardware and software form the backbone of your campus network. On the hardware side, routers, switches, servers and cables are key components. They assist in directing traffic, interconnecting parts of the network and storing information.

However, you have to update these components regularly to keep them performing optimally and securely. Issues like hardware failure, outdated equipment or improper configurations can lead to network disruptions.

Software

On the software side, a network operating system controls and coordinates network resources to guarantee maximum uptime and reliability. This includes applications such as firewall software for security, monitoring tools for performance tracking, and management tools (including predictive analytics) for configuring and maintaining your network.

An efficient operating system manages and coordinates your network resources to ensure maximum productivity.

Security

As cyberthreats escalate in number and severity around the world, a strong security system is essential to protect your network. It might include firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and security policies that ensure the safety and privacy of network users.

Ultimately, all these components have to be integrated to safeguard your campus network without affecting productivity. This requires a detailed strategy, careful execution and regular monitoring and maintenance.

• ALSO READ → What is enterprise network security?

What’s next for campus networks?

The future of campus networks promises even more flexibility and efficiency:

• Innovations such as software-defined networking (SDN) are already streamlining network management. SDN allows for centralized network control, making it easier to adjust and optimize network resources based on demand.
• The evolution of wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi 6 and 7 as well as 5G are enabling faster and more reliable connections to support the ever-growing number of IoT devices.
• AI and machine learning are also playing a significant role in improving network security, performance monitoring and troubleshooting.

As these technologies advance, there are exciting developments on the horizon for campus networks – but you have to keep investing in your network to reap the benefits.