Fashion Institute of Technology Deploys Aruba Networks Wireless LAN with ClearPass Access Management
Fashion Institute of Technology Deploys Aruba Networks Wireless LAN with ClearPass Access Management System
New Network Solves Density and RF Interference Issues;
Provides Secure, Reliable Campus-wide Wireless Access for Students and Guests
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aruba Networks, Inc. (NAS: ARUN) , a leading provider of next-generation network access solutions for the mobile enterprise, today announced that the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), an internationally-recognized college for design, fashion, art, communications, business and technology that is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, is deploying an Aruba wireless LAN (WLAN) with the ClearPass Access Management System at its New York City campus. The new WLAN, which is designed to deliver secure, reliable campus-wide access as well as comprehensive guest access and management, overcomes a number of Wi-Fi challenges inherent in FIT's urban location. It also supports the high bandwidth multimedia, video and real-world industry programs in use in the College's academic environment while enabling the college to manage the burgeoning number of mobile devices being brought onto campus due to the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend.
FIT's urban location presented many challenges to the College's prior WLAN solution from Meru Networks. These challenges included an average building height of 10 stories for FIT's academic, residential and event buildings, a high level of RF interference, and high population density. With the previous WLAN solution, FIT students regularly complained of a poor Wi-Fi experience, with slow performance and unreliable service. As a result, many rogue APs were brought onto campus, creating management issues for the College's IT department.
The prior WLAN also had trouble accommodating the thousands of guests coming onto campus, many of whom carry multiple personal wireless devices that need secure, appropriate access to the College's network. This plethora of guests includes prospective students and their families visiting the College, visitors to the numerous FIT facilities that are rented daily for outside events and patrons of The Museum at FIT, one of a select group of specialized fashion museums that draws 100,000 visitors each year.
After a thorough review of solutions from a wide range of vendors, including Cisco, FIT selected the Aruba WLAN and enlisted Vandis, a leading reseller, integrator and consulting firm from Albertson, New York to manage the deployment. Once complete, FIT's new WLAN will include over 1,000 Aruba AP-135 access points, Aruba 7240 mobility controllers, the Aruba AirWave Network Management System and the Aruba ClearPass Access Management System. By enabling FIT to manage network policies, securely onboard and manage devices, and admit guest users, ClearPass will allow FIT to accommodate BYOD while improving the security of the wireless network.
"When selecting our new WLAN, we looked for a solution that would deliver secure, reliable network access for our students and staff, as well as comprehensive, easily managed guest access," said Gregg Chottiner, VP of Information Technology and CIO for FIT. "It was also important for the WLAN to be robust enough to support the innovative and often high-bandwidth educational applications we utilize in our classrooms. One of FIT's strengths is the strong connections we have with the industries we serve. So we try to employ applications that are in widespread use in those industries, to provide our students with real-world career experience and preparation. The Aruba WLAN with ClearPass meets all of our requirements and will enable us to continue building on and improving our content-rich instructional programs while providing all of our network users with consistent, secure network access."
Because FIT is a premier art and design school, as well as a business school, the new WLAN will support a number of unique applications that are not found at other colleges and universities. These include a wide range of Adobe Software products, film, illustration and computer graphics programs, and real-world industry programs that have been adapted to run in a higher education instructional environment, such as product development and product lifecycle management applications. FIT students use these industry applications to gain the work experience and knowledge they'll need to secure jobs in their selected fields after graduation.
In addition to industry programs, the new WLAN will support applications such as the ANGEL Learning Management System, a mobile app for the Banner administrative software application, wireless printing, physical access and video surveillance, smart podiums, Apple TV and Bonjour. It will also enable students to connect and work from anywhere on campus including classrooms, laboratories, the library, common areas and dorm rooms.
"FIT's unique urban environment presented many challenges to its prior WLAN solution, including high density and a high level of RF interference," said Gerry Festa, Director, Industry Solutions Marketing for Aruba Networks. "The new Aruba WLAN is designed to overcome these issues and will allow FIT to continue its tradition of providing students with a state-of-the-art academic experience based in real-world applications while ensuring safe, dependable guest access - an important capability for any college or university with a high volume of visitors to its campus."
About Aruba Networks, Inc.
Aruba Networks is a leading provider of next-generation network access solutions for the mobile enterprise. The company's Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE) architecture unifies wired and wireless network infrastructures into one seamless access solution for corporate headquarters, mobile business professionals, remote workers and guests. This unified approach to access networks enables IT organizations and users to securely address the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) phenomenon, dramatically improving productivity and lowering capital and operational costs.
Listed on the NASDAQ and Russell 2000® Index, Aruba is based in Sunnyvale, California, and has operations throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions. To learn more, visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com. For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter and Facebook, and for the latest technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products visit Airheads Social at http://community.arubanetworks.com.
© 2012 Aruba Networks, Inc. Aruba Networks' trademarks include the design mark for AirWave, Aruba Networks®, Aruba Wireless Networks®, the registered Aruba the Mobile Edge Company logo, the registered AirWave logo, Aruba Mobility Management System®, Mobile Edge Architecture®, People Move. Networks Must Follow®, RFProtect®, Green Island®. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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