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California Lutheran University Deploys ReefEdge to Secure and Manage Its Wireless Campus
Ft. Lee, New Jersey and Thousand Oaks, California, February 24, 2003 -- ReefEdge, Inc., an industry leader in wireless network infrastructure products, today announced that California Lutheran University has deployed the ReefEdge Connect System on its Thousand Oaks, California campus. The system is used primarily to guard against rogue wireless networks, authenticate student and faculty users, control access, and maintain connectivity across subnets. Additionally, the system can be managed remotely and is easily scaleable to support current and future needs.
We see a wireless campus as a "must-have" in order to keep attracting top quality students and faculty. Additionally, if we don't supply our students and faculty with wireless, they will do it themselves,says Zareh Marselian, Director of Technical Services at California Lutheran University. We wanted to guard against people setting up multiple wireless networks that would prevent user authentication for other network users or lead to sensitive information flowing out of the university. Rogue access points also tend not to be configured properly, putting the entire network's security at risk.
The main campus deployment began with two science buildings and quickly expanded to include seven other academic buildings. Funding for the wireless LAN came from a Science and Engineering grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation, one of the nation's largest philanthropic organizations.
CLU is using the ReefEdge Connect Server for enterprise-strength security through user authentication, setting real-time access control privileges for an unlimited number of user groups, location-based access control, and Dynamic IPSec encryption. Its seamless mobility and session persistence keeps networked applications and connections alive even when users move between floors or buildings within the campus. In addition, the ReefEdge solution works with multiple wireless technologies, multiple vendors' equipment, and multiple connected devices. It was critical that CLU's wireless network be vendor-neutral since there is no mandate on the type of network card a user must have.
The wireless network allows faculty, staff and students to access the Internet, send and receive e-mail and conduct research in areas other than desks and offices. A user simply needs a CLU e-mail account and password, a laptop and a wireless card that CLU makes available through its Information Systems and Services office. Wireless access is currently available in eight CLU buildings, including the Centrum Cafe. In addition to the buildings, CLU's wireless provides access in various common areas outside where students relax and do some work.
We were very pleased that the wireless LAN deployment was up and running very quickly and came in far under what we had budgeted for,says Marselian. ?With the extra funds, we outfitted twelve members of the science faculty with laptops equipped with wireless cards, and also purchased a laptop cart for instructional purposes.
The wireless LAN is providing the CLU faculty with a flexible way to unplug e-learning from the wall port, introducing more-dynamic situations in which instructors and students can exploit networked content quickly and collaboratively. CLU instructors are utilizing rolling laptops in labs to create labs where there previously had not been one.
Having a wireless network really gives us a lot of flexibility, says Biology Professor David Marcey. During class, Marcey encourages students to access the Internet via the wireless network. It brings the power of computing into labs and classrooms in ways we've never had before,? Marcey added.
In addition, visiting lecturers are accessing the network to demonstrate their work while students access data networks to study DNA sequencing and other scientific research. The new connectivity option is also helpful to commuter students who have previously had to rely on the availability of open computer labs while on campus, but can now work online between classes or whenever they like without being restricted by the open lab hours.
The wireless network will soon expand to the student dormitories. Access points will be added to every dorm, and a series of ReefEdge Edge Controllers will operate at the network?s edge and enforce addressing, authentication, access control, and encryption. The Edge Controller appliances will interoperate with existing access points (802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, Bluetooth, etc.) while simultaneously supporting wired network connections.
We are delighted to help California Lutheran University develop a world-class wireless campus that supports mobility, security for student and faculty information, and easy management for network administrators,said Ajei Gopal, CEO of ReefEdge. As other leading institutions begin to plan their wireless networks, they will look to CLU as a great example to follow.
About ReefEdge
ReefEdge (www.reefedge.com) leads the WLAN industry with award winning innovative solutions that enable enterprises to deploy, manage and secure their mission critical wireless networks. Through world-class channel partners and system integrators, ReefEdge provides comprehensive, open solutions that integrate wireless LANs with existing network infrastructure and services such as voice and data applications. Founded in 2000 and privately held, ReefEdge is led by an executive team with extensive experience in the mobile wireless and data networking industries. ReefEdge's corporate headquarters are in Fort Lee, NJ with a European Development Center in Rennes, France, sales offices across the U.S. and worldwide distribution.
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