Secure network access and reliable data transmission are particularly vital when it comes to educational institutions. An infrastructure tailored to everyday learning supports all usage scenarios, such as individual research, video conferencing and teamwork via digital platforms. The integration and management of stationary and mobile end devices—some of which come from the private sector and which still need to be protected from third-party threats—are also a necessity. It is therefore all the more essential to have a secure, intelligent and, in particular, flexible network.
Requirements of modern building networking
Bandwidth is no longer solely the most critical requirement for building networking. Rather, the focus is to have secure and reliable connections for smooth data transfer at a time when collaborative learning, digital interaction and agility are gaining in importance. The network infrastructure forms the necessary foundation for modern and future-oriented teaching and learning scenarios.
Against this backdrop, it is crucial to ensure that IT networks are as flexible as possible, thereby allowing them to be adapted quickly to changing requirements and fields of application. These requirements and applications include flexible teaching and learning concepts, but also building automation and Industry 4.0 scenarios. In addition, the cable infrastructure needs to support the connection of WIFI access points that enable high data rates, in order to use applications that require a huge amount of bandwidth.
The increased use of digital tools and collaboration solutions also places high demands on network bandwidth. And not forgetting real-time communications applications, which rely on short latency times. The increasing number of end devices in the network is exacerbating this bandwidth issue. It is therefore important when designing building cabling that the network will not need to undergo costly retrofitting after a brief period. Flexibility, scalability and easy integration of IoT components therefore prove to be critical factors for an investment-proof and future-proof network solution.
Flexible and application-neutral building cabling
As a result, variable IT networks and adaptable cabling are essential to ensure that current and future challenges are overcome. In terms of implementation, care should be taken that financial resources and personnel are within the limits to adapt to new requirements and application scenarios—and, as much as possible, without interrupting ongoing operations.
Structured or universal building cabling based on the EU standard EN 50173 can meet all of these requirements. This cabling is characterised by a uniform, star-shaped topology and a classification of transmission links with defined properties. Unlike unstructured cabling, structured cabling is not tied to dedicated application fields and therefore is synonymous with a service-neutral and universal cable infrastructure. The cabling is divided into three areas: the primary area (cross-building campus network), the secondary area (backbone cabling within a building) and the tertiary area (workplace cabling). For each of these areas, the EU standard defines the requirements for cabling quality. These specifications in combination with standardised components facilitate the necessary adjustments with minimal effort.
Resilience and reliability
Maintaining resiliency is critical to ensuring smooth operation and continuous access to resources and applications. High availability can be ensured by implementing a redundant network topology with alternative paths. Load balancing techniques ensure efficient utilisation and distribution of network resources at peak times. Ultimately, organisations should not neglect performing regular backups.
Another important and related factor is devising and implementing emergency plans that provide clear accountability and provide the initial steps required to quickly restore network operations. Continuous monitoring of the network and its associated components thanks to network management tools helps to detect faults at an early stage and to initiate remedial measures.
Protecting against data theft and unauthorised access
According to the 2022 Global Risks Report, 82% of cyber attacks are directed against educational institutions. Phishing and Trojan malware are the preferred methods, which means that humans may be considered the biggest vulnerability. In addition, universities and colleges are constantly striving to use new technologies to facilitate the most inclusive learning approaches possible. The security architecture therefore requires granular network segmentation and maximum protection of user identity.
The zero trust principle is therefore advised. For example, access should only be set up with minimum permissions, thereby helping to prevent the risk of intentional or accidental manipulation. In addition, this puts a stop to the common tactics of lateral movement: If cybercriminals have gained access to the network by compromising a single account, they attempt to incrementally work through by extending permissions and capturing additional accounts to admin status, so that they can quickly access an organisation’s most critical data.
Proper network segmentation is therefore essential. It can prevent both external and internal attackers from gaining access to permissions on the network. For this purpose, it is necessary to establish systems for private and controlled data that must be treated confidentially. Low-priority activities can be assigned to a dedicated area on the network to support the private devices of students and employees as well as usage by guests. It must also be ruled out that users of the university network can access sensitive data in the administrative network. Strict separation of local networks therefore represents a secure solution — something that is already practised in schools. In this case, strict separation between the administrative network and the educational network has also proved effective. This ensures that both groups are treated as separate entities and that they do not have access to sensitive data from the other network.
Questions that public institutions need to answer in advance
To implement a future-proof solution, organisations must not only consider their current needs, but also consider what future requirements the cable infrastructure will need to meet in the years to come. The following aspects come into play:
- Which applications are to be used in the future, and what requirements do they place on the cabling and the building network? The answer to this question affects the network’s adaptability and bandwidth requirements.
- What path would the institution like to take with regard to new teaching and learning models? Are there new possible ways of collaboration in terms of the administration of the educational institution? Integrating external employees into the network would also need to be taken into account.
- Which development could the networking of building management components take? To what extent are technologies such as Power over Ethernet (for powering end devices), WIFI or 5G campus networks to be integrated?
“If nothing else, the pandemic has demonstrated the opportunities offered by new, hybrid learning models. However, these models require agile, flexible networks that do not compromise IT security. For educational institutions that do not have the necessary technical expertise in the field of intelligent building networking and the establishment of digital structures, it makes sense to employ experienced network experts who also ensure a high degree of future and investment security”, explains Thomas Kruse, Product Manager at reichelt elektronik.
Conclusion
To ensure that the existing network is fit for current and future requirements, a thorough analysis of the current state is required, during which the active and passive network components undergo testing. This process will also reveal any weaknesses in the current infrastructure. After all, performance problems with real-time application usage or data backup could be caused by cabling. The second step is to develop a long-term strategy for the building infrastructure and process structures based on the institution’s requirements. Employing and utilising the expertise and support of network professionals to plan, select, install and commission the appropriate components really pays off.
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