Case Study: New College, University of Oxford achieves simplified wireless access, full device visibility, and enhanced security with Bradford Networks' Network Sentry

Network Sentry Meets New College’s Detailed Technical Requirements

New College, one of the largest colleges at the University of Oxford, needed a way to support campus-wide wired and wireless access while keeping authentication seamless and secure. With a diverse mix of student-owned devices, a Novell e-directory backend and 3Com switches, the IT team required dynamic port management, VLAN-based access control, guest provisioning, device visibility and automated checks to reduce virus outbreaks — all without intrusive client-side software or heavy administrative overhead.

Bradford Networks’ Network Sentry was deployed and integrated with the college’s Novell environment to provide out-of-band, profile-based onboarding, dynamic switched-port control, VLAN assignment and device scanning. The result was simplified student and guest access, faster provisioning, the ability to detect and shut down rogue access points, enforced security updates to curb infections, and much greater visibility and control that saved IT time and strengthened campus network security.

New College University of Oxford

James Dore

IT Officer