Case Study: Syracuse University achieves reliable, secure high-density Wi‑Fi and seamless site-to-site VPN for its London study-abroad program with Cisco Meraki

Delivering security and high-density Wi-Fi for higher education students abroad

Syracuse University’s London study‑abroad program was struggling with a slow, unreliable network that couldn’t support the growing number of student devices or real‑time apps like Skype. Seeking a remotely manageable solution that could join the London site to the home campus Active Directory, Syracuse University chose Cisco Meraki, deploying MX security/SD‑WAN appliances and MR access points to meet the challenge.

Cisco Meraki installed one MX70 in London and a paired MX in Syracuse linked by an auto‑negotiating site‑to‑site VPN, plus 35 dual‑radio 802.11n APs, all managed through Meraki’s cloud dashboard. The deployment included separate SSIDs (802.1X for students, guest Internet access), traffic shaping and content filtering, and AD integration; the result was reliable high‑density Wi‑Fi for 200+ students, automatic connectivity on arrival, far fewer support calls, and centralized management that eliminated the need for frequent on‑site visits.

Syracuse University

Lee Badman

Network Engineer