Case Study: UNESCO achieves reliable, secure global Wi‑Fi with HPE Aruba Networking

Aruba Wi-Fi + ClearPass + AirWave, a winning combination at all UNESCO sites worldwide

UNESCO, the UN agency headquartered in Paris that hosts conferences and cultural events across a complex of buildings and 65 global offices, needed reliable, high‑performance Internet for visitors and secure access for staff. The challenge was to deliver consistent Wi‑Fi coverage across large public spaces and conference rooms (including a 1,400‑person hall) while providing controlled employee access and simplified administration.

UNESCO deployed Aruba 802.11ac AP‑225 access points (110 APs) managed by a 7200 series controller, with ClearPass for NAC and AirWave for network management; public users use a captive portal while ClearPass provides 802.1x authentication, device certificates and automated policy assignment for staff. The result: a stable, high‑performance, secure network with no failures since 2004, easy administration, excellent throughput even in high‑density rooms, and an ongoing rollout of Aruba IAP‑205s to 65 offices worldwide.

UNESCO

Gyula Bognar

Network Manager