U San Diego Controls Guest Wireless Access with Avenda Systems

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 07/24/09

The University of San Diego has deployed eTIPS from Avenda Systems to accommodate guest activity as a component in its campus-wide network access security initiative. The eTIPS access control system consists of a network appliance, Avenda's application GuestConnect, and Microsoft Network Access Protection agents.

"We looked at a number of competing guest access solutions that could not offer the level of security and access features that we required," said Doug Burke, IT director. "My team did a fantastic job working with Avenda to put together a wireless access solution based on identity. This is a big win for us, since it was very easy to implement and customize and meets all our requirements and standards for Web access."

Avenda's solution provides the university with the ability to offer self-registration and payment or promo code payment options. According to university officials, it was a major requirement for the solution to remove the IT team from the account creation process and integrate with USD's existing CASHNet compliant payment tool to provide a real-time means of verifying the identity of campus visitors.

"The Avenda product is exceptionally easy to use and deploy; it provides good classification between users and delivers amazing reporting tools," Burke said. "Users tell us that the new portal is very logical and easy to walk through. As an added bonus, we no longer receive calls that there's a problem using wireless guest access."

The initial engagement between USD and Avenda was prompted by Avenda's Migration Program. The new solution from Avenda replaces a previously purchased platform from Identity Engines, now part of Nortel Networks. Besides offering a platform trade-in allowance, Avenda provided policy assessment and deployment assistance.

Avenda's solution integrates with USD's existing Aruba Networks wireless controllers, which is important due to a move to 802.1X network access control. USD also plans on integrating Avenda into its Cisco switched network later this summer as future plans include extending guest access to USD's wired network and implementing port-based switch security.