Wi-Fi Guest Network with Splash Page & Eduroam Deployment

Secure Wireless Access Modernization for Maryland Higher Education Institution

The Challenge: Inefficient Guest Access and Limited Campus Connectivity

This Maryland university needed to modernize its wireless network to better support students, faculty, and campus visitors. The existing guest wireless system created friction for users and inefficiencies for IT staff, as guest access required manual registration and intervention. This process not only slowed connectivity for visitors but also consumed valuable internal resources.

In addition, the university lacked access to Eduroam, limiting its ability to provide seamless, secure connectivity for students and faculty traveling between participating institutions. Without Eduroam, users were unable to take advantage of a widely adopted higher education standard for secure roaming access.

The institution required a streamlined, secure, and scalable wireless solution that would improve user experience, reduce administrative burden, and align with modern campus connectivity expectations.

The Solution: Wi-Fi Guest Network with Splash Page & Secure Eduroam Integration

Data Networks delivered a comprehensive wireless modernization initiative centered on deploying a guest Wi-Fi with splash page and enabling Eduroam access. All services were performed remotely, leveraging existing infrastructure while implementing best practices for secure network access.

The team reconfigured the university’s wireless LAN using a Cisco wireless controller and Identity Services Engine (ISE), ensuring integration with a RADIUS server for authentication and accounting. A new open-access guest SSID was created with user/device isolation to enhance security.

A customized splash page was implemented to streamline onboarding, allowing guests to quickly connect while providing basic information such as name, email, and phone number, along with acceptance of the university’s terms of use. Access control lists (ACLs) were configured to segment guest traffic from internal resources while allowing appropriate internet access.

Within ISE, Data Networks configured network access devices, endpoint identity groups, guest portals, and policy conditions to support authentication and authorization workflows.

To enable Eduroam, the team integrated external RADIUS servers and configured authentication policies, allowing internal users to securely connect at other Eduroam institutions while enabling visiting users to access the university’s network. Extensive testing was conducted to validate both guest and Eduroam functionality.

The Outcome: Streamlined Access, Enhanced Security, and Scalable Connectivity

The university now benefits from a modernized wireless environment that delivers a significantly improved user experience. Guests can quickly connect through an intuitive onboarding process without requiring IT intervention, reducing operational overhead and improving efficiency.

The addition of Eduroam expands secure connectivity for students and faculty, supporting seamless access across participating institutions and aligning the university with global higher education standards.

By implementing a robust Wi-Fi guest network with splash page and enabling Eduroam, Data Networks delivered a scalable and secure solution that enhances network performance, strengthens access control, and supports the evolving connectivity needs of a dynamic academic environment.

Tags: Hi-Ed, higher education, networking