Campus Network as a Service (CNaaS) Experience from RENU Member Institutions
Muteesa 1 Royal University
By Peace Hamba, Information Systems Manager
Muteesa I Royal University offers diverse academic and research programs, and as our institution grows, we face challenges related to network scalability, maintenance, and security due to the increasing number of users and devices, as well as expanding administrative demands. In addition to this, the institutional infrastructure was becoming outdated or obsolete, and we faced issues with scalability—many areas on campus were unreachable due to limited coverage. The surge in students bringing their own devices (BYOD) and an increase in staff members meant we needed a more robust and scalable network solution. The outdated infrastructure hindered reliable Internet access in certain parts of the campus, and this limited our ability to collaborate with other institutions. We couldn’t tap into services like eduroam, which enables seamless Internet connectivity and collaboration between institutions.
To address these challenges, we adopted the Campus Network as a Service (CNaaS) solution from RENU. CNaaS has solved these issues by offering scalable network solutions, enhanced security, and the ability to easily integrate with global research networks. RENU’s CNaaS provides us with comprehensive support, including network assessments, planning, and regular monitoring to ensure optimal performance and security. This proactive approach helps us mitigate cyber threats and maintain our network infrastructure with ease. We also appreciate the ongoing training RENU provides to our staff, which enables us to fully leverage the benefits of CNaaS.
One standout feature of CNaaS is its ability to foster collaboration. With eduroam integration, we can now connect with other RENU member institutions and participate in joint research initiatives. CNaaS also brings state-of-the-art equipment that ensures reliable, high-speed Internet connectivity across our campus.