Enhancing UK's Internet Security and Speed
Monday, April 23, 2018
At the University of Kentucky, we constantly ask ourselves how we can enhance the living, learning, teaching, research and working environment for members of the UK community. A great example of that progress is from our cybersecurity efforts, as well as our commitment to providing high-speed internet access across our campus.
To that end, UK’s campus wireless internet will transition to Eduroam, and the old ukyedu server will be disabled at the end of the semester. The current UK HealthCare Wi-Fi networks will not be impacted at this time.
Eduroam is a secure and encrypted Wi-Fi network providing enterprise-level internet access. The switch will increase our internet security and the speed of internet on campus. Eduroam connection is available on laptops, tablets, iPhones and Android smartphones.
Eduroam originated in Europe with more than 2,000 universities before coming to the United States in 2012. Eduroam has been available for years at UK, but beginning May 8th, it will be the sole Wi-Fi open to the campus community. UK HealthCare will not be changing at this time. To view a map of where the Eduroam network is available, click here.
More than 400 other institutions in the United States use Eduroam. Therefore, when a UK student, faculty, or staff member visits one of these participating institutions, they will receive access to that Wi-Fi, without needing to request a guest account. This will benefit faculty visiting other schools, visitors attending sporting events, and students traveling within the United States and abroad.
Connecting a device to Eduroam is required once every five years. Once connected to Eduroam you will have a secure Wi-Fi as your primary Wi-Fi network on campus. Connecting to Eduroam Wi-Fi also helps you manage data overage charges.
Eduroam is intended for students, faculty, and staff use. There will also be a guest level of access for visitors from other institutions to UK, though they will not have full enterprise-level access. Guests at the University can self-register or be sponsored for temporary access to the designated UK-Guest network.
There are two ways to connect to devices to Eduroam: the certificate onboarding process or manual device configuration. The preferred method is the certificate onboarding process. For step by step instructions to connect your devices visit www.uky.edu/wifihelp.
For further questions about wireless networks at UK, please contact ITS Customer Services at 859-218-HELP (4357) or 218help@uky.edu.
Thank you for your support as we switch over to a wireless platform that will better serve our campus.
Have a great week.
Eric N. Monday
@UKYMonday
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