The Network Transformation Initiative
The Next Gen² Network Program will provide a modern, reliable, secure, and scalable network infrastructure for UW-Madison that supports university needs and delivers a seamless user experience across campus. Together, these projects allow UW-Madison’s campus to respond to current and future instructional, research, business, and operational needs within a framework that will enable timely and efficient changes within the network.
Future State
Our vision for the campus network is one that is secure and trusted, that enables seamless collaboration, and pushes the bounds of science and research. As we build the network, we will include sensitivity to instructional and research goals and policy audits.
Past and Current State
In our discovery phase, we documented the current state of the network and identified gaps that need attention in our quest to reduce complexity, increase uptime, improve agility, and reduce operational expenses within our network. Our holistic approach to discovery and implementation will help us create a secure, scalable, and flexible network allowing historic siloes and complexities to develop into a cohesive and simplified architecture.
In our implementation phase, we began work on a three-year roadmap of projects to advance toward a secure contemporary campus network for UW- Madison’s wired, wireless LAN (WLAN), wide area network (WAN), and cloud enterprise network. Projects are proposed, chartered, and managed individually under a portfolio umbrella.
Why Next Gen² Network matters…
Seamless connectivity, invisible to users across campus
As we increase the ease and simplicity of connectivity across the network, you will have a seamless user experience no matter where you are on and off campus or what you need to do.
Responsive to changing research and instructional needs
Future investments in the networking infrastructure will increase the flexibility, speed and security of our networks in support of UW-Madison's teaching and research missions.
Updates
Next Gen² Network Survey says: More connectivity, more coverage
In April 2022, the Next Gen² Network project invited UW-Madison to share opinions on how and where we could improve outdoor wireless on campus. We received 141 responses with requests for us to add or …
October 25, 2022Network Automation gets an upgrade at UW-Madison
Just as with other infrastructure on campus, IT infrastructure occasionally needs an update, too. DoIT’s Network Services team has begun automating network software for improvements, and while it likely won’t impact the average online experience …
July 11, 2022Help DoIT improve the outdoor campus wireless network
As part of the Next Gen² Network project, DoIT is building a better wireless outdoor network at UW-Madison – and we need your help. We need your assistance identifying places on campus that need better …
April 19, 2022Next Gen² Network Progress Report, Feb 2022
February 2022 updates, promising a seamless user experience across campus and reshaping the wired, wireless, and cloud-enterprise network on UW-Madison’s campus.
February 17, 2022Next Gen² Network Progress Report, Nov 2021
November 2021 updates, promising a seamless user experience across campus and reshaping the wired, wireless, and cloud-enterprise network on UW-Madison’s campus.
December 16, 2021Next Gen² Network Progress Report, Oct 2021
The Next Gen² Network initiative consists of a group of key networking projects, teams, and investments working to ensure a secure, responsive, future-ready campus network. Together, these projects promise to reshape the wired, wireless, and …
October 28, 2021Two New Discovery and Recommendation Reports are Now Available
These two new reports establish direction and formalize prospective efforts for two of our major projects, Outdoor Wireless Network and IOT/BYOD security.
August 11, 2021Next Gen² Network End of Year Update, 2020
The Next Gen² Network (NG²N) discovery initiative is designed to create a business-relevant network strategy that will ensure the wired, wireless, wide area, and cloud-enterprise network on UW-Madison’s campus are responsive to our current and …
December 16, 2020Join us for a Virtual Discovery Session
If you were unable to attend one of the discovery sessions held across campus in January, please join us for a virtual Next Gen² Network discovery session. RSVP now March 2, 2:30-3:30pm Webex Meeting Number …
February 26, 2020Next Gen² Network Discovery Exercise Updates
Charged with ensuring UW-Madison’s computer network is responsive to our instructional, research, business and operational needs, the Next Gen² Network team continues to meet with various audiences collecting information about needs and trends in network usage.
February 11, 2020- More Announcements posts
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