In December 2022, Technology Services at Texas A&M University launched a newly revamped and more secure guest wireless network. The new experience replaces the old process which required visitors to submit an email or phone number in order to gain access and wait for approval. Now, when campus visitors click to join the Texas A&M campus network, they are directed to a splash page asking them to agree to the terms and conditions, much like requesting to join a hotel guest network. Once guests have agreed to the terms of service, they are immediately granted five days of internet access. 

This new network also provides a more secure environment for visitors and campus members. All internet traffic is directed to a demilitarized zone (DMZ), a more secure and isolated area outside the front gates of a network’s firewall, giving Texas A&M’s cybersecurity team the ability to monitor online traffic more efficiently. 

For a university as large as Texas A&M, network security is critical. An unsecured Wi-Fi network can leave users vulnerable to various security threats. Determined hackers could introduce malware to devices sharing the same network if it is not properly secured. Guest wireless networks allow cybersecurity teams to restrict and monitor activity of guests. To put it simply, it gives visitors access to an internet connection and nothing else. 

By streamlining and upgrading the guest wireless network, the Texas A&M campus community and its guests can continue with their visits as planned, in a more efficient and secure manner.