News
Some colleges rejecting iPad due to network, security concerns
Some US universities are rejecting the iPad from their campus networks due to connection and security issues. The Wall Street Journal reports that both George Washington University and Princeton University have disallowed usage of the iPad due to security issues. GWU said its wireless network’s security features don’t allow the iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to connect to its network, while Princeton said it has proactively blocked about 20% of the devices after noticing malfunctions that could cause problems for the entire system. In addition, Cornell University has reportedly seen connectivity issues and is also worried about heavy bandwidth usage. Cornell’s information technology director, Steve Schuster, told the WSJ that the school is “working to ensure the iPad does not have devastating consequences to our network,” adding that when the iPhone arrived on campus it overwhelmed the network’s bandwidth capabilities. Despite these challenges, at least two schools — Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania and George Fox University in Oregon — plan on giving every incoming student either an iPad and a MacBook or a choice between the two when they arrive on the campuses this fall.
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1
Let’s be honest, if adding another class of wifi client that’s effectively identical to an existing one has “devastating consequences” to your network, your network needs serious work anyway. And maybe you need to get a competent network engineer to do it for you.
I can see that organisations like Universities would like to evaluate the iPad before they allow it free reign on their wifi networks but that language is utterly hysterical and frankly unprofessional. Are they going to say the same every time a new Android phone comes out? Or when Windows 7 phone devices start appearing? Bunch of halfwits, frankly.
Posted by Jonathan White on April 17, 2010 at 2:06 AM (PST)
2
No way, this must be why I couldn’t get on the wireless network at the university of Michigan! If I change my user agent I should be able to make them think I have some ore device..
Posted by Kevin on April 17, 2010 at 6:02 AM (PST)
3
Brilliant.
Not only is this paranoia ridiculous, it will be moot when the 3G iPads are out.
Like comment #1, I’m wondering about the IT talent pool on campus.
Posted by Stephen on April 18, 2010 at 9:30 AM (PST)
4
If the iPad were a Microsoft product there would be no such fearful, paranoid pronouncements.
Why Microsoft-centric IT people consider the iPad any different from any other networkable wi-fi device is a complete mystery.
The fact that the iPad is an Apple product and the IT industry suffers from elective amnesia, still believing gross misconceptions about Apple, the Mac, iPhones, iPads, etc., dating back to the 1980s, continues to boggle the mind.
Posted by jeffharris on April 18, 2010 at 3:38 PM (PST)
5
Unbelievable. Weak IT dept. at this universities. My coffee shop can handle my iPad connection.
Posted by J on April 19, 2010 at 2:53 AM (PST)
6
Some universities have implemented a network connection process to verify that the system is not infected, is patched, and has proper anti-virus /firewall / anti-spam. I don’t know if apple or anyone else has answers for what that looks like. that may be what is lumped under “security reasons”.
It would be cool if Apple published a whitepaper on securing your iPad, similar to what they did for Leopard (I don’t think that the securing Snow Leopard guide is out yet.)
Posted by Jim on April 19, 2010 at 8:15 AM (PST)
7
The number of devices being used probably wasn’t planned for and because people are roaming the network is getting killed. Schools are having people register devices now so that they can plan better. Schools are buying controllers to help with the roaming issues. Band Steering is helping to keep devices on separate channels for balancing. 802.1X can help make sure that IP addresses are being used up when people are not actually connecting. Identity-based NAC platforms can help automate the registration process, manage 802.1X, etc…
Sounds like some of these schools need to spend some money on infrastructure and IT help.
Posted by Trent on August 24, 2010 at 9:25 AM (PST)