Organizations and educational institutes face increasing challenges in sharing their networks while being safe from security threats. From the exponential growth of IoT (Internet of Things) devices to the evolving demands of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environments, networks are expected to connect seamlessly, securely, and be scalable to support growing users and devices. Cambium Networks’ EasyPass has stepped up to this challenge with EasyPass Onboarding.
Let’s explore how it addresses key challenges faced by IT teams.
Growing Needs for Smarter Wi-Fi for Education & Enterprises
Sharing Wi-Fi in universities and organizations has become a significant challenge due to the rise of BYOD, IoT, and hackers. End users rely on network availability as much as they do electricity, expecting it to work seamlessly, like flipping a switch.
Managing personal and IoT devices makes it increasingly difficult to ensure compliance with data protection regulations and safeguard sensitive information. Shared passphrases, for example, compromises security, leaving the network vulnerable to unauthorized access. 802.1x authentication offers secure access, but it can be complex for personal devices and IoT devices. Many IoT devices often lack browsers, making traditional onboarding tools ineffective. As such, managing these devices presents unique challenges.
At the same time, the growing number of connected devices can overwhelm existing networks, leading to congestion and reduced performance. IT departments are often stretched thin by the sheer variety of devices connecting to the network, each with different operating systems and security standards all while implementing access control policies for different types of users, such as students and teachers, helping ensure that the network is used responsibly and for its intended purpose.
What Is EasyPass Onboarding?
EasyPass Onboarding is a simple, yet powerful solution that redefines secure network access. It seamlessly combines the ease of pre-shared keys with the strength of 802.1x authentication, delivering a user experience that’s both secure and intuitive.
For IoT devices, which often lack traditional browsers, EasyPass creates unique encrypted passphrases (ePSKs), ensuring secure, effortless connectivity. Employees, students, guests or new users can easily onboard, receiving their ePSK securely via email via a Self-Onboarding SSID powered with Microsoft or Google Single Sign-On (SSO) and email-based portals. Network administrators can also assign ePSKs directly through cnMaestro, sending them effortlessly to their inbox. EasyPass onboarding simplifies the user journey while maintaining the highest level of security.
Why EasyPass Onboarding?
Imagine an onboarding solution that combines simplicity with robust security, reducing friction for users while empowering IT teams. EasyPass achieves this balance effortlessly, enabling organizations to provide network access without compromising control. Whether for universities, enterprises, or IoT-heavy environments, Let’s look at what makes this happen:
- Individualized ePSKs: Ease of pre-shared keys with the strength of 802.1x authentication.
- Group-Based Access Control Policies: Separate policies for students and faculty.
- Reduced Burden on IT: Empowering users with self-service options.
- High Scalability: Higher scale with cloud-based ePSK.
- Seamless IoT Onboarding: Enables quick and secure onboarding of headless IoT devices using cloud-based ePSKs.
- Organization/University Access: Self-Onboarding powered by Microsoft or Google SSO and email onboarding.
EasyPass
With different onboarding portals for all kinds of users, EasyPass does away with the one answer fits all problems by offering tailored portals or methods which you can best choose to implement on your network without compromising on security or scale.
Key Benefits of EasyPass
- Simplicity for IT and Users: Secure onboarding with self-service options for every user & device type.
- Optimized for IoT: Minimizes use of captive portals.
- Easy to Integrate: Microsoft Azure and Google Login SSO integration.
- High Scale: Not limited by scale.
- No Additional Cost: Included with cnMaestro X.
The Bigger Picture: Cambium Advanced Services
EasyPass Onboarding is one part of Cambium Networks’ One network. Integrated within cnMaestro—a unified platform for Wi-Fi, Switches, SD-WAN for Enterprise and Backhaul—EasyPass works alongside tools like Assurance (AI-driven analytics) and MarketApps to deliver a holistic ecosystem. By simplifying and securing access, EasyPass enhances the overall value of your network, helping organizations address today’s networking challenges efficiently.
Summary
Cambium Networks’ advanced EasyPass service offers a variety of onboarding options, including Self Registration, Sponsored Guest, Voucher, One Click, Paid, WiFi4EU, Microsoft Azure, and Google Login. It now introduces EasyPass Onboarding for IoT and BYOD use cases, making user and IoT onboarding effortless with the Cambium ONE Network. These features are available for various user categories, such as BYOD Employee or Student, Co-working Space User, Business Visitor, MDU Resident, Residence Hall Student, Hotel Guest, Retail Customer, Convention/Fair Attendee, Sports Event Fan, Public Wi-Fi User, and IoT Devices. EasyPass is included as part of your existing cnMaestro X subscription.
Note: Some EasyPass features like Azure, Google and Social login are only available in cnMaestro cloud, not in the on-premises versions.