New product: eduroam CAT and eduroam managed IdP


eduroam, the free, secure Wifi service for members of the international research and education community, has just released two new products especially for smaller organisations or those without in-house technical skills.

Developed by the European Research and Education Network (GÉANT), eduroam enables students, researchers and staff from participating institutions to get internet connectivity across campus and when visiting other participating institutions within New Zealand or internationally, simply by opening their laptop or device.

Today, 30 New Zealand institutions are using and providing eduroam with about 18,000 unique devices using eduroam in New Zealand each month. Already some of our members are using these new free tools and we look forward to helping more of our members deploy them.

The two new tools - the eduroam Configuration Assistance Tool (CAT), and the eduroam Managed Identity Provider (IdP) service, help with the deployment and management of eduroam.

Eduroam CAT simplifies the process of enrolling users in eduroam. It uses customised installers for a range of PC and smartphone platforms. It also enhances security as it ensures that users are protected against rogue wi-fi hotspots accessing usernames and passwords.

Users simply browse the global directory and select their institution. CAT will automatically detect the operating system, and download the correct configuration files. And by installing your certificates on the end user devices, it improves the security of the connection. You can configure it to match your institution's needs.

eduroam relies on all participating institutions to manage a service that controls all of their user identities and responds to connection requests from eduroam access points worldwide. Eduroam Managed IdP has been developed for smaller institutions that may not have the in-house skills or resources to operate the required services and to maintain their integrity.

It outsources the technical setup of eduroam IdP credentials and RADIUS verification functions to the eduroam Operations Team, enabling the institution to focus on its users and freeing up valuable technical support resource.

It provides IdP administrators with a simple web-based management interface to add, remove and manage credentials for end users to access eduroam. eduroam IdP administrators can use this system to create end user credentials (accounts) according to their local institution policy. IdP administrators are fully responsible for the end user credentials they issue.

REANNZ is keen to see all member organisations and their staff use this free, secure, high-quality service.

For more information about these products, visit our website. If you want to know more, contact engagement@reannz.co.nz. For technical help, contact help@reannz.co.nz.

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