BlueCat Networks Case Studies The Medical University of South Carolina Simplifies Network Management with BlueCat

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	The Medical University of South Carolina Simplifies Network Management with BlueCat BlueCat Networks

The Medical University of South Carolina Simplifies Network Management with BlueCat

BlueCat Networks

Technology Category	Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
Applicable Industries	Education Healthcare & Hospitals
Applicable Functions	Maintenance Business Operation
Services	System Integration Training
Challenge	The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is a comprehensive academic health center with nearly 3,000 students, 1,500 teaching staff, and a 750-bed medical center. The university's network spans over 30 remote sites and comprises approximately 30,000 IP addresses. The network must support the diverse needs of both the hospital and university, as well as the intensive demands of medical researchers for online collaboration. The number of IP-connected devices on the network is growing exponentially, including smart phones, tablets, and specialized healthcare devices like wireless IV pumps. In addition, security cameras and door locks that used to be hard-wired are now IP-enabled. To maintain the reliability of the network and better serve its users, MUSC needed an efficient way to manage, automate, and delegate day-to-day network administration tasks. Read More
About Customer	The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is the only comprehensive academic health center in South Carolina. It offers educational programs in the biomedical sciences, dentistry, health professions, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy. Each year, MUSC admits almost 33,000 patients to its hospitals, while its outpatient facilities serve 800,000 patients. The university has nearly 3,000 students in six colleges and 1,500 full and part-time teaching staff. MUSC's network spans 30+ remote sites and its IP address space is comprised of approximately 30,000 IP addresses. The network must support the diverse needs of both the hospital and university, as well as the intensive demands of medical researchers for online collaboration. Read More
Solution	In March 2011, MUSC’s network and UNIX administration teams began to look at options to replace their defunct Nortel NetID system. They needed a new solution that would simplify and automate IP Address Management (IPAM) and DNS/DHCP core services for all networks across the organization, while also allowing tasks to be delegated among administrators and field engineers. They evaluated other IPAM solutions including BT Diamond and Alcatel-Lucent (VitalQIP) before finally selecting BlueCat. BlueCat’s IPAM solution provides centralized management and visibility into “everything IP” in the network including IP addresses, DNS, and DHCP. The solution includes a built-in workflow engine and change control system to free up time and resources by pushing recurrent network administration tasks out to the field with full approval and auditing controls. The BlueCat solution was successfully deployed using a phased approach to minimize the risk of network disruption or downtime. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software

Applicable Industries

Education

Healthcare & Hospitals

Applicable Functions

Maintenance

Business Operation

Services

System Integration

Training

Challenge

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is a comprehensive academic health center with nearly 3,000 students, 1,500 teaching staff, and a 750-bed medical center. The university's network spans over 30 remote sites and comprises approximately 30,000 IP addresses. The network must support the diverse needs of both the hospital and university, as well as the intensive demands of medical researchers for online collaboration. The number of IP-connected devices on the network is growing exponentially, including smart phones, tablets, and specialized healthcare devices like wireless IV pumps. In addition, security cameras and door locks that used to be hard-wired are now IP-enabled. To maintain the reliability of the network and better serve its users, MUSC needed an efficient way to manage, automate, and delegate day-to-day network administration tasks.

About Customer

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is the only comprehensive academic health center in South Carolina. It offers educational programs in the biomedical sciences, dentistry, health professions, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy. Each year, MUSC admits almost 33,000 patients to its hospitals, while its outpatient facilities serve 800,000 patients. The university has nearly 3,000 students in six colleges and 1,500 full and part-time teaching staff. MUSC's network spans 30+ remote sites and its IP address space is comprised of approximately 30,000 IP addresses. The network must support the diverse needs of both the hospital and university, as well as the intensive demands of medical researchers for online collaboration.

Solution

In March 2011, MUSC’s network and UNIX administration teams began to look at options to replace their defunct Nortel NetID system. They needed a new solution that would simplify and automate IP Address Management (IPAM) and DNS/DHCP core services for all networks across the organization, while also allowing tasks to be delegated among administrators and field engineers. They evaluated other IPAM solutions including BT Diamond and Alcatel-Lucent (VitalQIP) before finally selecting BlueCat. BlueCat’s IPAM solution provides centralized management and visibility into “everything IP” in the network including IP addresses, DNS, and DHCP. The solution includes a built-in workflow engine and change control system to free up time and resources by pushing recurrent network administration tasks out to the field with full approval and auditing controls. The BlueCat solution was successfully deployed using a phased approach to minimize the risk of network disruption or downtime.

Impact #1	With tightly integrated IP Address Management, DNS and DHCP, the BlueCat solution has provided MUSC with real-time visibility across its highly dynamic IP address space and greater core services reliability and resiliency.
Impact #2	The solution has also provided the ability to effectively delegate DNS and DHCP configuration tasks to field engineers, freeing up the school’s expert administrators to concentrate on other IT initiatives.
Impact #3	Since implementing BlueCat Address Manager, MUSC is seeing fewer calls to their department requesting certain functions that used to require manual intervention, but can now be self-administered.

Impact #1

With tightly integrated IP Address Management, DNS and DHCP, the BlueCat solution has provided MUSC with real-time visibility across its highly dynamic IP address space and greater core services reliability and resiliency.

Impact #2

The solution has also provided the ability to effectively delegate DNS and DHCP configuration tasks to field engineers, freeing up the school’s expert administrators to concentrate on other IT initiatives.

Impact #3

Since implementing BlueCat Address Manager, MUSC is seeing fewer calls to their department requesting certain functions that used to require manual intervention, but can now be self-administered.

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Overview

The Medical University of South Carolina Simplifies Network Management with BlueCat

Operational Impact