Campus networks are asked to do a lot.
They support teaching and research, keep student services running, and enable day-to-day operations across environments that grow more complex every year. For one large public-sector post-secondary institution, years of incremental updates had taken their toll. The network had become costly to maintain and difficult to adapt. Leadership knew that simply replacing aging equipment would not be enough. What they needed was a smarter way forward, one that balanced performance, cost control, and long-term flexibility, supported by a partner willing to look beyond a single transaction.
The institution was running on a legacy network platform that was no longer sustainable. Ownership costs kept climbing as the infrastructure approached the end of its useful life. Support issues were becoming more frequent, and the network struggled to deliver the level of performance and reliability the campus depended on.
IT leaders felt real pressure to modernize, but they also needed confidence that any change would improve financial predictability. A like-for-like replacement would only repeat the same challenges. The institution needed a solution that could modernize the network while setting a more stable path for the future.
A public-sector procurement agreement opened the door to rethinking the institution’s network strategy. While the framework provided a compliant way to move forward, it did not guarantee the best result on its own. Achieving real value would require experience, careful planning, and strong alignment with the right technology partner.
This was the right moment to bring in Compugen. Years of early engagement and technical collaboration positioned Compugen and HPE Aruba to approach the opportunity with a long-term mindset. Instead of treating the effort as a one-time refresh, Compugen focused on how the institution could modernize in a way that supported growth, stability, and better cost control over time.
Compugen led the engagement with a partnership-first approach, working closely with HPE Aruba from the earliest design conversations. Dedicated Compugen resources worked side by side with the institution’s IT team, helping ensure architectural decisions reflected real operational needs.
The solution combined modern Aruba wireless and switching technology with a carefully planned migration from the legacy environment. Compugen assembled specialized resources to manage the transition and reduce risk. At the same time, the team worked with HPE Aruba to secure early deal registration and negotiate pricing that went well beyond the standard procurement baseline.
Rather than operating as a transactional supplier, Compugen stayed embedded throughout planning and execution. This hands-on involvement helped ensure the technology addressed specific challenges and created a network foundation built to support the institution for years to come.
The modernization delivered clear financial and operational benefits. Compared to the previous environment, the institution realized meaningful cost savings while seeing improvements in network performance and reliability.
One of the most notable results was the creation of an “Innovation Fund”. By improving pricing structures and supply chain efficiency, Compugen helped establish a mechanism that directs savings back to the institution. The fund supports professional development and training for the internal IT team, strengthening in-house expertise without drawing from operational budgets.
The institution also benefited from consistent, high-touch support. A dedicated Compugen team stayed engaged throughout the transition, providing continuity and accountability that helped stabilize the environment and build confidence in the new platform.
The success of the network transformation created momentum for broader collaboration. With trust established and Compugen involved from the design phase onward, the relationship expanded into data centre modernization initiatives.
Today, the institution sees Compugen as a strategic Technology Ally, involved not only in delivery but in shaping future infrastructure decisions. Working alongside HPE Aruba, Compugen continues to align technology investments with academic, research, and operational priorities, helping the institution realize new possibilities through experience by design.
What truly set this engagement apart was persistence and partnership. Compugen did not wait for an RFP to appear. The team invested years in early engagement, close collaboration with HPE Aruba, and steady value delivery through smaller initiatives before the larger opportunity took shape.
Throughout the project, Compugen and HPE Aruba operated as a unified team. That alignment reduced friction, improved responsiveness, and gave the customer confidence that challenges would be addressed quickly and openly.
The result is a relationship built on trust, shared accountability, and a clear focus on outcomes. A strong example of Compugen acting as a Technology Ally, not just a provider.
If your institution is facing rising infrastructure costs or planning a major network refresh, Compugen can help you move forward with confidence. Speak with our experts to see how a Compugen-led approach with HPE Aruba can deliver sustainable performance, stronger outcomes, and a clear path for what comes next.