When college students head home for summer break, campuses don’t go silent — at least not their IT teams. Across the U.S., universities use the summer months to upgrade outdated network infrastructure. Summer break provides the perfect opportunity to refresh Wi-Fi systems, next-gen switching, and role-based access control while buildings are empty and disruption is minimal.
“Summer has become the standard time to rip and replace,” said Caleb Williams, account manager and contract development lead for PIER Group LLC, in a prepared statement. “It’s more difficult to do this kind of work mid-semester. So, when the academic year wraps up, we move fast — installing thousands of access points, switches, and high-speed core upgrades before students come back.”
Why This Matters to MSPs
According to PIER Group, this summer marks a record wave of refreshes at major institutions like the University of Maryland and Notre Dame. For MSPs, that translates to a seasonal surge in demand — and a lucrative opportunity to support planning, deployment, and ongoing management.
Higher education is an important vertical. It can be a recurring revenue engine for the right kind of IT partner. From planning and procurement to deployment and security, these summer upgrade cycles demand broad technical expertise and flexible support models. MSPs that understand the academic calendar and campus IT priorities can tap into projects that are high-budget, high-impact, and often multiyear in scope.
How MSPs Can Get Involved in University Network Upgrades
Step 1: Understand the Summer Refresh Cycle
Most campus refreshes operate on a 5 to 7-year cycle, but planning typically begins 12 to 15 months in advance. The actual installation work happens during summer to avoid classroom and exam disruptions. Projects can include:
- Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 upgrades
- Multigig switches with full PoE support
- Low-latency, high-throughput core networks
- Policy-based, role-aware security systems
Larger institutions may spend up to $30 million on these efforts, while midsized schools typically budget $2–3 million.
Step 2: Offer Value Early in the Planning Phase
MSPs can play a key role long before installation begins. Services like network assessments, infrastructure audits, and design consulting are often needed during the budgeting and planning phase. Consider pitching:
- Site surveys and topology evaluations
- Compliance reviews and risk assessments
- Tech recommendations tied to security frameworks like Zero Trust
Step 3: Support Rapid Summer Deployments
Once projects are approved, schools often need surge support to get the work done before the fall semester begins. MSPs can offer:
- Temporary field techs or engineers for deployment
- Project managers to oversee phased installations
- Staging and configuration support for hardware and software
This is also a prime time to assist with power and cabling upgrades that coincide with network refreshes.
Step 4: Layer in Security and Managed Services
Many universities are deploying advanced policy-driven security systems that require additional expertise. MSPs can provide:
- Role-based access control configuration
- Integration with tools like Aruba ClearPass
- Continuous monitoring, alerting, and remediation services
The work doesn’t have to stop at deployment. Ongoing managed network services create long-term recurring revenue.
Step 5: Build Long-term Relationships Through Strategic Partnerships
MSPs don’t have to go it alone. Collaborating with vendors like HPE, Juniper, or academic-focused partners like PIER Group can help smaller providers land subcontracts or co-sell services. Look for opportunities to align your offerings with broader higher-ed IT initiatives.
Conclusion
Universities are investing heavily in future-ready infrastructure—and summer is when the real work gets done. By aligning your services to the academic calendar and the unique demands of higher education IT, you can establish yourself as a trusted partner, not just a seasonal contractor.
From short-term deployments to multiyear refresh cycles, there’s room for MSPs to add value at every stage—and secure profitable, recurring opportunities along the way.
Next Steps
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ChannelPro has created this resource to help busy MSPs streamline their decision-making process. This resource offers a starting point for evaluating key business choices, saving time and providing clarity. While this resource is designed to guide you through important considerations, we encourage you to seek more references and professional advice to ensure fully informed decisions.
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