Staying Connected When It Matters Most: CENIC Sentinel

When disruptions occur—whether from wildfires, severe weather, or unexpected infrastructure damage—connectivity can be one of the first and most critical services impacted. For California’s community colleges, even short-term outages can interrupt instruction, disrupt student support services, and limit access to the systems campuses rely on every day.

To help colleges and districts maintain continuity during these moments, the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) has developed CENIC Sentinel, a disaster recovery solution designed to restore network access quickly during extended outages.

Unlike traditional backup options, CENIC Sentinel is built specifically for the needs of education networks. It can be rapidly deployed to a campus or site experiencing a disruption, providing temporary connectivity that links directly back to the California Research and Education Network (CalREN). This high-performance network, managed by CENIC, supports the majority of research and education institutions across the state and spans approximately 8,000 miles of CENIC-owned and managed fiber, forming a critical backbone for connectivity.

A key advantage of CENIC Sentinel is that it connects directly to CalREN rather than the public internet, allowing colleges to continue operating within their existing network environment. Campuses can maintain their current IP addresses, avoiding the need for reconfiguration during an already challenging time. As a result, critical systems, such as learning management platforms, campus websites, VPN access, and other secure tools, can remain fully operational without interruption.

For colleges and districts, this supports ongoing operations, communication, and emergency response efforts when stability is needed most. For students, continuity means courses remain accessible, assignments can still be submitted, and essential services—from financial aid systems to virtual support—stay available.

CENIC has already demonstrated the value of this approach through real-world deployments, including a recent wildfire response in Southern California where temporary connectivity helped restore service during an extended outage.

As California’s community colleges continue to serve as vital hubs for education and community support, solutions like CENIC Sentinel help ensure that learning and services remain accessible, no matter the circumstances.

Questions? Contact Cindy McCartney, CCC Technology Center CENIC Program Manager, at cmccartney@ccctechcenter.org.