Enabling Data-Driven Operations for Penn State’s Enterprise Network

The administration of Penn State’s Enterprise Network is becoming increasingly effective using a growing ecosystem of platforms including NetBox, ServiceNow, Juniper Support Insights (JSI) collected via an on premises Lightweight Collector (LWC), and the expanding adoption of Mist for edge switching and wireless access points. Each platform provides valuable insight on its own; however, out of the box, these systems operate largely in isolation.

By investing in improved data management practices and intentional integrations, teams supporting the Enterprise Network have achieved a more comprehensive and accurate view of the network than ever before. At the same time, the organization’s maturing use of ServiceNow and IT Service Management (ITSM) processes has amplified the value of a systematic, data driven approach to network operations.

This presentation will demonstrate how clean data, consistent reference tables, and robust integrations across these platforms enable deeper analysis, more reliable reporting, and more efficient automation. It will also highlight the team’s strategic shift away from building and maintaining homegrown tools where possible, instead prioritizing vendor supported capabilities and focusing internal effort on data quality, data modeling, and operational alignment.

Attendees will learn:
• How NetBox, ServiceNow, Juniper Insights/LWC, and Mist complement one another
• How reference tables and data management practices improve consistency and reduce rework
• How Enterprise Network continues to lean into ITSM in ServiceNow
• Practical methods for correlating and validating data across systems
• Examples of dashboards, reports, and automations built on unified datasets
• Why the team is prioritizing vendor tools and integrations over homegrown solutions