OIT Office of Information Technology
| Menu

CU Secure Wi-Fi

 New Wi-Fi Now Available Campuswide

As of Dec. 17, 2025, the new CU Secure and CU Guest Wi-Fi networks are live in all campus buildings. eduroam is still available, but UCB Wireless and UCB Guest were discontinued. Learn how to connect to campus Wi-Fi.

Overview​Features​Cost​Get Started​Re⁠-⁠enroll Your Device​Terms & Conditions​Accessibility
 

Overview

The CU Secure Wi-Fi network is designed to provide the most secure and stable Wi-Fi connection for CU Boulder faculty, staff and students.

It uses the most advanced encryption and authentication standards available, and once a device is registered on the network, it will connect to CU Secure Wi-Fi seamlessly for two years before asking you to re-register.

Note: Graduate and family housing apartments use Comcast internet services, not campus Wi-Fi. For details, see the Network and Internet Services page.

 

Features

  • Enterprise-grade, end-to-end encryption
  • Two years of password-free Wi-Fi connections
  • Seamless handling of Private Wi-Fi Address rotation
  • Unlimited number of devices per person
  • Expanded IT support tools
  • Access to internal campus resources (e.g., protected services and servers)

To compare CU Secure's features with CU Guest, eduroam or your data plan, see our wireless internet FAQs.

 

Cost

CU Secure Wi-Fi is provided as a common good to the campus, which means there is no direct cost to anyone.

 

Who Can Get It

Anyone with an active IdentiKey can register their device and connect to CU Secure when in range.

How to Get It

To access CU Secure Wi-Fi, your device must be actively registered on the network.

University Laptops, Smartphones & Tablets

Secure Computing Devices

If your device is enrolled in Secure Computing, then it already has the CU Secure certificate installed. Do not install the CU Secure certificate manually.  (Learn how to identify a Secure Computing device.)

If your Secure Computing device doesn't connect to CU Secure automatically, see CU Secure Wi-Fi - Troubleshooting.

Non-Secure Computing Devices

If your device isn't enrolled in Secure Computing yet, follow the personal device registration instructions in the next section.

Personal Laptops, Smartphones & Tablets

To connect the following types of devices to CU Secure Wi-Fi, you'll need to register them manually:

Next Steps

First, make sure you've set up Microsoft MFA on your IdentiKey account, as you'll need to log in to Microsoft with your IdentiKey credentials in order to download and install the certificate.

To install the CU Secure certificate on your device, follow along with these step-by-step instructions:

If the certificate installs successfully, you'll receive an email from CU Boulder Secure Wi-Fi (securewifi_noreply@colorado.edu) confirming your device is registered on CU Secure.

Tips & Troubleshooting

If you have any difficulties, visit our CU Secure Wi-Fi - Troubleshooting page for solutions to a wide range of issues.

For the smoothest Wi-Fi experience, turn off auto-connect for the other campus Wi-Fi networks after installing the CU Secure certificate.

Personal Specialty Wi-Fi Devices (e.g., Gaming Systems, Smart TVs)

Also known as headless or Internet of Things (IoT) devices, these devices typically don't have an integrated screen and/or keyboard, and they rely on wireless networks to communicate.

At CU Boulder, personal specialty Wi-Fi devices typically include:

  • gaming systems
  • smart TVs & streaming devices
  • smart speakers & hubs
  • smart plugs & bulbs
  • wireless printers

For security and technical reasons, these devices must be registered on CU Guest Wi-Fi, rather than CU Secure. Learn how to register a personal specialty Wi-Fi device on CU Guest.

Business-Critical Specialty Wi-Fi Devices (e.g., QR Code Scanners, Temperature Sensors)

To be considered "business-critical," a specialty Wi-Fi device must be indispensable to business, administrative or research operations. 

OIT has approved a number of business-critical devices, including specific models of:

  • wireless point-of-sale devices
  • QR code scanners
  • smart refrigerators
  • temperature sensors

At this time, business-critical devices must be registered on CU Guest Wi-Fi, rather than CU Secure. Learn how to register a business-critical specialty Wi-Fi device on CU Guest.

 

Re-enroll Your Device

Personal and non-Secure Computing devices will stay registered on CU Secure for two years. You'll receive an email notification one month before the device's registration expires with instructions on how to re-enroll it for another two years.

 

Terms & Conditions

The following agreement is published on the CU Secure certificate download page:

By accessing and using this system, you become subject to University of Colorado policies and regulations (regardless of your affiliation). For more information regarding your responsibilities with respect to IT resources, see Administrative Policy Statement 6005 and terms and conditions.

 

Accessibility Notification

CU Boulder is committed to making information and resources available in the digital environment accessible to all users.

The CU Secure Wi-Fi process has accessibility issues that may negatively affect users of assistive technologies or those using alternative access methods. We are addressing the issues and working with the supplier to make this experience accessible to all.

If you have trouble accessing or using CU Secure Wi-Fi, you can get help by: