When schools think about network compliance, the first question is often whether their chosen equipment — such as Ubiquiti, Meraki, or Aruba — meets the DfE Digital and Technology Standards.
The short answer is that compliance isn’t really about the brand of hardware at all. What matters is whether your network has been designed, secured, and maintained in a way that meets the standards’ core expectations: reliability, security, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
Ubiquiti and similar systems can absolutely meet the DfE standards when they’re configured and maintained properly. The equipment itself isn’t the issue — it’s the processes that sit around it.
The standards expect:
If those things are in place, your network is likely in good shape regardless of brand.
Networks can run smoothly day-to-day and still fall short of the standards if documentation or audit trails are missing. Make sure you can easily evidence:
Being able to show those records matters just as much as doing the work itself.
The DfE expects schools to have a plan for when equipment will be replaced or upgraded, and how future growth will be supported. Even if everything works well today, a lifecycle plan shows that you’re managing risk and cost proactively.
To see how your current setup measures against the DfE standards, take a look at the Digital Confidence Audit Library. It includes a range of self-assessment tools covering areas such as networks, cybersecurity, data protection, and governance — all designed to help schools identify strengths and improvement priorities.
You can also download the companion DfE Network Compliance Checklist for use in internal reviews or discussions with your IT provider:
View the DfE Network Compliance Checklist
If your network is secure, reliable, monitored, and supported by good documentation, there’s no reason to replace it purely for compliance reasons. The DfE standards focus on how systems are managed and maintained — not on which logo appears on the equipment.
