At first glance, it’s just cables—hundreds of them, tangled and hidden from view. But these wires carry the work of an entire organization. Every email sent, system accessed, and meeting joined depends on what runs quietly through them. Such is the information and communication technology backbone of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), a network built for today—and tomorrow.
UNV has taken a major step forward in strengthening the digital foundations that support its global work. Building on earlier progress in moving systems to the cloud, the organization has now modernized the core network infrastructure that connects staff, offices, and services—often unseen, but essential to daily operations.
At the United Nations Campus in Bonn, this meant replacing over 300 network switches, many of which had been in use since 2006. The upgrade has given network speeds up to ten times faster across all UNV-supported offices and workspaces.
In practical terms, this means faster access to systems, smoother collaboration across locations, and greater capacity to support today’s digital tools and ways of working. The benefits of this upgrade extend well beyond UNV itself; the modernized network supports 14 United Nations agencies for which UNV provides ICT services at the UN Campus, making this a shared investment for the wider UN community.
Beyond speed, the network is now fully managed through the cloud. This allows UNV’s ICT team to monitor performance, resolve issues, and manage updates remotely, without relying on physical access to equipment on site. The result is a more flexible and responsive system, with improved visibility and stronger protection against risks.
Security and reliability were central to the project from the outset. Delivered in partnership with the United Nations International Computing Center, the modernization effort included updated security policies, improved campus-wide connectivity, and built‑in redundancy to ensure uninterrupted service.
The new network is designed not only to meet current needs but also to scale as UNV continues to grow and adapt. Printing was moved from an on‑premises setup to a secure, cloud‑based solution, allowing staff to print safely from the office or from home. This shift has not only reduced the reliance on physical servers—it has enabled UNV to eliminate its on-premises data center servers fully.
Today, UNV operates with zero servers on-premises, making mobile and flexible working easier than ever.
So what does faster technology mean for how UNV works every day? It means systems that respond without delay, connectivity that supports collaboration across locations, and infrastructure that can adapt as ways of working continue to change.
The cover image was generated by AI to fit the story.