Specialists in filtered internet connectivity and secure ... · Specialists in internet...

Specialists in filteredinternet connectivity andsecure private networks

www.schoolsbroadband.co.uk

Academy Trusts

02 Schools Broadband : The Straight Talking Broadband People

ContentsSchools Broadband 2

Commercial and Technical Efficiencies 3

Private Networks 4

Linking School Sites & VPLS Benefits 5

Content Filtering 6

Mobile Device Management 7

Security 8

Connections and Speeds 9

What our customers say 10

Schools BroadbandProviding world leading content filtering and network protection for schoolsSchools Broadband has been delivering communications services since 2007. We are a member of Talk Straight Group and a BESA approved specialist, providing world leading content filtering and network protection to almost 1000 schools across the UK. Our infrastructure harnesses the latest technology, giving teachers reassurance that their pupils are fully protected when using the internet.

Dedicated entirely to the education sector, our non-contended network allows access to instant high speed bandwidth all day, every day, 365 days a year.

In July 2014, our cloud-hosted infrastructure was awarded Best Business Use of Cloud by the Internet Service Providers Association. We were also finalists for Internet Safety and Security.

Specialists in internet connectivity and secure private networks 03

Commercial and Technical EfficienciesIf you’re looking to achieve maximum financial and technical efficiencies for your organisation, sourcing your broadband, Web Filtering and internet services from one provider makes absolute sense. And with no traditional firewall installation costs, content filtering devices or per user internet charges, you will soon notice the savings. You also have the freedom to increase the number of internet users as and when you need, at no extra cost.

A Schools Broadband VPLS cloud based application gives your Academy Trust reliable use of cloud based, bandwidth hungry applications such as Office 365, Azure, Apple ICloud, Google Apps and hosted desktop. It holds a real financial and technological advantage over traditional on-site equipment.

Exceeding ExpectationsAcademy Trusts have high expectations, and rightly so. With Schools Broadband your Trust Group will be given your own experienced account manager, plus our Prince2 qualified and experienced project managers will be there to manage your install every step of the way. We provide unlimited technical support via our help desk, which is operated by fully accredited engineers and is open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Unlike many other education ISPs, the Schools Broadband network is controlled entirely by our own UK based Network Operations Centre (NOC). We never outsource maintenance of our network.

Our unique partnership with global industry leaders Fortinet and Lightspeed Systems means we can give schools direct control of their customisable Web Filtering and network security. This comes as standard with your broadband connection and is ranked amongst the best in the world.

Schools Broadband works with a broad range of Trust Groups across the UK from single and dual trusts to larger Multi Academy Trusts.

We specialise in creating Wide Area Networks for Multi Academy Trusts using Private LAN Services (VPLS). This technology improves the quality and control of each of the services on your network, as well as saving your Academy Trust thousands of pounds. A single easy to use interface allows you to manage your entire network estate, however complex, and is 100% secure.

Linking Multi Academy Trusts

Your own Private NetworkVPLS, or Virtual Private LAN Services is an innovative technology that allows geographically spread locations to connect together as if they are on the same Local Area Network (LAN).

As our network uses superior layer 2 based (VPLS) technology rather than layer 3 based (MPLS), it allows Academy Trusts to extend VLANS to multiple sites in your own private network / cloud. If you need a VLAN for a specific application such as VoIP, then this traffic can stay completely separate to any other general network traffic.

By applying this technology to our broadband services, Academy Trusts can connect all their schools securely regardless of location and share multiple services such as voice, video and data.

Whilst the multiple services will appear to be on the same Local Area Network, the VPLS technology can keep each service separate, providing added security, simplicity, economy of scale and quality of service.

A VPLS network means your data will never touch the internet, giving you a 100% secure and private data network.

Guaranteeing end-to-end quality of serviceOur network fully supports end to end quality of service (QOS), and because of the way VPLS runs over it, this enables your network administrators to guarantee different speeds and bandwidth allocations for different applications. This guarantees your applications will work quickly and effectively 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Your network administrators can even manage this themselves.

Any applications hosted on a remote site or in our data centre will work 100% of the time at the required speed, no matter how busy your WAN connection is.

04


Delivering savings all roundVPLS technology means you can manage multiple school networks, servers and devices across multiple locations from one central point.

Centrally hosted Windows Active Directory and file storage is a good example of this. Typically a primary school would purchase its own server for the required Microsoft functions on their network. This might cost circa £2000 and will require upgrading every 4 years. A secondary school could pay £20,000 for the storage of larger quantities of data. For a 10 site Multi Academy Trust with 3 secondary schools and 7 primary schools, this would equate to £74,000 and would require future refreshments. If just one of the secondary schools installed a Schools Broadband high capacity link with hosted servers, the cost could be easily halved. This represents large savings for Academy Trusts in capital spend and ongoing maintenance and software licences.

• It gives you a 100% secure private data network

• It offers simplified network management making it easy to add and change sites

• It reduces administration enabling easier network planning reducing management and equipment costs

• It is a fully supported product with true end-to-end quality of service, intelligent distribution of bandwidth and six classes of service

• It reduces network complexity meaning lower latency and improved efficiency between sites (no router hops)

• Virtualisation and replication is much easier as there is no routing to contend with converged voice & data networks on multiple VPLS connections

INTERNET

Clients PC’s

Secure Schools Broadband

VPLS Network

Centralised Server Resources

Resilient internet bandwidth, shared between all sites within The Trust

Centralised Academy Trust hosted FortiGate Firewall with hosted

Lightspeed Web Filtering

Connectivity and Optional BackupSite 1

Clients PC’s

Site 2

Clients PC’s

Site 3

Clients PC’s

Site 4

Benefits of a VPLS based Network


Content FilteringSchools Broadband only offer schools the very best in Web Filtering.

We chose to partner with Lightspeed Systems, a leading provider of education-specific Web Filtering designed specifically for schools. Its products and services are used by thousands of schools and local authorities world-wide, enabling adventurous learning in a safe environment.

Tailoring internet access by individual user, year, group, organisational unit or domain

Lightspeed Systems Web Filtering has an easy to use interface and integrates with both Windows Active Directory and Mac Open Directory.

It is a managed system as recommended by Ofsted allowing you to manage your own filters, right down to pupil level. You can also expand or contract internet access for set periods. If staff wish to block certain pages or restrict the download of a particular type of file this can also be applied quickly and easily. Filters can be managed centrally by your network administrator or controlled individually by staff at each of your schools.

Lightspeed Systems Web Filtering is included as standard with your broadband connection.

Providing safe and fast access to valuable educational resources

Lightspeed Systems provides compliant Web Filtering based on a comprehensive URL database which subscribes to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

This is updated daily and has more than 1 billion entries grouped into education-specific categories, so you can be assured of the safe search of both websites and images.

The system’s reporting function gives schools visibility of all web use, alerting you to suspicious search queries. Information is stored for up to 3 months and our own back-up system extends this to 3 years enabling information to be presented to the authorities or the police should it be required. Because the Lightspeed System is resiliently hosted in our data centres, there is no capital cost of buying servers, saving schools thousands.

For more information about Web Filtering from Lightspeed Systems, visit:http://schoolsbroadband.co.uk/homepage/e-safety-filtering/


Lightspeed System’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) allows you to extend your existing filtering policies to your off-network devices giving you and your students access to safe anytime - anywhere learning.

Designed just for schools the Mobile Filter provides exactly the same level of protection and reporting that you receive for your on-site devices and is compatible with Apple devices, Netbooks, MacBooks, laptops, Windows 8 tablets and Android devices.

Through a central, easy to use cloud interface that can be managed by both teachers and IT administrators, specific sites can be blocked or allowed for allocated periods of time. The mobile filter also lets you:

• Delegate multiple levels of administration

• Set policies at school, classroom, group and device level

• Configure, lock and wipe devices remotely

• Force authentication

• Restrict device and app use

• Integrate with the Apple Volume Purchasing Plan

MDM licences are free for the first year of your contract

For information about Content Filtering and Mobile Device Management from Lightspeed Systems, visit:

http://schoolsbroadband.co.uk/homepage/e-safety-filtering/

Protecting your students in and out of the classroom


Ensuring the safety of your pupils when usingthe internet

Delivering exceptional levels of performance, Schools Broadband ensures all your school equipment is protected with your very own Fortinet carrier class Unified Threat Management System (UTM).

Virtual interfaces provide security profiles, routing tables and administration, giving IT and network managers full visibility and granular control of more than 2,400 discrete applications and real-time protection against the latest Advanced Persistent Threats.

Our unique partnership with Fortinet, the global leaders in next generation firewalls means there is no one more qualified than Schools Broadband to ensure the full protection of your school’s network.

Combining firewall, intrusion prevention, antivirus, antimalware and antispam and application control into a single system that updates every hour, your network will be protected against the latest and most advanced threats.

What’s more, our cloud-based system means you won’t need to find space in your school to store any bulky equipment, so there’s no risk of damage or theft. Unlike many security suites there is no per user charge which means you won’t have to worry about the funding of licences.

Providing your Academy Trust with unparalleled security


Ethernet over FTTC (EoFTTC)

Ethernet over FTTC (also known as GEA-FTTC is a brand new game-changing technology that delivers higher bandwidth connectivity options. It also offers a 1:1 contention ratio and guaranteed symmetrical speeds reaching 20Mbps.

EoFTTC is superior to FTTC and comes with a full service level agreement. It is a technology that can grow efficiently with your organisation and if there is spare capacity on our carrier’s network and your line can support it, with EoFTTC you can expect to exceed your quoted speeds.

Dedicated Leased Line

For Academy Trusts we generally recommend Dedicated Leased Line technology. A leased line will provide guaranteed speeds and a 1:1 contention ratio. You will have the same upload and download speeds and the service comes with a service level agreement.

We have access to all the different types of leased line technologies from multiple wholesale providers (BT, Virgin and Kcom etc.) to ensure you get the best possible speed at the best possible price. They include:

• Direct Fibre Leased Lines • Ethernet First Mile (EFM)

BT is currently rolling out Superfast Broadband around the country. Also knownas Fibre to The Cabinet (FTTC) it delivers speeds of up to 80Mbps download and 20Mbps upload.

We will be able to tell you if FTTC is available in your area, or when it is expected. If it isn’t available, we will provide the fastest ADSL speeds possible and upgrade you to FTTC at no charge as soon as it is.*

* Free upgrade to FTTC is subject to the renewal of a 36 month contract.

All the above options come with unlimited data usage

Connections and Speed

Superfast Broadband (FTTC)


The Faringdon Academy of Schools

The Faringdon Academy of Schools (FAoS) is aMulti-School Academy in Oxfordshire consisting ofan infant school, 6 primary schools and a secondaryschool with a sixth form.

Chris Bennett, the IT Network Administrator at Faringdon explains why they chose to move their schools to Schools Broadband:

“We initially moved 3 primaries and our secondary school to Schools Broadband in July 2013 when our local authority ceased their service. We went to tender for multiple providers, and chose Schools Broadband because of their knowledge of the school environment. We were very impressed with their web filtering solution, and the way the company was run. The communication and support was good, and the management side of the firewall was safe and reliable. Our Academy Trust has continued to grow and as we were so pleased with the service from Schools Broadband, we decided to move over an additional 4 primaries to them, some of whom were with a Local Authority and others with another independent provider. We migrated them all in September 2014 and were kept informed at all three stages of the migration.

On installation day, the technical team were very efficient, but more importantly, easy to talk to. They do their utmost for the customer and ensure that any downtime is kept to a minimum.

We now have all 8 of our schools on Schools Broadband. Although cheaper than our previous provider(s) the main benefit for us is the web filtering. IT is used for a majority of lessons now rather than just ICT. With a lot of ‘hosted’ applications, such as SIMs, a steady reliable and fast internet connection is an absolute necessity for us.

We wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Schools Broadband to anyone and feel they offer a service which compares to none. As an academy, all our schools are delighted with the service that is provided.”

Chris Bennett, IT Network Administrator, The Faringdon Academy of Schools

What our customers say


GLF Schools

GLF Schools are a 12 site multi-school Academy in Surrey.So far 8 of the GLF Schools are using Schools Broadbandand this is set to increase as the schools’ contracts withtheir existing supplier come to an end.

Luke Nicolaou, GLF’s IT Director explains what they were looking for from their broadband connection and why they chose Schools Broadband:

“We wanted a company that would work with us and who would understand where we are heading. We did a lot of research before we made our decision; we looked at lots of different companies and asked other schools about their experiences. We were definitely looking for something that would offer the right solution as well as value for money. Schools Broadband gave us the complete solution we had been looking for at a price our schools could afford.

When switching provider, we knew we also needed to have better control over our firewalls. We need to make changes quickly and without incurring extra costs and with Schools Broadband we were able to make these changes ourselves, saving both time and money.

Most of our schools now have more bandwidth than ever before. The simple but highly effective filtering system and secure firewall has given us the ability to create a GLF Schools network behind one firewall.

Because of our ongoing expansion as a trust group, we always knew we wanted a VPLS for the school. This is now in place and is delivering more than we could have hoped for. So far we have been using the VPLS mainly for our new finance system and remote support but other converged communications are in the planning.

In the main transitions were quick and easy. The technical team were very supportive especially when we were trying to transition more than one school in a day. Our connection speed is now 300Mbps and the price is still less than we used to pay for 50Mbps. In addition, we no longer need to maintain our own hardware so we benefit from a cost saving there too!”

Luke Nicolaou, IT Director, GLF Schools

GLFWhere Children Grow, Learn and Flourish

www.glfschools.org

Schools Broadband, Unit 2 - 4, Backstone Business Park, Ilkley, West Yorkshire LS29 8JZt: 01133 222 333e: [email protected]: www.schoolsbroadband.co.uk

Schools Broadband is a specialistdivision of Talk Straight Ltd.

Version 2. May 2015

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