Save time and money with Managed WANs

Sponsored: Schools Broadband outlines the benefits of Managed Wide Area Networks

Network Managers responsible for looking after multiple school sites or Multi Academy Trusts (MATs), will be familiar with the logistical nightmare of managing single servers across multiple sites. Headteachers and finance heads may or may not be aware of the inefficiencies, on many levels, that also come with managing different servers at different locations.

Schools ahead of the game, however, are using Managed Wide Area Networks or WANs, to privately connect multiple school sites on the same network, using high speed, high capacity, private connectivity. Best described as an extended Local Area Network, the Managed WAN lets you manage networks, servers and devices across multiple schools from one central point. This makes managing estates much easier, improves control of the network and removes the administration of multiple service contracts.

As schools move towards MATs, it makes sense to share resources and reduce costs. Managed WANs reduce the need to have multiple firewalls across estate sites; schools can be added into the WAN, benefiting immediately from centralised security. In the case of Schools Broadband’s service, content filtering can be centrally controlled too. 

Schools Broadband protects and reports on over 1 million staff and pupils at UK educational establishments and hosts 80 schools as their largest Managed WAN client. 

The Schools Broadband Managed WAN service was awarded the UK’s Best Security ISP at the latest ISPA Awards. David Tindall added: “Our award-winning security is central to every network we provide. We work in partnership with Fortinet and our hosted security provides affordable, high-grade solutions that wouldn’t otherwise be in financial reach of schools and trusts.”

As well as providing critical security, the Schools Broadband Managed WAN allows schools to use IT in the way they want to, allowing schools and trusts to get the most out of their IT investments and cloud-based services. For example, a Microsoft express route provides a direct connection to Microsoft, but behaves as a simple extension to the Managed WAN.

Schools Broadband protects and reports on over 1 million staff and pupils at UK educational establishments and hosts 80 schools as their largest Managed WAN client. 

For more information about Network Security and Managed WANs click here or email .

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