Smoothwall Conference

[Rob_Wilkinson]

As there have been a lot of of questions and enquiries, both on EduGeek and directly, Smoothwall and are looking to run a mini-conference/s for the network managers from schools in Cumbria to discuss implementing localised web filtering and security. We will also be bringing our local partner who specialise in connectivity in the Cumbria region.

Where and when really depends on the levels of interest. Is this something the schools in the region would find beneficial?

Please feel free to reply to the thread or you can contact me direct at:

Rob Wilkinson
rob.wilkinson@smoothwall.net
Direct Dial: +44 (0) 113 387 4172
Mobile: + 44(0)7979 505768

Thanks

Rob

[jcollings]

I have been having email conversations with a number of Cumbrian schools about this issue. CLEO pricing seems to have alarmed many schools and rightly so.

I understand all the arguments around having collective RBC etc. but the fact remains we would be faced with a bill of approx. £23k here (£2k of that just for being an academy). To us that is simply not affordable and is a many fold jump on what we paid in the past. I know it was topsliced and we never saw the full cost etc but in reality that just doesn't matter - if I want CLEO I have to pay £23k

The issue of staying with them or jumping ship is a complex one and depends on lots of factors such as location, technical skills in a school and which services you actually use from CLEO.

As a school who have just moved from CLEO to LUNS and are using Smoothwall as our firewall/filtering solution I feel that it would be hugely beneficial to have a meeting where LUNS/Smoothwall presented. I must stress this shouldn't be a sales pitch but simply a chance for schools to meet, discuss alternative offerings and see what is going on across the county.

We meet very infrequently so a meeting in the area sounds like an excellent plan. I am based in Kendal and would be more than happy to co-ordinate and host such an event although a more central venue may be preferred.

Can we get some posts on here to see if this is of interest please?

[tom_newton]

Hope folk are interested.. Cumbria in June/July? Yes please

[FN-GM]

It would be good if there is maybe a more generic one for none cumbria people

[jcollings]

It would be good if there is maybe a more generic one for none cumbria people

I'm sure we could let a few Lancashire people in too. I'd draw the line at Yorkshire but that might defeat the object given Smoothwall's location

[FN-GM]

I'm sure we could let a few Lancashire people in too. I'd draw the line at Yorkshire but that might defeat the object given Smoothwall's location

Well Rochdale is on its own not linked to CLEO in any way, so i dont know if it will apply.

[Cache]

I have been having email conversations with a number of Cumbrian schools about this issue. CLEO pricing seems to have alarmed many schools and rightly so.

I understand all the arguments around having collective RBC etc. but the fact remains we would be faced with a bill of approx. £23k here (£2k of that just for being an academy). To us that is simply not affordable and is a many fold jump on what we paid in the past. I know it was topsliced and we never saw the full cost etc but in reality that just doesn't matter - if I want CLEO I have to pay £23k

The issue of staying with them or jumping ship is a complex one and depends on lots of factors such as location, technical skills in a school and which services you actually use from CLEO.

As a school who have just moved from CLEO to LUNS and are using Smoothwall as our firewall/filtering solution I feel that it would be hugely beneficial to have a meeting where LUNS/Smoothwall presented. I must stress this shouldn't be a sales pitch but simply a chance for schools to meet, discuss alternative offerings and see what is going on across the county.

We meet very infrequently so a meeting in the area sounds like an excellent plan. I am based in Kendal and would be more than happy to co-ordinate and host such an event although a more central venue may be preferred.

Can we get some posts on here to see if this is of interest please?

Are LUNS offering connectivity now? That's very interesting to know..... (edit: should clarify I know they provided all the CLEO services and still host/provide the cumbria services, just didn't realise we could go with them direct....)

We have a smoothwall Solution in place and as we're a small school the CLEO increase isn't so much for us, but is still a noticeable one.

As we've smoothwall in place already would this be of benefit to us (not meaning to be funny, I'm just curious! )? If it is then it's certainly something I'd be interested in attending!

[john]

Are LUNS offering connectivity now? That's very interesting to know..... (edit: should clarify I know they provided all the CLEO services and still host/provide the cumbria services, just didn't realise we could go with them direct....)

We have a smoothwall Solution in place and as we're a small school the CLEO increase isn't so much for us, but is still a noticeable one.

As we've smoothwall in place already would this be of benefit to us (not meaning to be funny, I'm just curious! )? If it is then it's certainly something I'd be interested in attending!

LUNS were presenting at the EduGeek conference the other week about what they can do, so they do more than just Internet services Well worth talking to them very good people and so helpful never had an ISP as helpful as them I would suspect it would be worth you going, for a starter its always good to escape the office (read converted toilet or whatever you are stuffed in) as there maybe new exciting things to learn about / look at

I'm sure we could let a few Lancashire people in too. I'd draw the line at Yorkshire but that might defeat the object given Smoothwall's location

That's it your now off the Christmas Card List Mr C! Anyway all us North Yorkshire people have got Smoothwall UTMs now

[Cache]

LUNS were presenting at the EduGeek conference the other week about what they can do, so they do more than just Internet services Well worth talking to them very good people and so helpful never had an ISP as helpful as them I would suspect it would be worth you going, for a starter its always good to escape the office (read converted toilet or whatever you are stuffed in) as there maybe new exciting things to learn about / look at

Sold! That took a lot of convincing didn't it?

Will check my diary tomorrow - think I'm keeping it fairly empty at the moment though

[john]

Sold! That took a lot of convincing didn't it?

Will check my diary tomorrow - think I'm keeping it fairly empty at the moment though

To LUNS and Smoothwall Guy's I'll take any commission / refer a friend benifits off any sales you make to @Cache please hehe

[Cache]

If you can backdate the Smoothwall referal 6 months or so your welcome to it

[TheScarfedOne]

@John... you know what Im gonna say dont you :-p

Im looking forward to maybe getting a smoothie box down here too - and you arent pinching my referal hehehe!

[BatchFile]

We'd be interested too; we've got LUNS coming to do a site survey on Friday to see if they offer anything cheaper than CLEO