All in 1 Filtering ISP Email

[karldenton]

Does anyone know of companies that do ISP, Filtering and Email hosting.

We are currently with Redstone but are moving in the summer. Looked at Exa Networks. Are there any others ?


Thanks

[elsiegee40]

We are using RM (EasyMail, SafetyNet Plus and ISP)... not my choice, it was here when I arrived, but it does the job competantly. I think it's a bit expensive, but I'm not allowed to research the alternatives.

[danrhodes]

We are using RM (EasyMail, SafetyNet Plus and ISP)... not my choice, it was here when I arrived, but it does the job competantly. I think it's a bit expensive, but I'm not allowed to research the alternatives.

Your not allowed, how come?

[elsiegee40]

It's complicated story and until I finally get a new server on site, I'm not prepared to further upset anyone... the server hasn't been ordered yet, or even agreed other than in principal

[danrhodes]

Why don't you go with your own Exchange system instead of an external company? I know I used to work at a school that had DigitalBrain for thie email system and it was a nightmare as you couldn't customize it at all, any changed had to be made by the support company, which needless to say took a while!

D

[karldenton]

There's no money for exchange and own filtering really.

We're a small private school so easier to get an all in one system really.

[danrhodes]

Have you looked at Exchange at all it may not work out as expensive as you think, it may even work out cheaper overall given you will be paying for a managed service annually, where as exchange is only a 1 off setup fee with a small recurring MS licence fee.

So maybe a larger first cost by small oncosts as the years go by?

D

[elsiegee40]

There's no money for exchange and own filtering really.

We're a small private school so easier to get an all in one system really.

Snap on both counts! Feel your pain

As I said RM is competant, if a bit pricey in my view. The filtering is good./ You need someone with good negotiation skills to try and get them to budge on the price.

We've had no problems with broadband (except when Transco dug through our phone lines), the filtering does it's job and easymail may not be my favourite email system, but we use it for everyone (the office staff through Outlook, students and teachers through webmail) and it's fine.

My problem is that I don't really like RM, not that I have a problem with these products!

EDIT

For everyone is state schools, private schools find it particularly tough because we are wholey reliant on fee income (and there's a recession) and we have to pay VAT on everything which adds to the cost. Small schools like mine can really have a battle on to get to buy anything.

[karldenton]

I agree fella.
In a way its good to be able to choose ISP Etc but if your tied to a county that could also be good.
We pay £1700 a year for Redstone for everything.
Exa Networks looked good - offer a no contention ratio package but only offer 4Mb - not quick enough for a school really.
Talktalk offer LLU in the area and can do upto 11.1 meg on that line. I could always do it seperate - just go for a seperate filtering company and seperate email hosting but i'd rather have all in 1.

[Dom_]

I agree fella.
In a way its good to be able to choose ISP Etc but if your tied to a county that could also be good.
We pay £1700 a year for Redstone for everything.
Exa Networks looked good - offer a no contention ratio package but only offer 4Mb - not quick enough for a school really.
Talktalk offer LLU in the area and can do upto 11.1 meg on that line. I could always do it seperate - just go for a seperate filtering company and seperate email hosting but i'd rather have all in 1.

Sorry to drag up an old thread - but on no contention the 4Mb would probably be far more than you'd ever use.

Don't confuse it with a home up to 4Mb line, where you'd be on a 1:100 contention ratio!

[GrumbleDook]

From personal experience of looking at school usage it really varies. We have some small schools which are on 2Mb (uncontended) and do not make full use of it, but some on 4Mb (uncontended) that could do with a 10Mb line ... Then again, I have a few secondaries which have moaned to have 20Mb and are actually only hitting 13-15Mb (after their upgrade) with the odd peak ... followed by a few solid weeks of 20Mb, but others who have hit 60Mb when we tried leaving them uncapped for a few days.

[Dom_]

True - he said he was from a small school though :-)

[TheFopp]

Exa Networks looked good - offer a no contention ratio package but only offer 4Mb - not quick enough for a school really.
Talktalk offer LLU in the area and can do upto 11.1 meg on that line. I could always do it seperate - just go for a seperate filtering company and seperate email hosting but i'd rather have all in 1.

We've been with Exa for a number of years. They now do Business rated ADSL2+ lines (we have three load-balanced together) if you think 4mb isn't quick enough.