Link2ICT WebDA

[andy_b]

Ouch.....

 

 

WebDA is a subscription service with an annual charge of £995 and a £295 setup fee for an individual school.

 

https://link2ict.service-now.com/selfservice/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0013043

[Trojan]

I'd like to know how they justify that cost.

[foofighterjim]

Seriously? My decision to move broadband and filtering last month is looking even more justified now.

[Michael]

The cost is most likely due to licensing the use of the McAfee software itself, but I agree, it's at a price many Primary establishments simply cannot afford. Both of those schools in the attachment are Secondary schools.

 

At the rate we're going now, the Government are going to have to create a Safe Guarding budget. It seems to get forever larger an area requiring an injection of cash every year.

[MrPstv]

Seriously? My decision to move broadband and filtering last month is looking even more justified now.

 

Which provider did you opt for?

Was it an easy transition ?

Have you saved a lot of money?

[foofighterjim]

I will PM you the provider.

 

Good early planning has helped with the transition (although I still ran into a couple of DNS issues) and had the proxy specified in some unexpected and undocumented places.

 

200/1000 connection, FTTC backup and Smoothwall; over £3,000 pa less than renewing. So that's £3,000 pa less for; more bandwidth, more control and redundancy on the line!

[MrPstv]

How'd you get around the issue of transferring data back to the LA? PM the supplier as I've been looking at this for a bit now.

 

We are currently looking for an alternative broadband provider.

 

Who uses this method below to transfer school data?

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-to-school-service-how-to-transfer-information

[foofighterjim]

We are currently looking for an alternative broadband provider.

 

Who uses this method below to transfer school data?

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-to-school-service-how-to-transfer-information

 

That is how we do it, although in a recent development it looks like the council have commissioned Link2ICT to collect the data using Group Exporter for non BGFl schools. Link remoted onto our SIMS server the other week to sort out the settings for it. Not sure when this will go live as such though.

[MrPstv]

Ok thanks for the info,

 

We are an Academy! We also at some point may want to move from Link2ict!

 

Your thoughts please..

[foofighterjim]

Ok thanks for the info,

 

We are an Academy! We also at some point may want to move from Link2ict!

 

Your thoughts please..

 

That is completely as discussion for you and the powers that be at your establishment, anything I say may not be appropriate or applicable .

 

If you do move do you have list of alternatives for the following?:

 

Line suppliers in your area.

Filtering solutions.

Firewall solutions.

DNS hosting.

 

You also need to consider how you are going to get around not being able to use FCS Login, CRISP and as we have already discussed data submission. Do you have the in house knowledge and time to maintain filtering and or firewall on site?

 

You need plenty of time with projects like this the Telco's do not rush to do anything!

[MrPstv]

This is hard work....

[MrPstv]

Has anyone got experience in moving to an Academy and also moved away from Link2ict completely?

If you have jumped through all the necessary hoops to get where you are!

What process/procedures did you follow with the niggles that come with completely moving away?

Edited October 16, 2015 by MrPstv

[exa_damon]

As stated in other threads, we have had substantial success when it comes to helping schools move away from their current provider. We moved our first school away from Link2ICT over five years ago and have had many more since. The conversion to academy status along with the change of broadband supplier may seem extremely challenging. All the more reason to choose a provider who not only provides the most valuable solution, but who have a distinguished record of customer service. If you would like to speak to any of our schools in your area, or indeed need any assistance at all, please PM me.