Filtering, BYOD, site-to-site VPN

[djones]

We're looking for different options on filtering primarily, however there are a few connected issues... Requirements are to be able to have different profiles as well as transparent filtering for BYOD and guest/community access. We also have a need for a temporary (September to December) site-to-site VPN between the main building and a satellite building. Both buildings will be using their own, separate internet connection so would like devices to be directed (over the internet), and back into the main school building in order to make use of central services, file access and filtered internet, etc. If possible, I'd also like to be able to utilise the VPN to plug in a telephone handset which would then be connected through to the existing phone system in the main building. Any chance of that lot working?!

[plexer]

What about something like a Sophos UTM would cover all your requirements and for the remote building you could look at their RED devices as well.

 

Should all work fine.

 

Ben

[djones]

How would the other filtering/firewall options fare in comparison e.g. Smoothwall, Lightspeed, etc?

[Net-Ctrl]

We have recently taken on a solution that may be what you're after. The Web Filtering is based on iBoss and will be delivered over any Internet connection

 

I think the pricing is around the £4.50 per user/per year and an initial set-up cost of £250-£300.

 

It includes: -

- Provision of Pupils, Staff and Teacher groups and policies

- AD sync for single sign on and multiple AD group based polices and reports eg YouTube can be accessed by Teachers but not by Pupils.

- Access to Management GUI – link and password provided for either school to use or Net Ctrl or eSafety4schools as part of the Managed service.

- User documentation

- Comprehensive reporting

- Adherence to the governments PREVENT strategy

- Own school allow/deny list

- Customisable deny page to incorporate the school’s logo, motif and AUP

- Embedded web threat scanning capabilities, capable of identifying and blocking zero-hour and known web-borne viruses, spyware, malware and other forms of malicious code

 

We are able get free evaluations for you to try the solution.

 

It's still new to our portfolio so i don't know much more than that. If it sounds like it could of interest, send me a PM and I will get one of the team that knows much more than I to get in touch.

[SchoolsBroadband]

definitely. If your Internet connectivity contracts are up for renewal too then we could do MPLS with all the filtering you require so no need for a site to site VPN, we can do it all at network level.

 

If you're staying put with the LA's internet for both sites the Lightspeed, smoothwall or Iboss should do the trick.

 

As we do Lightspeed in the cloud though our prices should be very competitive rather than buying the boxes onsite and paying per user. Let me know if you'd like a quite other than that good luck

 

Dave

 

We're looking for different options on filtering primarily, however there are a few connected issues... Requirements are to be able to have different profiles as well as transparent filtering for BYOD and guest/community access. We also have a need for a temporary (September to December) site-to-site VPN between the main building and a satellite building. Both buildings will be using their own, separate internet connection so would like devices to be directed (over the internet), and back into the main school building in order to make use of central services, file access and filtered internet, etc. If possible, I'd also like to be able to utilise the VPN to plug in a telephone handset which would then be connected through to the existing phone system in the main building. Any chance of that lot working?!