New broadband Supplier

[Theldron]

Hi all,

 

We are due for our broadband renewal in about 4 months, so I am looking around and was wondering if anyone could recommend a supplier?

 

The school is currently on SWGFL.

 

Many thanks

[Chuckster]

https://www.wave9.co.uk/

 

They've been fantastic thus far since breaking away from the LA.

[BKGarry]

Recently been through the process of this (not swapped yet but orders placed) was on our LAs broadband but was a lot cheaper to move elsewhere.

 

We have gone with Wave9 as they gave a very comprehensive package and were transparent with what they were offering and how all the way along

[SchoolsBroadband]

Morning @sadams1980

 

we've been looking after Gloucestershire and Somerset schools for around 5 years. More than happy to do you a quote for connectivity, with our hosted Fortigate UTM security and Netsweeper filtering offering. It's all cloud based and virtualised so there's no need for any kit on site bar a router and you can easily grow into more processing power as your line increases over time without having to change any kit.

 

We also do MPLS / VPLS WAN as standard as well so if you need to connect to others schools then there's no additional charge or hardware required for that.

 

Finally we should be very competitive on price, particularly with Virgin as we're one of their largest wholesale partners.

 

Feel free to PM me and we can get your local account manager Rob to pop over from the Forest of Dean to see you.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

 

Thanks

 

Dave

[Theldron]

Morning @sadams1980

 

we've been looking after Gloucestershire and Somerset schools for around 5 years. More than happy to do you a quote for connectivity, with our hosted Fortigate UTM security and Netsweeper filtering offering. It's all cloud based and virtualised so there's no need for any kit on site bar a router and you can easily grow into more processing power as your line increases over time without having to change any kit.

 

We also do MPLS / VPLS WAN as standard as well so if you need to connect to others schools then there's no additional charge or hardware required for that.

 

Finally we should be very competitive on price, particularly with Virgin as we're one of their largest wholesale partners.

 

Feel free to PM me and we can get your local account manager Rob to pop over from the Forest of Dean to see you.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

 

Thanks

 

Dave

 

Hi Dave,

 

I was in discussions with Rob, in September and will pick these up again soon.

 

Many thanks

[mavhc]

If you have more than 1 site and don't want to buy 2 filtering devices, or feed everything via one site, then Exa vs Schools Broadband, because they both do off site filtering. Netsweeper vs Exa's Quantum filtering.

 

Only used Exa, their filtering is ok, the classifications are often wrong, but no idea if they're more wrong than anyone else. Syncs to AD every 10 mins, so I can add a pupil to YoutubeAllowed AD group and 10 mins and a logoff/on later they can get on youtube.

 

I was able to run both sites under one config, which is what I needed.

[Theldron]

If you have more than 1 site and don't want to buy 2 filtering devices, or feed everything via one site, then Exa vs Schools Broadband, because they both do off site filtering. Netsweeper vs Exa's Quantum filtering.

 

Only used Exa, their filtering is ok, the classifications are often wrong, but no idea if they're more wrong than anyone else. Syncs to AD every 10 mins, so I can add a pupil to YoutubeAllowed AD group and 10 mins and a logoff/on later they can get on youtube.

 

I was able to run both sites under one config, which is what I needed.

 

Hi @mavhc no it is just for one site, thanks mate. I am in contact with both Focus Networks who supply Exa and Schools Broadband, will contact Wave9 as well. See how they come up against SWGFL.

 

Cheers

[yac2016]

Onsite firewall and filtering is the best option.

[BlueSkies]

Another vote for Wave9 here

[robyholmes]

Exa here but only for the connection not filtering (UTM Smoothy for that). Connection works perfectly so hardly ever have to call support.

[synaesthesia]

Couldn't recommend Wave9 highly enough, excellent service, great support (haven't needed it much but install and random queries resolved really quickly) and the Sophos box is lovely.

[Wave9_Lee]

Hi @mavhc no it is just for one site, thanks mate. I am in contact with both Focus Networks who supply Exa and Schools Broadband, will contact Wave9 as well. See how they come up against SWGFL.

 

Cheers

Hi Sadams1980,

 

I'd be happy to send over some options and info, you can PM me or give me a call/mail anytime.

 

Thanks all for the recommendations, it's much appreciated.

 

Lee

[Opendium_Steve]

We are due for our broadband renewal in about 4 months, so I am looking around and was wondering if anyone could recommend a supplier?

 

We don't really believe in bundled filtering+internet since it prevents the school from changing one without the other at a future date, but a lot of schools move to us from a bundled supplier. So they want filtering and connectivity to be installed at the same time, and we partner with Evolving Networks to provide the connectivity side. It means you get the advantages of a bundled setup but without the disadvantages of actually tieing them together contractually.

 

If you'd like any info, drop us a line on [email protected]. I'll be at BETT tomorrow (Thursday) so if you're also there we can arrange to meet up? (Look out for someone wandering around in a purple Opendium polo shirt.

[Griff]

Onsite firewall + filtering.

 

Currently we are using and are very happy with;

Exponential-e for the internet line

Lightspeed for filtering (purchased via Expo)

Lynx networks for Cisco firewall

 

I had a good chat with the guys at Exa networks at BETT they seem pretty switched on but I have no experience as customer.

https://exa.net.uk

[meldistrict12]

Sorry to jump on the post? Anybody had any experience with just using BT? We have just had a decent quote from them for 1Gbps on 1Gbps bearer with a Cisco Meraki Router. Line Manager is keen to go down that route with them.

 

Another option is Coconnect that we met at Bett too. Just trying to weigh out all options at the moment.

 

Still awaiting a quote back from EXA.

[Andycat]

We've been BT for 5 years, one period of outage for no more than a couple of hours. Rock solid besides. We use Smoothwall UTM alongside.

 

Both need renewing this year, but would go with both again if the tender is favourable.

[supportman]

We've been BT for 5 years, one period of outage for no more than a couple of hours. Rock solid besides. We use Smoothwall UTM alongside.

 

Both need renewing this year, but would go with both again if the tender is favourable.

 

Pretty much same as us, BT 500mbit line and smoothwall. No outages that I can remember ever.

[localzuk]

We use Exa for our connections generally at the moment. We've got 1 x 1Gbps internet leased line & 4 x 1Gbps PTP leased lines with them. We get our filtering/firewall separately - Sophos XG for that (except for Securly for our Chromebooks).

[woreilly]

Sorry to jump on the post? Anybody had any experience with just using BT? We have just had a decent quote from them for 1Gbps on 1Gbps bearer with a Cisco Meraki Router. Line Manager is keen to go down that route with them.

Another option is Coconnect that we met at Bett too. Just trying to weigh out all options at the moment.

Still awaiting a quote back from EXA.

 

I can certainly vouch for CoConnect. We've been with them since April 2019 and the service has been excellent - pre/after sales, account management and technical support are all great. Shayne will very much look after you!

[meldistrict12]

Thank you, currently in contact with Shayne - he is very helpful. Definitely good to hear other peoples experiences :-)

[ITGURU]

whats the reason for wanting to move away from swgfl. do you not get your connection at a reduced price with the LEA? we are on the JANET network and top slice get discounted on our price and not found anyone who can beat it.

[KDW1987]

If you have more than 1 site and don't want to buy 2 filtering devices, or feed everything via one site, then Exa vs Schools Broadband, because they both do off site filtering. Netsweeper vs Exa's Quantum filtering.

Only used Exa, their filtering is ok, the classifications are often wrong, but no idea if they're more wrong than anyone else. Syncs to AD every 10 mins, so I can add a pupil to YoutubeAllowed AD group and 10 mins and a logoff/on later they can get on youtube.

 

I was able to run both sites under one config, which is what I needed.

Sadly as the techonology has advanced proxy based off site dns based filtering and multi tenancy firewalling doesn't do enough to cut the mustard and has failed to keep pace with the changes to safeguarding and prevent requirements regarding visability, granularity and control.

 

Waiting two days for changes to content and instant or urgent safeguarding reports being limited, or none accessible is an instant fail on an inspection.

 

A gateway solution gives clear levels of control granular reporting and instant access to the system to make day to day changes.

Edited March 7, 2020 by KDW1987

[ITGURU]

Sadly as the techonology has advanced proxy based off site dns based filtering and multi tenancy firewalling doesn't do enough to cut the mustard and has failed to keep pace with the changes to safeguarding and prevent requirements regarding visability, granularity and control.

 

Waiting two days for changes to content and instant or urgent safeguarding reports being limited, or none accessible is an instant fail on an inspection.

 

A gateway solution gives clear levels of control granular reporting and instant access to the system to make day to day changes.

Take a look at censornet USS. we've been using their filtering for several years and never had any downtime. you have gateways on site for authentication but all the filtering policies etc are in the cloud. you can have gateways at multiple sites all using the same or different configs and or policy rules.

 

also supports BYOD.

 

Changes to policies in the platform take effect within minutes. full reporting with cloud application control with full reports of actions taken on Google I.e search queries , when users send delete etc on 365. YouTube videos watched etc.

 

whenever users have posted sites on here to block I've always found them to be blocked already by censornet.

 

they constantly improve the platform with new features and additions.

 

we also use their email filter.

[ITGURU]

Take a look at censornet USS. we've been using their filtering for several years and never had any downtime. you have gateways on site for authentication but all the filtering policies etc are in the cloud. you can have gateways at multiple sites all using the same or different configs and or policy rules.

 

also supports BYOD.

 

Changes to policies in the platform take effect within minutes. full reporting with cloud application control with full reports of actions taken on Google I.e search queries , when users send delete etc on 365. YouTube videos watched etc.

 

whenever users have posted sites on here to block I've always found them to be blocked already by censornet.

 

they constantly improve the platform with new features and additions.

 

we also use their email filter.

You can also have multiple gateways at no additional cost. I have it setup as load bakancing/failover and as it's not inline between network and router.

 

I prefer this setup as it means will always have inbound communication if the proxy or filter goes down

 

If you have an inline device and that fails you lose both external access to the network and communication between multiple sites.

[mavhc]

Sadly as the techonology has advanced proxy based off site dns based filtering and multi tenancy firewalling doesn't do enough to cut the mustard and has failed to keep pace with the changes to safeguarding and prevent requirements regarding visability, granularity and control.

 

Waiting two days for changes to content and instant or urgent safeguarding reports being limited, or none accessible is an instant fail on an inspection.

 

A gateway solution gives clear levels of control granular reporting and instant access to the system to make day to day changes.

 

I've no idea what you're talking about.

 

It's not dns based, and dns based implies it's not a proxy. And what do firewalls have to do with anything?

 

What content is changing?