Smoothwall Recommendations

[Techlee77]

Hi folks,I have been recommended Smoothwall for a possible replacement for our current filer and firewall and I'd like to get the experiences of others that are using it. Currently I don't touch much in the way of this, it is done via the Local Authority so it's still a learning process. Just looking to get a sense of how it works, if it's a hybrid or all cloud solution.

 

I'd like to push for serverless in school, we already use M365 and the goal would to be also utilise more from Entra & Intune too. It would be good to know how well or if it works in conjunction with these services. Has anyone else been successful in going full in cloud?

 

Much appreciated. Thanks.

[howartp]

All North Yorkshire schools have had them through at least three tenders.

 

I think the odd large secondary school may have moved elsewhere but the rest of us (inc various sized secondaries) are happy sticking with them.

 

I wouldn't want to move to another product now having been through maybe 5 others prior to the Smoothwall era; I know what i'm doing with it and how to respond to foibles.

[TechMonkey]

Smoothwall the product is fantastic and just does what you need to. As far as I know it is still only one of 2 products that does true content filtering. It still needs a UI update to use some modern methods, but is still very useable. Being education focused does give them the edge. More often than not when sites are posted on the to be blocked thread, Smoothwall has already got it covered.

 

Support, as with most education offerings, is variable based on time of year. September there is always a support issue as schools hammer them for help with new pupil setup, new migrations and all the new term fun.

 

I have used them across 3 settings and a ridiculous number of years and have never been annoyed enough to feel the need to move.

Edited February 15, 2024 by TechMonkey

[Rob_D]

We've been with Smoothwall for (must be about 10 years now), and it's always been pretty good for us (some early teething problems but otherwise it's just ticked along nicely). Our current setup is an on-site appliance linked to their cloud filtering. Syncs fine with both local and Azure AD. Filtering can be fully cloud, but I'm not sure they offer cloud firewall.

 

Personally, I wouldn't want to go cloud firewall. I'm probably just being old-fashioned, but I'm uneasy about the firewall not being a physical box that sits between the internet and internal network.

 

More often than not when sites are posted on the to be blocked thread, Smoothwall has already got it covered.

They're also good at keeping up with current issues, I found out about the Ticktock "barreling" craze through one of their safeguarding updates, and some years ago, I remember finding out about a big school shooting from the Smoothwall email saying "we've pushed out an update that blocks the videos of this for you".

[3s-gtech]

Running two Smoothwalls here - the hardware (Dell R410) eventually failed after many years of use (iDRAC failed, irritating but not terminal) so I transferred the software to replacement servers, with the help of their support.

 

The product is good, I get on well with it and I find the support decent.

[Aprice]

Currently all our customers are running Smoothwalls. At the end of the day we know the product well and are comfortable with it. It does the job it needs to.

 

On the whole I think it's a good product, I've said before I'd like the reporting aspect improved on the box. Instant notifications it sends out have been a big confidence win with the safeguarding staff and heads we work with. Full reports are very rarely used we find, but could do with some work.

 

We've always stuck to the hardware appliances from them, just eliminates any support concerns. Its their box with their software on. Do miss the LCD displays on the newer ones if anyone from Smoothwalls listening.

 

Support overall is OK, sometimes it can be a long wait. But they do have some really good engineers.

[timbo343]

Hi folks,I have been recommended Smoothwall for a possible replacement for our current filer and firewall and I'd like to get the experiences of others that are using it. Currently I don't touch much in the way of this, it is done via the Local Authority so it's still a learning process. Just looking to get a sense of how it works, if it's a hybrid or all cloud solution.

 

I'd like to push for serverless in school, we already use M365 and the goal would to be also utilise more from Entra & Intune too. It would be good to know how well or if it works in conjunction with these services. Has anyone else been successful in going full in cloud?

 

Much appreciated. Thanks.

 

I'm one of the North Yorks schools that @howartp has mentioned, now looking after 9 primary schools that have them too. Been a customer of Smoothwall for over 11 years.

 

Yes it has it's bad points but don't they all.

 

They have the OnPrem version and cloud version. The OnPrem version i think will eventually become the firewall and the cloud version will become their filtering product. At the moment both OnPrem and Cloud versions sync with each other.

 

The OnPrem boxes are very much part of the backbone of the network now issuing out at least 4 VLANs at each school.

 

At the end of the day, i'm more than happy with Smoothwall. After 11 years still learning some of the best ways to set up the various networks and they are on top with most of the new threats and auth methods. There are Smoothwall employees on here who will no doubt show their face.

Edited February 15, 2024 by timbo343

[CrootUK]

I'm one of the North Yorks schools that @howartp has mentioned, now looking after 9 primary schools that have them too. Been a customer of Smoothwall for over 11 years.

 

Yes it has it's bad points but don't they all.

 

They have the OnPrem version and cloud version. The OnPrem version i think will eventually become the firewall and the cloud version will become their filtering product. At the moment both OnPrem and Cloud versions sync with each other.

 

The OnPrem boxes are very much part of the backbone of the network now issuing out at least 4 VLANs at each school.

 

At the end of the day, i'm more than happy with Smoothwall. After 11 years still learning some of the best ways to set up the various networks and they are on top with most of the new threats and auth methods. There are Smoothwall employees on here who will no doubt show their face.

 

 

I dont see how they can completely get rid of onprem filter? getting students/staff/guests to install a cert is hard enough let alone a custom browser/app and expect them to use that and only that whilst at our schools…. onprem filtering is going to be around for a long time yet…

[gaz350b]

You’ll probably see on prem boxes requiring less and less resources which should bring down the price of the on prem box.