Wide Area
Networks
Securely connect clusters of schools with a WAN. Perfect for Multi Academy Trusts
Key Benefits
- Cost-Effective & Scalable Connectivity: Our fully managed, cloud-based solution allows MATs to eliminate multiple school broadband contracts, so reducing Trust IT costs. With no need for on-site appliances, trusts can also scale seamlessly as new academies join.
- Simplified IT Management & Central Control: Our Managed Service enables central control of filtering, security & safeguarding policies, plus network performance and telemetry across all schools, reducing the burden on in-house IT teams and improving operational efficiency all round.
- Enhanced Security & Compliance with DfE Standards: Schools Broadband’s Private WAN allows schools within a MAT to benefit from centralised filtering, monitoring, and cybersecurity, enabling full DfE compliance with the latest standards.
- Superior Performance & Reliable Connectivity: Schools Broadband’s dedicated Private WAN keeps traffic off the public network, provides low-latency and high-speed connections between academies, ensuring uninterrupted cloud access, VoIP services, and centralised IT systems, even at peak times.
Additional Benefits
- Easy Management: Simplified network management from one central point making it easy to add and change sites.
- Reduced costs: The WAN is included as part of your service, providing central control and free site-to-site communication.
- Totally Secure: Our secure private data networks ensure safe communication, protect sensitive data, and enhance network reliability.
- All-In-One Solution: Benefit from award-winning Security, Online Safeguarding, Filtering, Monitoring plus Colocation options.
- Intelligent Distribution of Bandwidth: Optimise network performance, enhance reliability, reduce congestion, and support efficient resource allocation across academies.
What is a Wide Area Network (WAN)?
A Wide Area Network, or WAN, connects smaller local networks spread out over a broad geographic area— think of it as the digital thread tying together multiple school campuses or offices, no matter how far apart they are. A WAN is essential for schools, Multi Academy Trusts (MATs), and organisations that need to interconnect remote locations, branch offices, or multiple campuses.
What Does a Wide Area Network (WAN) Do?
A WAN enables seamless data transfer and communication across multiple locations, allowing organisations to access data storage, share network resources, and securely connect devices across vast distances. It uses networking technologies like fibre optic cables, leased lines, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to deliver global connectivity and robust network performance.
For Multi Academy Trusts and schools, a WAN can connect your branch offices and remote locations with robust security measures, providing a reliable, high-speed network that meets the needs of students and staff, no matter where they are.
Key Features of WAN for Multi Academy Trusts
Wide Area Networks offer several advantages for organisations that span multiple campuses or sites:
1. Seamless Communication Between Locations
With a WAN, local area networks (LANs) at different physical locations can be connected seamlessly. This ensures resource sharing and provides efficient access to cloud resources, network devices, and other critical data.
2. WAN Optimisation and Security
WAN optimisation tools ensure efficient data transmission across the network, reducing latency and improving the overall performance of network devices. Additionally, WAN security protocols such as firewalls, encrypted tunnels, and VPNs safeguard the network from cyber threats, ensuring only authorised users have access.
3. Scalable and Flexible Connectivity
Whether you’re using public networks, such as the internet, private networks, or even a combination of both, a WAN can be customised to meet your specific needs. For schools and Multi Academy Trusts, this means flexibility in how you connect various branch offices or campuses, whether through SD-WAN technology, fibre optic cables, or satellite links. The ability to choose between public and private networks allows you to optimise cost, security, and performance based on the unique requirements of your institution.
4. High-Speed Data Transfer
The WAN architecture allows for the fast transfer of data between sites, providing quick access to critical resources. This is especially important when using cloud-based applications or data centres for network resources.
Why Choose a WAN Provider for Your School Network?
When choosing a WAN provider for your school or MAT, it’s important to consider several factors:
- Network security: A good WAN provider will offer robust security measures to protect against cyber threats and ensure that only authorised users can access the network.
- WAN management: Efficient WAN management tools allow your IT staff to monitor and manage the network, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and that any issues are addressed quickly.
- Global connectivity: With WAN connections, schools can connect campuses across cities, regions, or even countries, ensuring that students and staff can access network resources wherever they are.
- Customisability: Choose a provider that can tailor the network infrastructure to your school’s specific needs, whether it involves data centres, WAN optimisation, or connecting multiple branch offices.
The Importance of WAN for Multi Academy Trusts (MATs)
For Multi Academy Trusts (MATs), a wide area network (WAN) provides the essential infrastructure to connect various schools and campuses. This enables efficient sharing of critical resources, such as cloud applications, administrative tools, and educational content, across multiple sites.
A WAN also provides remote access to network resources for staff working off-site, and secure communication between different school locations, ensuring that network security is maintained. With a WAN, MATs can ensure seamless communication between schools, helping them manage operations and support the educational needs of students efficiently.
Optimise Your Network with WAN Technology
In today’s digital age, wide area networks (WANs) are essential for providing global connectivity and ensuring smooth communication across large organisations like schools and Multi Academy Trusts. Whether you are connecting local area networks (LANs) or implementing WAN optimisation tools, Smoothwall WAN solutions can help you achieve optimal network performance and secure communication.
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