FAQs

Yes, we manage our network end to end and can guarantee no end-to-end contention.

We are a carrier agnostic ISP meaning we can offer connectivity from different carriers for the same Trust, ensuring value for money.

We will provide service credits for any instance where the SLA is not met.

Yes, Schools Broadband meets all DfE online regulatory requirements.

Yes, Schools Broadband filtering solutions are fully DfE/Prevent Duty compliant. We are also fully compliant with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) Block List & Image Hash List and the Home Office Terrorism Block List.

Our solution’s artificial intelligence categorisation engine identifies new websites dynamically, blocking unwanted content without school intervention. Block pages are always delivered to the end client and include a reason why the site has been blocked.

Yes, Talk Straight/Schools Broadband have been a member of the IWF since 2013, our filtering solution uses the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) Block List & Image Hash List.

Administration of our solution is provided via a single pane of glass web interface where a Trust will also be able to view configuration and make changes if required. As well as the ability to control the filtering policies centrally via Shared Lists, our solution will also provide the ability to delegate tasks such as block/ unblock requests to individual schools and administrators as required.

Yes, BYOD is supported and filtered 4G is available.

Yes, this can be done via shared lists across a MAT or local lists for local requirements.

Yes, as standard Safeguarding and Prevent Duty reports will be set up by Schools Broadband, but from there the school has the ability to report on any aspect of the filtering.

Yes, our solution is well suited to MATs as it can provide delegated access to individual schools, while still retaining a single pane of glass view of the Trust as a whole.

We will do everything possible to fix the issue remotely within 4 hours, if we are not able to fix the issue remotely, we would provide a next working day swap out.

Yes, teachers have the ability to block or allow websites used in classrooms for set periods of time.

We hold our filtering logs for three years.

Our solutions integrate with multiple directories, Azure AD, G-Suite, Windows AD/Kerberos, LDAP, RADIUS at no additional cost.

Yes, our managed firewall solution comes with Unified Threat Management (UTM) which includes but is not limited to: In-line anti-virus scanning, IPS/ IDS, Layer 7 application control and spam filtering.

Many Multi-Academy Trusts take advantage of our free of charge Wide Area Network (WAN) service. A WAN allows private inter-site communication between all sites.

Yes, as our solution is hosted, this can work across all connected sites.

The core of our solution is an Enterprise security platform by Fortinet. It is designed and built to deliver an advanced protection and performance system that standalone products simply cannot match. The services work together as an integrated solution to provide better visibility and mitigation of the very latest network and application threats, stopping attacks before damage can occur

Updated security signatures are automatically downloaded via the FortiGate firewalls to keep them up to date from the latest threats. Any software updates will be planned in conjunction with the Trust.

We are Cyber Security Essentials Plus accredited and are able to meet the DfE guidance for Cyber Security Standards.