The Forest of Dean Trust future-proofs its EdTech and delivers a safe learning environment with a full stack Cisco Meraki solution from Redway Networks
The Forest of Dean Multi-Academy Trust has moved to a full-stack Meraki solution, providing a next-gen IT infrastructure that will support the latest educational practices across it’s primary school, secondary school, and sixth-form campuses. The new network covers WiFi, switches, firewalls as well as physical security and sensors. The next-gen solution has already reduced network management time drastically, protected the schools from the rising number of cyber-threats, and has opened the Trust up to growth without compromised systems.
The new security solution has delivered:
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Network administration and management time has been reduced by 50% thanks to automated optimisation, problem solving and machine learning
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A 100% reduction in reported network issues from users, including engineers – any problems are resolved before they’re even reported
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Over 150 cyber-threats were blocked by the Trust’s next-gen Meraki firewall within the first 2 weeks of the solution’s deployment
Since installing Meraki we’ve improved efficiency as we’ve reduced the amount of time previously spent on network troubleshooting and performing software updates which has enabled us to focus on creating safe, flexible spaces where learning, teaching and collaboration can take place. Meraki has given us complete visibility from the edge of the network through to the core.
Emily Stigant, IT Manager, The Forest of Dean Trust
The Challenge
The Trust has expanded hugely in recent years, growing to incorporate a sixth-form in 2019. This considerably raised the demands placed on their IT network, which needed to swell to accommodate a larger, busier campus. In addition to performance being negatively impacted by the growth, network management rose sharply, so the Trust needed a new solution which would simultaneously support the Trust’s growth and also make network management easier despite the rising numbers of students and staff.
The Trust’s journey to a next-gen, future-ready IT infrastructure started back in 2019 when they replaced their Ruckus WiFi with a WiFi-6 Meraki network. Read how and why they progressively transitioned to a full-stack solution capable of supporting tomorrow’s learning in our full case study.
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