Cleeve School Creates a Wireless Hotspot and Remote Access Infrastructure to Support Flexible, Mobile Learning
Technology college uses AppGate Security Server to deliver “anytime, anywhere, any device, any user” IT access for staff and students
Cleeve School has installed advanced remote access capabilities and a wireless hotspot on its IT network, giving 1,500 students and staff flexible yet secure access to school resources round the clock and providing an enhanced learning environment.
The Cheltenham-based Technology College partnered with network security specialist AppGate to develop a solution which enables students to log on to the Internet or access network resources from anywhere on the school campus with only one log-in per day.
The solution from AppGate gives pupils secure wireless access from laptops and other wireless-enabled devices across the school campus. The flexibility of the solution means it can also support controlled remote access for community-based work and distance learning. This provides a learning environment with the flexibility to support the needs and working habits of each individual user.
At Cleeve School the AppGate solution has significantly reduced the administrative burden on IT staff, not only in controlling access but also in protecting the network, with pre-designated application-level firewall rules protecting business-critical systems at the school from external threats such as viruses and malware.
AppGate's unique network security solution resolves many of the issues normally associated with mobile remote access, delivering secure and flexible access in a single solution.
Craig MacLellan, Systems Manager at Cleve School said, "Many solutions that we investigated required students' laptops to be controlled in some form by the school. However, with the AppGate solution, our students are able to use any wireless enabled device to access the network, from any location. It was easily integrated onto our school network and the administration required has been virtually nil.
"We are now developing additional applications with the AppGate solution, with the wider community and our satellite feeder schools, in order to further enhance our teaching and learning environment."
The creation of a wireless hotspot across the school site and of a virtual private network for staff and students is part of the school's vision of "anytime, anywhere, any device and any user" ICT - a solution which improves teaching and learning by giving pupils the widest possible access to network and Internet resources.
As well as supporting flexible, remote access and distance learning, the AppGate solution has also improved overall network security, giving the IT team more granular control by enabling them to specify access levels for staff and pupils.
Access to network applications and services is predefined by the IT team, who are also able to set limits on when and how the network is accessed. The AppGate system then automatically authenticates users with LDAP and Microsoft Active Directory, allowing only designated users onto specified areas of the network.
Reproduced from an article published by AppGate
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http://www.appgate.com/news_and_publications/20_Press_Releases/n060725.php
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