SonicWALL Solutions for Higher Education

Network Security for the Enterprise UTM / Firewall / VPN / Wireless:

While technical advances in remote access, mobility, and real-time applications extend network functionality, they also make it more complex. This new paradigm of network communications threatens to undermine control and policy across network boundaries and become the new conduit for evolving threats.

SonicWALL E-Class NSA Series.

The SonicWALL E-Class NSA Series is the premier Unified Threat Management (UTM) solution for today’s enterprise network communications needs.  Combining a multi-tiered proactive defense with a high-speed deep packet inspection and traffic classification engine, the E-Class NSA solution inspects real-time applications, files, and content-based traffic, irrespective of port and protocol without significantly impacting performance or limiting scalability. Globally deployable and manageable, E-Class NSA extends protection over both external and internal networks, delivering content inspection, application control and threat prevention throughout an enterprise network.

SonicWALL NSA Series.

Complementing the SonicWALL E-Class NSA line, the SonicWALL NSA Series of UTM solutions provide affordably scalable components for globally-extensive and resource-demanding E-Class enterprise deployments. Additionally, mid-sized organizations expanding into enterprise environments can also take advantage of the high-speed deep packet inspection provided by these NSA Series solutions.

Enterprise-class security services.

For enterprise network administrators, sourcing, installing, integrating and maintaining multiple security products and services from multiple vendors can be prohibitively expensive and complex. SonicWALL E-Class Network Security Appliances (E-Class NSA) can be configured into a single customized enterprise solution, using an expanding array of seamlessly integrated services for gateway anti-virus, anti-spyware, intrusion prevention, enforced desktop anti-virus, content filtering and more. E-Class NSAs also intelligently enforce and dynamically update each of these services as new updates become available, reducing administrative overhead. In certain distributed environments, SonicWALL NSA appliances can offer a scalable alternative for integrated security services.  For instance, networks deploying NSA appliances as edge devices can further extend security applied to increased traffic by implementing E-class NSA appliances in-line through Transparent/L2 Bridge mode, with no logical disruption.

Comprehensive features and benefits.

Threats to today's enterprise networks traverse both network and application layers, and can originate internally as well as externally. Enterprise administrators require a unified solution that achieves robust security, reliability and efficiency. The SonicWALL E-Class NSA Series and NSA Series solutions integrate multiple security technologies into a single platform, with enterprise-class features that deliver comprehensive high-speed threat protection, reliable communications, flexible connectivity options, high availability, centralized policy management, in-depth compliance reporting and low total cost of ownership.

Solutions for enterprise-class deployments.

As enterprise networks grow to tens or even thousands of locations and appliances, the complexity and cost of deployment and management increases exponentially. The SonicWALL E-Class NSA Series is engineered to offer the most scalable, highly performing, reliable, and cost-effective multifunction threat solutions available for enterprise-class deployments. The E-Class NSA Series delivers a highly redundant security and connectivity platform that is purpose-built for high-speed internal/external network and virtual private network (VPN) implementations providing greater flexibility for central-site, distributed, campus, and in-line deployments. SonicWALL NSA Series solutions provide additional flexibility for scaled enterprise deployments.

SSL VPN Secure Remote Access:

Secure remote access is imperative to today's business. But in order to increase productivity and reduce IT overhead, the successful solution also must be easy for both users and administrators. The SonicWALL Aventail E-Class Secure Remote Access (SRA) family of SSL VPNs delivers the easiest secure remote access solution for mobile enterprise.

Award-winning Enterprise-scale SSL VPN

SonicWALL has added the award-winning Aventail SSL VPN  product line to our E-Class SRA appliances. Aventail's best-of-breed SSL VPNs deliver secure remote access to the most resources from the most end point locations. Aventail was named in the Visionaries Quadrant in the SSL VPN Magic Quadrant Report from Gartner, considered to be the leading analyst firm covering the SSL VPN industry. SonicWALL is strongly committed to the ongoing development and support of our SonicWALL Aventail E-Class SRA EX7000, EX6000 and EX-750 appliances for enterprise solutions.

Remote Access Solutions for the Global Mobile Enterprise

SonicWALL Aventail SRAs provide the access control solution for today's increasingly mobile enterprise. With more employees, partners and customers connected over more widely-distributed and mobile locations, there is greater demand for a single, centrally-managed gateway to control access to network resources. The SonicWALL Aventail SRA offering is best-of-breed and provides robust solutions for:

• Remote Access: Provides secure remote access to the most resources from the most end point device platforms.
• Mobile Enterprise: The only SSL VPN solution to provide support for Microsoft Windows Mobile PDAs and Smartphones.
• Disaster Recovery: Allows your workforce to remain productive from anywhere, anytime—even during unexpected business-infrastructure disruptions like natural disasters, pandemics, or terrorist activities.
• Wireless: Centralized secure access control for wireless networks supporting multiple device platforms.
• Extranet: Extends access to partners to increase collaboration in a way that does not compromise access control and security.
• Enforcing Policy: Enables IT to enforce policy across disparate points of entry, allowing granular access control for collaboration and compliance.
• Network Access Control: The easiest remote access controller on the market, providing the core elements of NAC today and the foundation for the evolution of NAC in the future.

Flexible Access Options for Any End Point

Aventail WorkPlace provides out-of-the-box clientless browser access to Web and client/server applications and file shares from virtually any browser on an unmanaged device. Workplace supports common browsers found on Windows, Macintosh and Linux devices. This allows browser access from home computers, public machines, smartphones and PDAs (including Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian and DoCoMo devices). Administrators have even greater control over portal access, content and design with the newly-enhanced SonicWALL WorkPlace Portal. Aventail Connect adds a Web-delivered thin client on a broad range of platforms (including Windows Vista, Macintosh, Linux and Windows Mobile) for managed devices for a complete "in-office" experience. In addition, Aventail Connect Service Edition delivers remote application-to-application access and Aventail Connect Mobile provides "in-office" access for Windows Mobile-powered device users.

Robust Features that Boost ROI and Lower TCO

SonicWALL Aventail SRAs deliver robust features and benefits that give you immediate return on your investment by allowing your workforce to be productive anywhere, anytime—while helping you reduce IT overhead and total cost of ownership.

Faster Return on Investment (ROI) by Increasing Remote Productivity

• Aventail Smart Access offers transparent, dynamic deployment of the appropriate access method.
• The most robust set of access options in the industry, including Aventail Connect and Connect Mobile.
• Easy access to more applications from more environments—including Windows, Windows Vista, Windows Mobile, Linux and Macintosh.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership by Streamlining IT Overhead

• Web-based or thin client access, without requiring IT deployment and maintenance of per-seat fat clients.
• Aventail Unified Policy delivers an object-based policy model with a single rule set on a centralized gateway.
• Aventail Advanced Reporting offers powerful analysis of remote access to your resources.

Enhanced Network Resource Security

• Aventail End Point Control (EPC) detects the security of an end point at user login and/or at administrator-defined intervals.
• Aventail Unified Policy protects resources with granular policy based on that user and end point.
• Aventail Smart Access connects the user only to authorized resources.

Maximum Network Protection Content Security Management:

In today's business environment organizations rely on the Internet for access to information and resources. While instant access to information over the Internet is critical, it introduces incredible risks to the network and data.

Security threats.

Every day new threats such as viruses, worms, Trojans, phishing attacks and spyware programs cause serious financial damage to companies through compromised computing systems, lost productivity and the theft of passwords and other confidential information. The opportunity to connect to Web sites that contain objectionable or even illegal content can leave organizations vulnerable to legal liabilities and unwanted security risks. Additionally, the use of instant messaging (IM) and peer-to-peer (P2P) applications compete for employees' time and can result in tremendous losses in productivity.

Introducing a content filtering solution.

The SonicWALL Content Security Manager Series (CSM), featuring the 2200 and 3200 models, is an appliance-based gateway security and content filtering solution that integrates real-time gateway anti-virus, anti-spyware and intrusion prevention to deliver maximum network protection from today's sophisticated Internet threats. While continuing to increase employee productivity, optimize network utilization and mitigate any legal liability. This unique solution integrates seamlessly behind any firewall, enabling companies of all sizes to upgrade their security without upgrading their firewall.

Get maximum network protection.

The SonicWALL CSM appliances protect your network from a wide range of Internet threats, such as viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, e-mail-based fraud attempts and illicit or unproductive Web content. By deploying CSM on your network you can enjoy the benefits of the most sophisticated protection available today. All incoming data is scanned in real-time at the gateway to block threats before they can do any damage. The CSM 2200 and CSM 3200 receive up-to-the-minute signatures about the latest Internet security risks via a continuous, real-time connection to SonicWALL's dynamically updated signature database, so even the newest threats can't get through.

Seamless integration behind any firewall.

The CSM appliance is compatible with any firewall and is easy to install and maintain. Simply deploy the unit between your existing firewall and core LAN switch. Then finish the setup with an easy-to-use Web-based configuration wizard. The system is kept up-to-date via automatic updates from SonicWALL's dynamically updated signature database. The CSM appliances will start inspecting all incoming and outgoing network traffic almost immediately following installation.

Uninterrupted network productivity with high availability.

When a CSM appliance is coupled with a secondary CSM appliance, your network remains protected even if the primary unit fails. In the unlikely event of such a failure, the backup unit automatically comes online and provides uninterrupted protection and connectivity. The SonicWALL CSM appliance helps ensure that there will never be a time when your network is left unprotected.

Instant messaging, peer-to-peer and multimedia controls.

Every CSM appliance can be configured to use detailed policy controls to limit productivity-draining applications, such as instant messaging and Internet gaming. The controls can also prevent employees from accessing Web sites and downloading content that consumes a lot of bandwidth or that exposes your company to legal liabilities.

Centralized Management & Reporting:

SonicWALL's management and reporting solutions provide a comprehensive architecture for centrally creating and managing security policies, providing real-time monitoring and alerts, and delivering intuitive compliance and usage reports, all from a single management interface. Whether your organization is a small- or medium-sized business, a distributed enterprise or a managed service provider, SonicWALL offers software and appliance solutions to meet your needs.

Universal Management Appliance

The SonicWALL E-Class Universal Management Appliance (UMA) centralizes policy management, monitoring and reporting for multiple SonicWALL appliances. The UMA provides an effective way to configure, enforce and manage global policies for SonicWALL firewall, anti-spam, backup and recovery, and secure remote access solutions. The appliance simplifies and automates multi-level policy management, monitoring and compliance reporting with flexible, powerful and intuitive tools. Multiple UMA appliances, when deployed in a cluster, can scale to manage up to thousands of SonicWALL security appliances. This makes the SonicWALL UMA an ideal solution for small-to-medium sized businesses, enterprises and managed service providers that have either single-site or distributed multi-site environments.

Global Management System

The award-winning SonicWALL Global Management System (GMS) provides organizations, distributed enterprises and service providers with a flexible, powerful and intuitive solution to centrally manage and rapidly deploy SonicWALL firewall, anti-spam, backup and recovery, and secure remote access solutions. SonicWALL GMS™ also provides centralized real-time monitoring, and comprehensive policy and compliance reporting.

ViewPoint Reporting Tool

SonicWALL ViewPoint™ is an easy-to-use Web-based reporting tool that fully complements and extends SonicWALL’s security products and services. Comprehensive reporting capabilities provide administrators with instant insight into the health of their network including both performance and security. Using both a customizable dashboard and a variety of historical reports, SonicWALL ViewPoint helps organizations of all sizes track network utilization, monitor security activity and view Web usage.

Insights:

The 21st century classroom.

Planning Resources:

Integrated, Affordable Network Security Solutions for Schools
The Internet is forever changing education. It’s opening up a world of opportunities, transforming how students learn and teachers teach. Today, even a one-room schoolhouse can be connected to the rest of the world. A student in Texas can tap into research resources in London. A group of kids in Rome can collaborate with another in Boston. And teachers and administrators can work more efficiently than ever.

Integrated, Affordable Network Security Solutions for Schools Whitepaper
 

Proof points:

Get your facts straight.

Case Studies:

Cedarville University
Deliver reliable high-performance gateway firewall protection for over 3,000 university students using multiple concurrent internet connections.

Nestled in the verdant countryside of southwestern Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited Baptist university of arts, sciences, professional, and graduate programs. Home to 3,000 students and a staff of 500, Cedarville is committed to providing an integrated, broadly-accessible information, voice, and video communications technology infrastructure, to get information to people who need it, when they need it, and where they need it. Cedarville’s Computer Services department strives to ensure a reliable network infrastructure, a dependable computing environment, essential help-desk services, and comprehensive information delivery.

Cedarville University Casestudies
 

DePaul University
Easy, secure and centrally managed wireless student access to University resources.

Founded in 1898, Chicago-based DePaul University has grown to become America’s largest Catholic university, serving more than 23,000 students. While DePaul’s students reflect a broad range of ethnic, religious, geographic, and economic backgrounds, they increasingly share a common demand for easy and secure wireless connectivity to University resources.

DePaul University Casestudies
 

Birmingham-Southern College
Securing a growing academic network without choking throughput

Founded in 1856, Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year, private liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The campus network includes approximately 1,000 college-owned Windows-based systems and 200 network laser printers, serving faculty, administration and multiple academic labs. A fractional DS3 line provides Internet access to all members of the college community. Connectivity for student-owned machines in all residence halls, sororities and fraternities, is separately managed by a third-party service provider.

Birmingham-Southern College Casestudies
 

Rush Croft Sports College
Provide school staff with secure remote access to network resources.

Based in London, England, Rush Croft Sports College is an award-winning secondary school and sports college for nearly 900 11-19 year olds. The school has more than 150 employees, which are dedicated to the principles of physical activity, the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the development of self management, and modern education, which create a unique educational experience. In an effort to differentiate itself from other schools in the area, Rush Croft has focused on enhancing its information technology resources and infrastructure, which in turn will help improve learning opportunities for its students and productivity for its teachers and administrative staff. As a result of its increased focus on technology, Rush Croft deployed a SonicWALL TZ 170 network security appliance and a SonicWALL Email Security 300 appliance to safeguard its network infrastructure from spam attacks, viruses, intrusions and spyware, as well as to protect confidential and sensitive student and employee information.

Rush Croft Sports College Casestudies
 

St. Louis College of Pharmacy
SonicWALL spoke with Chad Shepherd, Chief Information Officer at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, about the email security challenges he confronts at the college, and how he has applied SES to resolve those challenges.

Founded in 1864, St. Louis College of Pharmacy is the oldest pharmacy college west of the Mississippi River. The college offers a six-year curriculum leading to a Pharm. D. (Doctorate of Pharmacy). Enrollment is over 1,200 students, who are issued college-supplied notebook computers and email accounts. The college uses SonicWALL Email Security (SES) software to protect the email of 1,500 students, faculty and staff.

St. Louis College of Pharmacy Casestudies
 

Goucher College
Protect Goucher College’s most important electronic asset from spam, viruses phishing attacks.

For Goucher College, an independent, co-educational institution, the world is its campus.  The Baltimore, MD. liberal arts school encourages its students to complement their rigorous classroom education with real-world experiences through internships and study abroad opportunities. The college’s marketing tagline is “Education without Boundaries”, and with students studying and working around the world, the college relies heavily on e-mail communications, or what Reid Guanti, director of computing services for Goucher, refers to as “the school’s most important electronic asset.”

Rush Croft Sports College Casestudies
 

Biblionet Groningen
Secure Internet use for the members of the libraries. Secure use of the centrally hosted applications for Biblionet’s employees. Central and remote management of the workstation PCs and the security.

Biblionet Groningen is an organization that unites 67 libraries across 24 communes in the Dutch province of Groningen. The organization’s network infrastructure is based on two separate networks. The one network facilitates the office applications and the library system Vubis Smart, for managing the lending. The database with all the data is centrally located in Groningen. The libraries have a VPN connection to the central location. A number of PCs in the libraries are connected to the second network, allowing members to access the Internet for at no charge. In total, there are about 180,000 members, about a third of the total population of the province. Via the PCs, they can access the libraries’ catalogues, as well as specific Web sites and databases, such as certain historical archives, Web sites of newspapers and magazines, etc. Via the SonicWALL solutions, from its central location, Biblionet Groningen manages the security of all PCs connected to one of the networks.

Biblionet Groningen Casestudies