Managed SD-WAN
Flexible, cost-effective connectivity to the Janet Network.
The Managed SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) service offers a new, flexible way to connect to the Janet Network, the UK's national research and education network (NREN), helping you meet the challenges of your organization's digital transformation.
SD-WAN is a technology that optimises the performance of a WAN using software instead of hardware. Unlike traditional WANs that rely on physical routers and manual configuration of each device, SD-WAN separates the hardware from the control system, making managing your network more efficient, and centralised.
Thanks to our partnership with BT and Fortinet, you can connect to the Janet Network beyond the physical boundaries of your campus, and/or sites across the community, to include remote or underserved areas. An SD-WAN connection can be set-up faster than traditional networks without any need for additional infrastructure.
And by leaving it to us to deliver a fully outsourced service, you free up your engineering and technical resources to focus on other priority areas of IT operations.
You'll also benefit from the built-in security features of the Janet Network, such as foundation DDoS protection and JNRS, improving your organisations cyber security.
Benefits of SD-WAN
Fast connection to Janet Network
Set-up is quicker than traditional networks as there’s no need to build new infrastructure at the location.
Secure and reliable
Improved network security with foundation DDoS protection and JNRS.
Scalable
We’ve invested in carrier-grade infrastructure that’ll grow as you grow, future-proofing your network.
Cost-effective
Fully managed service means freeing up your engineering and/or IT and technical resources to focus on other areas of IT operations.
Increasing education standards
Connecting to the Janet Network upgrades your internet and invests in future learning with technology that meets the highest standards set by the Department for Education.
Drive digital inclusion
Extend connectivity to remote or underserved areas by leveraging a combination of broadband, LTE, and other low-cost internet options.
Support critical public services
Offer consistent, reliable network performance for critical public services like health, education, and social programs, even in less connected areas.
Eligibility
Any organisation can use our managed SD-WAN service, regardless of whether you are connected to the Janet Network already or not.
Contact your relationship manager or make a customer enquiry.
Any organisation can use our managed SD-WAN service, regardless of whether you are connected to the Janet Network already or not.
Contact your relationship manager or make a customer enquiry.
Service level
At the edge of Janet, we have a Fortinet hyperscale firewall (FortiGate 7081-F2) as a headend. This is the gateway through which you can have secure access to the Janet Network via a FortiGate at your site, tunnelling traffic to the our headend. The FortiGate will be sized based on your organisation’s needs.
The SD-WAN service also provides connectivity options ranging from 10 Gbit using BTNet to FFTP/C at 330 Mbit down and 50 Mbit up using BT Broadband. In which case will have a contract directly with us, and we will handle the delivery through BT.
Alternatively, we can also support your organisations existing or preferred internet provider.
At the edge of Janet, we have a Fortinet hyperscale firewall (FortiGate 7081-F2) as a headend. This is the gateway through which you can have secure access to the Janet Network via a FortiGate at your site, tunnelling traffic to the our headend. The FortiGate will be sized based on your organisation’s needs.
The SD-WAN service also provides connectivity options ranging from 10 Gbit using BTNet to FFTP/C at 330 Mbit down and 50 Mbit up using BT Broadband. In which case will have a contract directly with us, and we will handle the delivery through BT.
Alternatively, we can also support your organisations existing or preferred internet provider.
Related services
About the Janet Network
Janet Network is the UK's national research and education network (NREN). All further and higher education organisations in the UK are reliably and securely connected to the Janet network, as are all the research councils, representing 18 million users in total. The network also carries traffic between schools within the UK, although many of the schools' networks maintain their own general Internet connectivity.
The Janet Network has 600 plus direct peerings with key education and research network facilities, and cloud and content providers, and peers extensively with other internet service providers (ISPs) at Internet exchange points (IXPs) in the UK. Any other networks are reached via transit services from commercial ISPs using Janet's peering policy.
Janet Network is the UK's national research and education network (NREN). All further and higher education organisations in the UK are reliably and securely connected to the Janet network, as are all the research councils, representing 18 million users in total. The network also carries traffic between schools within the UK, although many of the schools' networks maintain their own general Internet connectivity.
The Janet Network has 600 plus direct peerings with key education and research network facilities, and cloud and content providers, and peers extensively with other internet service providers (ISPs) at Internet exchange points (IXPs) in the UK. Any other networks are reached via transit services from commercial ISPs using Janet's peering policy.
Managed SD-WAN use cases
The use cases we've identified where managed SD-WAN can help include, but are not limited to:
- Deployment to sites with little to no network expertise. Managed SD-WAN is a fully outsourced service, so you don’t have to think about planning, development, and improvement efforts
- Increased speed and flexibility of Janet Network delivery to new or temporary sites at your organisation
Member story: Aston Manor Academy
When Aston Manor Academy discovered their building was unsafe for use, the race was on to rehome its 260-strong sixth form in a safe space in time for the new academic year.
Read their story of getting students back in the classroom and learning by using our innovative SD-WAN concept.
“I'm delighted to say that within ten days, we all moved up, the sixth form and staff were over and at 9am we had 260 students actively engaging their learning, which is quite incredible to think about.” Dan Preston, assistant head teacher for post 16, Aston Manor Academy.
ISO certification
This service is included within the scope of our ISO9001 and ISO 27001 certificates.
