Any reputable school, whether it’s pre-k or higher education, should consider what the best firewalls have to offer. It’s safe to assume there are a range of diverse needs related to network security in educational institutions.
Schools aside, there’s a generally growing need for more comprehensive cybersecurity solutions. Especially those that are easy to integrate, offer long-term support and have the features needed for specific environments.
While there are many aspects to network security in education, firewall solutions are a core focal point. This article takes a look at some of the best firewalls for educational institutions in our modern digital landscape.
The Importance of Firewall Tech in Education
From phishing attempts to ransomware and even DDoS attacks, schools can be a hot target for a broad range of cyber threats. You can only hope schools have IT expertise on staff, but that isn’t the case for every institution. Firewall appliances can not only prevent attacks but also provide a transparent look at network traffic, among other features.
Here are a few other reasons why firewalls matter in education:
- Helps schools remain compliant with certain data and privacy regulations
- Delivers support for networks that expect consistently high traffic
- Optimizes resources on the network
- Provides students the security they need to ensure their information is protected
The topic is much more than that, and it gets a bit more complex when you start to look into the reality of your network security toolkit. While this should include a variety of tools, the firewall solution you go with will play a significant role.
Main Features to Look For in Firewalls for Schools and Universities
Many of the features you’re going to learn about here are commonly found in modern firewall solutions. In the same vein, there are plenty of details that shouldn’t be overlooked, even if they’re common in this day and age.
Features like content filtering, threat prevention, and intrusion detection are a must for network security in education. Secure VPN connections can be highly important too. A big benefit to this is having remote access for students and faculty.
Whether it’s a virtual learning experience or uploading necessary files, VPN connections are there when you need them most. Another angle to consider is cloud and hybrid security solutions. Some firewall integrations offer the best of both worlds. This can be a win for on-premise and cloud-based learning. Going the hybrid route gives a lot of flexibility to teachers and students throughout the school year.
Best Firewalls for Educational Institutions
Once you get to the point of searching for the right firewall option, this always comes with a long list of options. You can easily narrow your search by starting with a few industry leaders who are known for the solutions they bring to the market.
1. SonicWall NSA 2700
It’s common for schools to utilize a range of firewall solutions or rack mounts for more than one piece of hardware. This is primarily due to the heavy demand on their network, which could be thousands of users, for example.
While SonicWall definitely has more than one viable option for schools, the NSA 2700 isn’t a bad start. One of these may not get the job done for the entire school, but rack-mounting several of them could get the job done. The NSA 2700 offers support for up to 200 users, comes with 5.5 Gbps firewall throughput, and easily handles high-bandwidth applications.
2. Fortinet FortiGate 600F
Built to support up to 750 users, the FortiGate 600F is a powerhouse of a firewall. This includes firewall throughput at 36 Gbps and even 7 Gbps for VPN throughput. Its approach to high-speed performance and user capacity makes it more than ideal for educational environments.
It’s also known to be pretty easy to manage with a simpler take on security policy configuration. You also can’t forget about their FortiCare and FortiGuard services. This comes with benefits like malware protection, intrusion prevention, and web filtering.
3. Sophos XGS 4500
One of the best network security providers on the market, Sophos knows its way around modern firewall solutions. In the context of educational institutions, the Sophos XGS 4500 can definitely handle the student base.
It can withstand up to 2,500 users, and this includes a hefty firewall throughput of 80 Gbps. Perfect for larger schools, it’s more than suitable if you need security for remote learning, application support, and advanced threat protection. Unique features like Xstream protection and AI-driven threat detection are a few big selling points for this firewall.
Let’s Wrap Up
There are many caveats that play into the right network security solutions for schools and universities. However, knowing the various best practices for firewalls can help guide you toward the right model.
Due to the demand of the school’s network, more substantial firewall solutions are a requirement. If you’d like some help narrowing down your search, our team can help you avoid the trial and error.