Case Study: Unity Schools Partnership achieves secure, flexible network control with Softcat and Smoothwall

Smoothwall solution gives Unity Schools Partnership something to shout about

Unity Schools Partnership (USP), a collaboration of 25 schools and academies across Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk, needed stronger safeguarding and more direct control over its internet security. While it already used a Smoothwall web-filtering/firewall solution via a local authority broadband agreement, USP wanted to bring the platform in-house to gain autonomy, standardise security across sites, and better support future expansion.

Softcat PLC worked with USP to scope requirements, negotiate a new Smoothwall deal, and arrange favourable financing and implementation support. The result was an in-house Smoothwall firewall deployment that delivered centralised control, improved network performance, stronger protection against threats such as ransomware and DDoS attacks, and more flexible content filtering for students, all with minimal disruption and a significant discount secured by Softcat PLC.

Unity Schools Partnership

Michael Vaughan

Director of IT