Maximum Speed, Maximum Control
Our Direct Internet Access product is built for schools with in-house IT expertise — or those who want the flexibility to run their own Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliance.
You get the same carrier-grade connectivity we’re known for, sourced from the best available carrier at your location, with full SLA coverage and 24/7 monitoring. The difference is in the filtering — you’re in control.
For schools that want on-premises filtering but don’t have an existing UTM, we offer a strategic partnership with Smoothwall — one of the UK’s leading education firewall solutions.
Key Features
Dedicated High-Speed Connection
Symmetrical or asymmetrical bandwidth from 10Mbps to 10Gbps, delivered via fibre leased line, FTTC, or fixed wireless.
Bring Your Own UTM
Already running Fortinet, Sophos, pfSense, or another UTM? Simply plug in to our connection and manage your own security policies.
Smoothwall On-Premises Option
Don’t have a UTM? Our Smoothwall partnership gives you enterprise-grade, education-focused firewall and filter — installed at your premises.
24/7 Circuit Monitoring
We monitor the health of your connection from our NOC around the clock. If there’s an issue, we coordinate directly with the carrier.
Static IP & Full Routing
Every connection comes with static external IP addresses — essential for running your own servers, VPNs, or remote access services.
Carrier-Grade SLA
Leased lines come with 99.997% uptime guarantee, enhanced care, and rapid fix commitments.
On-Premises Filtering with Smoothwall
Smoothwall is one of the UK’s most trusted names in education network security. Their purpose-built firewall and web filter gives your school granular control over internet access, safeguarding, and network policy — all from a single on-premises appliance.
- Real-time web content filtering with education-specific categories
- Integrated firewall and intrusion detection / prevention
- Customisable policies per user, group, or device
- HTTPS inspection for encrypted traffic
- Active Directory / LDAP integration
- Comprehensive reporting dashboard for SLT and governors
Which Solution is Right for You?
| Feature | Managed Internet | Direct Access |
|---|---|---|
| High-speed connectivity | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-carrier access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Static IP addresses | ✓ | ✓ |
| 24/7 NOC monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
| Managed firewall | ✓ | — (BYO) |
| Centralised web filtering | ✓ Netsweeper | — |
| On-premises filtering option | — | ✓ Smoothwall |
| Custom UTM support | — | ✓ |
| Ideal for | Schools without IT teams | Schools with IT expertise |