The firewall problem

In computing, a firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted, secure internal network and another outside network, such as the Internet, that is assumed not to be secure or trusted. Wikipedia

By adding 2500 Chromebooks to our schools this fall, we increased the total number of computers on our network by less than 25%. (Probably far less since we had no idea how many personal devices were being used on the network last year.) So we I anticipated a 25% increase in bandwidth.

Big mistake.

Our bandwidth utilization more than doubled. Who'd have thought kids with devices in hand use more bandwidth than kids using computers in labs now and then. Oh, kids whose teachers all use a learning management system use more bandwidth than kids whose teachers push paper? Kids are using more video resources, more digital textbooks, and more digital collaboration and productivity tools. And, yes, Snapchat and Instagram are now more readily available to students as well.

Now this old English major was not caught completely unaware of the need for greater capacity. We increased our Internet bandwidth from 1G to 10G this summer. We've upgraded the quality and number of wireless access points throughout the district over the past couple years in anticipation of the need for more access. But I thought we could push off an expensive upgrade to our firewall and content filter for another year.

For those who enjoy an analogy to the analog world, an Internet firewall is comparable to the security line at the airport. Everything goes through an inspection process to make sure nothing dangerous in being transported into the secure areas. So while we improved the highways to the airport and we increased the number of jets taking off, we pulled a TSA and didn't add any security lines to our metaphorical terminal.

This has caused some bumps and hiccoughs and dismay for both teachers and staff in our otherwise smooth 1:1 roll out - and caused major pain in an expansion of using some math and reading intervention software in our middle schools. But we are fixing it.

So why am I telling you this? Education writers need to share both successes and mistakes if we are to be fully helpful to our peers. I've written a few times about failed technology implementations (There isn't a train I wouldn't take January 2000 and The PSLA (Probibility of Large Scale Adoption) Predictors May 2008) and should probably have shared more.

We celebrate grit in our kids. We cling to lovely adages like "Those who make no mistakes usually make nothing at all." And we love to celebrate our successes. But it is the road's bumps and potholes and detours we and our peers encounter that teach us to be better drivers.

Comments

[Nathan Mielke]

As in mass production, network throughput is only as fast as its bottlenecks....and a NGFW with 10 gig of throughput in threat prevention mode is about 75% of the value of my house. And that's not a joke.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Buddy,

Yup, we will probably see a bill of close to 100K by the time we get it firewall, backup, and content filter in place plus set up costs. Yikes, and I did not apply for cat 2 erate to help offset either. But I seem to have no choice. I guess they can fire me and use my salary to offset the cost!

Have a great holiday season,

Doug