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Case Studies > Large South Dakota School District Maintains Critical Online Services with Barracuda Link Balancer

Large South Dakota School District Maintains Critical Online Services with Barracuda Link Balancer

Technology Category
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy - Network Security
  • Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
  • Networks & Connectivity - Routers & Bridges
Applicable Industries
  • Education
Applicable Functions
  • Business Operation
  • Facility Management
Services
  • Software Design & Engineering Services
  • System Integration
The Challenge
Todd County School District was experiencing significant web access issues due to bandwidth limitations on its single 10 Mbps T1 connection. The district relies heavily on web-based applications for managing student information, administrative and testing services, and delivering curriculum. The bandwidth limitations were causing slowdowns and timeouts, particularly affecting high bandwidth applications like streaming media and video conferencing. The district needed a solution to improve web access and ensure reliable connectivity for its critical online services.
About The Customer
Todd County School District, located in South Dakota, comprises 11 schools serving 2,124 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. The district operates six different office locations with approximately 550 staff members. It maintains essential online services such as email, websites, video conferencing, technology blogs, and an online help desk. Additionally, the district provides an online portal for parents to check their child's school attendance, grades, class assignments, and more. The district's reliance on web-based applications for various administrative and educational purposes necessitates a robust and reliable internet connection.
The Solution
To address the bandwidth limitations and improve web access, Todd County School District deployed the Barracuda Link Balancer 430. This device aggregates multiple internet connection links, providing automated failover and bandwidth management. The Barracuda Link Balancer combines the bandwidth of multiple high-speed connections and ensures reliable connectivity by automatically detecting and managing internet link failures and restorations. The device's easy-to-use web interface allows administrators to define, manage, and control bandwidth settings from a central location. The deployment of the Barracuda Link Balancer enabled the district to balance traffic across two T1 connections, guaranteeing bandwidth for audio and video services, email, and blogs. Additionally, the district set up Network Address Translation (NAT) and port-forwarding rules on the Barracuda Link Balancer's built-in firewall to secure its internal servers.
Operational Impact
  • The Barracuda Link Balancer helped network administrators diagnose and isolate issues with a problematic wireless access point, improving overall network performance.
  • The district's alternative school, which runs a high bandwidth web-based curriculum program, experienced significant improvements in web access, with no complaints about slowdowns or timeouts since the deployment.
  • The easy-to-use interface of the Barracuda Link Balancer allowed administrators to efficiently manage and control internet links, reducing the complexity of network management.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Starting at $1,499, the Barracuda Link Balancer offers an affordable solution with no per port charges or per server licensing fees.

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