The university made the decision to overhaul its security systems after an audit last year revealed multiple weaknesses in its existing infrastructure. The system from Nortel and channel partner 3D Networks will replace multiple separate firewalls and security gateways with a network of secure routers connected to a central firewall for all incoming and outgoing traffic.
Considering we support more than 30,000 students, all of whom have equal access to the network, we have the dual challenge of creating an environment that fosters experimentation and learning while protecting against unauthorized traffic originating from our users, says Peter Hole, infrastructure services manager, Macquarie University.
Earlier this year Macquarie University issued a tender for a new security system with the requirement that it does not affect system availability, is highly scalable as the network expands, is quick to react to new threats, and can detect and react to damaging and non-damaging illegitimate traffic like music and video downloads.
Commenting on Nortel’s solution, Hole said, by placing a firewall at the network core rather than the edge and routing all traffic through the firewall, we’re simultaneously protected from external and internal threats.
Mark Stevens, president, Australia and New Zealand, Nortel, says, we’re working closely with Macquarie University to implement the rigid security measures required in a tertiary education environment without adversely impacting the performance of the network itself or the quality of the end user experience.
Nortel’s solution includes Ethernet Routing Switch 8600 and Nortel Switched Firewalls with Checkpoint security software pre-installed. Implementation started this month and is expected to be complete by September.
