Infoblox > Case Studies > Council Rock School District Enhances Network Security and Management with Infoblox Solutions

Council Rock School District Enhances Network Security and Management with Infoblox Solutions

Customer Company Size

Large Corporate

Region

America

Country

United States

Product

Infoblox DDI
Infoblox DNS Firewall
Infoblox NetMRI
Infoblox 1410 Appliances

Tech Stack

DNS
DHCP
IP Address Management

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Productivity Improvements
Customer Satisfaction
Digital Expertise

Technology Category

Cybersecurity & Privacy - Network Security
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Device Management Platforms
Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management

Applicable Industries

Education

Applicable Functions

Facility Management
Business Operation

Use Cases

Intrusion Detection Systems
Remote Control

Services

System Integration
Cybersecurity Services
Training

About The Customer

The Council Rock School District (CRSD) is a large educational institution located in Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is the twelfth-largest school district in the state, serving over 11,200 students across 16 campus locations, including ten elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. The district's IT infrastructure supports approximately 13,500 users daily, managing over 5,000 computers, 100 servers, 300 access points, 257 switches, and 200 printers and copiers. The district is connected via a fiber network, operating at 1 GB between buildings and providing a 300 MB pipe to the Internet. Technology plays a crucial role in the district, transforming the way teachers teach and students learn. The IT organization is tasked with ensuring seamless connectivity and security across the district's network, which is essential for supporting the diverse needs of its students and staff.

The Challenge

Matthew Frederickson, the Director of IT at Council Rock School District (CRSD), faced several challenges in managing the district's network infrastructure. The existing Microsoft DNS and DHCP services were distributed and hard to manage, leading to inefficiencies and potential security vulnerabilities. The district's network, which serves 18 buildings including 16 schools, required a centralized solution to streamline operations and enhance security. Additionally, managing 257 switches across the district was cumbersome, and there was a need for a system that provided a single pane of glass for monitoring and updating these switches. Security was a significant concern, as the district's systems contained sensitive information that could be targeted by hackers. There was also an internal threat from students who might attempt to exploit network vulnerabilities. Frederickson needed a robust solution to protect the network from malware and unauthorized access, while also simplifying network management.

The Solution

To address the challenges faced by Council Rock School District, Matthew Frederickson turned to Infoblox for a comprehensive solution. He implemented two Infoblox 1410 security-hardened appliances running Infoblox DDI, an integrated suite of DNS, DHCP, and IP address management solutions. This replaced the distributed Microsoft DHCP servers, centralizing network management and enhancing security. Infoblox NetMRI was deployed to manage the district's 257 switches, providing a single pane of glass for monitoring and updating configurations. The final component of the solution was Infoblox DNS Firewall, which transformed DNS servers into self-protecting strong points, detecting and blocking outbound malicious communications. Infoblox Professional Services played a crucial role in the deployment, providing expertise and knowledge transfer to Frederickson's team. The services offered insights into product features and best practices, ensuring a smooth implementation and ongoing support.

Operational Impact

The implementation of Infoblox solutions led to a significant reduction in issues caused by unauthorized changes, as role-based access control limited the ability to make changes to only two individuals.
Automation of DNS and IP address management eliminated the need for time-consuming and error-prone spreadsheets, streamlining network operations.
Infoblox NetMRI simplified the management of switches, allowing for easy updates and monitoring, even as new IP phones and applications were added to the network.
The DNS Firewall provided enhanced security, quickly identifying and remediating machines infected with malware, protecting the district's sensitive information from external and internal threats.
Infoblox Professional Services established a partner relationship with the district, offering valuable insights and suggestions based on experiences with similar networks, enhancing the district's digital expertise.

Quantitative Benefit

The district's network operates at 1 GB between buildings and provides a 300 MB pipe to the Internet.
The IT infrastructure supports over 13,500 users daily, managing more than 5,000 computers, 100 servers, 300 access points, 257 switches, and 200 printers and copiers.