The customer was using an Aerohive wireless network with Cisco switches and Meraki firewalls. They also had an older phone system, along with interactive TVs for classroom learning.

Sentinel proposed that the customer adopt a new Cisco phone system paired with the new cloud version of Informacast, enabling them to send mass alerts via text and email with the click of a button. In case the phone system were to go down, Sentinel also worked with the customer to establish a wireless backup using cell phones, so emergency alerts could still be sent out. Cisco Meraki had just announced the MG21 cloud-managed cellular gateway, which would reduce the customer’s reliance on hardware and meet the budget constraints for the project. While the MG21 wasn’t yet officially on the market at the time of Sentinel’s initial engagement, the district agreed to delay the deployment until it became available.

The new phone system provided the customer with advanced communication capabilities, which included mass notification alerts for emergencies and a wireless cellular backup in the event of an outage. This gave the district peace of mind that they could quickly and easily contact students, teachers, and administrators with vital information during a crisis or other dangerous situation. Sentinel has continued to work with the customer on additional projects, and recently completed work on the deployment of a Cisco Meraki MX450 next-generation firewall to further improve their security posture. They trust Sentinel to deliver the right solutions for their unique needs, and to ensure things get done on time and on budget.