IT Consultancy and Design

Carlton Academy Trust are seeking to streamline and integrate their IT infrastructure over the Summer 2021 holidays. As part of this, the networks and active directories at the 5 component schools will be amalgamated to a single directory, with a single Azure Active Directory / Microsoft 365 tenancy and Google Workspace. The project will require the design of the networks including VLAN & Subnet assignment, DNS, DHCP, Smoothwall configuration and other related services as appropriate as well as implement them on the network infrastructure in place and identified as being purchased for the new project. Carlton Bolling will be moving to a Meraki network with Meraki switching and wireless access points, replacing their existing Aruba devices. It is intended that the Aruba equipment be re-used in the primary schools which are using a mixture of Netgear, Huawei and Ruckus wireless / switching. The primaries currently operate on a flat network, however, it is expected that this will be moved to a multi subnet/VLAN environment as appropriate. Deployment of the networks is intended to include Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager linked to Endpoint Manager to allow the automated deployment and configuration of machines across the trust with a distribution point at each school using existing on-premise servers re-purposed as appropriate. This work will require the redeployment of all client devices totalling around 1200 machines in the trust across the various sites as well as standardised configuration of the network. Windows wireless devices should utilise 802.1x authentication to remove the reliance on passwords for authentication. The new server infrastructure at Carlton Bolling will include a 3 host vSphere failover cluster which should host the server infrastructure for the new domain, with VMWare vSphere used at the primary schools. Veeam backup will be used throughout. The service provider should set up & commission the storage infrastructure, network and vSphere cluster as appropriate, re-using any existing servers in ancillary roles such as performing backup services for the existing iSCSI based NAS appliance. Alongside the related network design & implementation, various ancillary systems, including, but not limited to CCTV, Catering, Print management and SIMS will need to be redeployed as appropriate at least school. Integration between Google Workspace, Azure Active Directory and the on-premise directory is expected as well as the management of issuing all existing staff and students with credentials for their new logins prior to term starting. The Project must be undertaken and completed during the Summer Break 24 July - 01 September 2021