Next Generation of Network Reference Architecture in K-12 Education Sector

In this paper, a new reference architecture serves as a guideline for the design, build and operation of K-12 School Districts computing network. It focuses predominately on the broadband wide area network and its protection from cyber threats. When fully implemented, it establishes the base of K-12 school connectivity to the Internet and partners and its cyber protection. The proposed reference architecture maintains the broadband centric secure SD-WAN. The main changes and enhancements are a) The extension of some security function to the cloud, with added security features and capacity; b) the upgrade of the SD-WAN appliance to an edge appliance, with SD-WAN and wireless LAN additions; c) a path towards integration of LAN and WAN (Singularity) and workload-driven design with user identification and authentication. The system and technology model follows the same path of current School Districts' network architecture; however, the component model has been updated, which leverages important technology and industry development.