The statewide WAN provides gateway services to the public internet and functions as a private fault-tolerant network allowing for interconnectivity within government and education.

ITD manages the statewide WAN for state government, higher education, K-12 education, and political subdivisions.  

WAN Components

The statewide WAN includes, but is not limited to:

• Internet Protocol (IP) Addressing encompasses the management of both internal and external TCP/IP addressing, including activities such as managing address blocks, assigning VLANs, and managing subnets.
• Domain Name Services (DNS) includes the infrastructure and management of domain name entries such as host, MX, alias, and PTR records.  This service also includes options for the delegation of DNS management for a particular sub-domain on a per-customer basis.
• Internet Access is provided via two links.  One provides service for the eastern part of the state, and one for the western part of the state.  In the event of a failure, the two links can provide backup for each other.
• Virtual Private Network (VPN) Solutions exist for both client-based and point-to-point solutions.
• Firewalls protection exists from the Internet and between the distinct customer base of state government, higher education, K-12 education, and political subdivisions. Additional firewall solutions can be acquired, as needed, based on specific customer requirements.
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are in place to proactively monitor and detect inappropriate activity on the network.
• Monitoring of statewide WAN is systematically conducted, managed, and supported on a 24x7 basis.
• Content Filtering significantly reduces the exposure of inappropriate material for customers within state government, K-12 education, and political subdivisions.
• Network Utilization Reports help in understanding the past and planning for the future.

WAN Endpoint Access Types

Connection to the statewide WAN can be achieved by a variety of methods to meet the technical and financial requirements of a facility.

• Major Metro Area Network presently exist in Bismarck and Fargo.  These solutions provide for a resilient fault tolerant core network that provides dual redundant fiber paths to key locations.  The MAN provided redundant connections to the WAN allow for sites to connect to the network with single or dual fiber solutions.
• Fiber connections are available in most locations.  Fees vary depending on location and construction costs may be required.  The fiber connections can be connected to a variety of aggregation points including the WAN, MAN, or other aggregation points in a community.
• Ethernet Transport Service (ETS) solutions exist in most locations across the state. This service starts and 5Mb and can scale to 1g and beyond 
• ATM T-1 solutions exist in most locations across the state.  For sites that require additional bandwidth, multiple T1’s may be acquired.  The T1’s are connected to aggregation points on the statewide WAN.
• Broadband solutions exist in many communities across the state.  The solutions can be DSL or cable solutions with capabilities that vary in each community.  Broadband solutions are connected to aggregation points on the statewide WAN and secured via a site-to-site VPN.
• Dial-up access continues to be available for those customers that require that service.
• Custom Solutions are available in a variety of options to any location.