Earlier this year Macquarie University issued a tender for a new security system with the requirement that it doesn't affect system availability, is highly scalable as the network expands, is quick to react to new threats, and can detect and react to damaging and non-damaging illegitimate traffic like music and video downloads.

"Nortel's solution was unique compared to the submissions we had from competing vendors," Hole said. "By placing a firewall at the network core rather than the edge and routing all traffic through the firewall, we're simultaneously protected from external and internal threats."

Nortel Australia/New Zealand President Mark Stevens said universities pose a particular security challenge that's not always easy to solve with traditional network equipment or off-the-shelf security products.

The solution includes Ethernet Routing Switch 8600s and Nortel Switched Firewalls with Checkpoint security software pre-installed. Implementation started this month and is expected to be complete by September.