Education

Data Protection, Safety & Security

Not so long ago, there was a clear line between physical security and information security on campuses. Today, that line has blurred. Cloud-based tools like security cameras and automatic door locks necessitate investments in IT. Due to coronavirus, schools have incorporated AI-based health monitoring technologies to improve population safety. Schools and universities even are taking advantage of leading-edge technologies like blockchain to verify and speed up background checks for school personnel.

Blockchain, of course, is also used to protect information security. Educators find it helpful in grading and tracking homework, academics rely on it for research and publishing, and administrative offices can use the technology to bypass the expensive and manual process of verifying diplomas, transcripts, certifications and other important documents.

Finally, authenticating users, authorizing access and protecting sensitive information like student data is as much a priority today as it ever was.

Wireless & Mobility

As K-12 and higher education campuses expand and evolve, robust and secure wireless becomes a must-have, not a nice-to-have. Today, students need pervasive access to the latest applications and up-to-date information on a new generation of devices.

Wireless device proliferation on campus will hammer any underdeveloped network, whether those devices are commonplace smartphones, tablets and laptops; point-of-sale devices in the lunchroom, the bookstore or campus coffeeshop; or highly specialized internet of things (IoT) machines used in research.

Education is a prime vertical to take advantage of the benefits presented by 5G technology and WiFi 6 (802.11.ax) that promise to fix latency and performance issues indoors or out arising from density, device diversity, and the increasing sophistication of apps.

Connectivity

Extending ubiquitous, high-speed internet access to schools and libraries, especially those in low-income or rural areas, has been a national priority for nearly 25 years. With advanced tools like rich media, video and virtual or augmented reality becoming more common in the classroom, schools should prepare for speeds exceeding 1Mbps per student.

Accessibility & UCC

Providing each student with his or her own mobile device, often referred to as a 1:1 program, helps ensure access parity and boosts achievement. In this era of remote education, 1:1 programs – paired with collaboration platforms – are absolutely essential for communication and learning among the nation’s students.

Student Recruitment & Retention

Information technology also assists with the business of education, especially now that remote and blended learning requirements have collided with school choice initiatives in K-12 and student recruitment among universities.

Families seeking the best options now encounter digital-savvy schools and universities eager to court them. These institutions are racing to attract students with streamlined registration processes and exciting, future-forward curriculums – online or in-person. At the same time, they are assuaging concerned parents with improved campus-wide safety, liberal access to instructors, unrestricted insight into student performance, and convenient payment processes.

Procurement

Obtaining essential hardware, software and services at the best price is a must-do for schools. Fortunately, there are a variety of purchasing and contracting methods available to these institutions. Whether leveraging E-Rate, NASPO, various state contracts like WSIPC or OETC, or even soliciting bids, the education sector benefits from competitive pricing. Further, when working with knowledgeable solution providers like Structured, schools can also obtain pricing that is even better than what the contracts advertise.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Regulates how public and private educational institutions handle student data.

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)

Regulates the collection, safekeeping and use of private financial information by institutions of higher education that administer federal student aid and student loans.

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)

Sets requirements for any organizations “that store, process or transmit cardholder data.”

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

Regulates any entity that handles the sensitive information of California residents in the execution of business and marketing.  Security requirements are included and substantial breach fines apply to loss of data control.