Technology plays a pivotal role in modern education as schools rely on technology to deliver effective learning experiences, support remote education, and foster collaboration. But managing a complex technology ecosystem can prove a nearly insurmountable burden. Proactive institutions realize the benefits of managed IT services for the education sector.
Under the managed services model, schools contract with a managed services provider (MSP). For a monthly fee, the MSP both fixes problems and, more importantly, provides expert guidance around issue prevention and strategic planning. Through the managed services arrangement, the school also gains access to cutting edge technology.
Top IT Challenges for Education
Several challenges specific to the education sector make the MSP arrangement particularly beneficial. In the first place, education institutions collect and hold sensitive data in vast amounts. This includes not only personal student information but also research and financial data. Thus, they have become prime targets for cyber attack.
Secondly, budget constraints create a dual problem. On the one hand, necessary technology upgrades must compete with personnel costs and other projects for a portion of limited funding. On the other hand, increasingly sophisticated technology means schools must compete with better-funded businesses to hire IT staff with the necessary skills.
Additionally, as technology becomes much more integral to education, it becomes much more imperative to ensure against an interruption of service. For instance, according to a recent study, over seven million students at public higher education institutions take online classes. When technology fails, that learning does not happen.
Strengthen Cyber Security
For many schools and businesses, cyber security concerns drive the initial step toward managed services. In recent years, education has emerged as a top target for hackers. Cyber criminals know that schools hold a treasure trove of information. They also know that the education sector typically adopts technology slowly, leaving cyber security woefully underfunded.
MSPs can help in several key ways. They will start with a risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities, including under-protected data and places where unauthorized persons might enter the system. With the results of risk assessments and penetration testing, they will help school personnel develop a security strategy targeted to specific needs and budget restrictions.
A reputable provider will also provide ongoing security monitoring not just during school hours, but 24/7. Using sophisticated security tools and machine learning, they can track unusual activity and proactively address potential issues, often before a breach occurs.
Expand IT Staff for a Fraction of the Cost
Educators should not have to become technology specialists. At the same time, hiring the in-house expertise needed to manage secure and innovative technology solutions comes at a price beyond the reach of many institutions.
With managed services, schools no longer need to hire and maintain a large IT team. For a reasonable monthly fee, the institution gains access to an entire pool of IT experts who can address a wide range of technical challenges and opportunities. This ensures that the school has access to up-to-date knowledge and best practices.
Cost-efficient Access to Updated Technology
In addition to specialized expertise, managed services mean that even small organizations gain the benefits of updated technology. Traditional IT typically brings significant and unpredictable costs, often resulting in organizations delaying technology implementation. And system failures can mean significant downtime.
For example, capital costs for hardware and software can prove exorbitant. Licensing fees and necessary fixes for system failures or cyber attacks add further budgetary burden in unpredictable timing and amounts. Aging systems only increase the likelihood of problems and security breaches.
With managed services, however, organizations generally pay a fixed monthly fee for services. In a cloud environment, the provider maintains the software and hardware. This ensures that the school always works with up-to-date systems. The monthly fee covers fixes, licensing, system updates, continuous monitoring, and more.
Additionally, the MSP arrangement generally means that you pay for what you use. Thus, the organization can easily scale licensing and storage up or down to accommodate changes in staffing that occur from year to year.
Unlock the Benefits of Managed IT Services for the Education Sector with eMazzanti Technologies
Building a strategic partnership with an MSP allows institutions to move from away break fix mode and transform education in innovative ways. eMazzanti education technology solutions address the unique challenges facing schools, providing critical cyber security, up-to-date technology, and necessary expertise.
