IT in the Classroom: “It Just Has to Work”
Paper and pencils are out, laptops and tablets are in. Today’s students utilize a wealth of technology in the classroom but ensuring that the network and connected devices run smoothly can be a challenge for education IT professionals. On today’s EdTech Podcast, Dr. Jack Green, education & government solutions leader at Pinnacle Business Systems, shared his thoughts on issues within the sector.
For Dr. Green, cybersecurity is at the forefront of his mind. Ransomware attacks on school networks in Oklahoma and Florida have forced districts to pay over a million dollars to hackers. The key to safeguarding against these threats is to reinforce the people part of the equation.
“I think of [cybersecurity] as a triangle of people, processes, and technology,” Dr. Green explained, saying that bad actors target people as they are the easiest to probe. By requiring more rigorous passwords and credentialing, IT teams can better enhance security. Also, both a user-friendly onboarding and off-boarding process can help ensure that accounts aren’t compromised.
From his experience, Dr. Green sees a strain on IT departments at schools. There’s a massive request for their time, and the scope of cybersecurity challenges alone is so large that it’s difficult for teams to manage it all.
So what can help?
Dr. Green said that to make IT work properly, it’s essential for schools to team up with excellent outside IT partners (i.e., gear providers) who can be crucial in delivering timely, efficient and effective solutions.
At Pinnacle Business Systems, Dr. Green and his colleagues focus on meeting the needs of students so that they can fulfill their positive potential. “IT just has to work,” he said. “To compete and win in a global society, we can’t afford downtime; we can’t afford things not working.”
To learn more about Pinnacle Business Systems, you can head to their website or call toll-free at 866-PINNACLE.
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