entrustIT Insights (35)

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News and Insights from the entrust IT Group

When it comes to your network, expect the unexpected!

With Independent Schools becoming increasingly reliant on technology for delivering lessons and running the administrative side of the school, network reliability and resilience is one of the hot topics that I often get asked about by the schools we work with. Interested in finding out about ICT in the education sector? Take a look at our FREE White Paper >> While many Independent Schools enjoy stunning countryside locations, there can be some pitfalls in terms of technology! Over the years, most schools have bitten the bullet with the "excess construction charges" that BT and similar organisations levy to connect these locations to the Internet. But many schools still suffer from Internet reliability issues. I noticed in the press just this week that Myddelton School which has just opened in North Wales enjoyed a challenging first few days when their Internet circuit was severed, and I know many other schools have been in the same boat over the years, when something as simple as a bad storm took down overhead cables, resulting in a lengthy Internet outage. And when it's not the great British weather causing havoc, it can be the local wildlife creating chaos, as one school I spoke to recently had found to their detriment. They first became aware of a problem when one building could no longer connect to the network. After much troubleshooting, it was discovered that a local rodent had nibbled through the fibre-optic cable that ran between two buildings! And of course power problems have been a common cause of downtime for many schools over the years. Coming from a business background, where there has been a reliance on 'always on' ICT for some years now, I am well versed in ways to overcome these challenges, so I thought it would be useful to share a few pointers:-

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Public, Private or Hybrid Cloud... What's right for you?

Cloud computing has become one of the biggest IT buzz words over the past decade, and there has been a huge change in how businesses think of it during this time. When we started, it was a challenge to convince people that the cloud was the future. When you have grown so accustomed to keeping all your data on-site, moving out of your immediate reach seems frightening. That has all changed now.

Knowledge is power for bursars in independent schools

With technology now intrinsically embedded in pretty much every element of school life, both inside and outside the classroom, the ability to make empowered decisions about the strategic use of ICT within the school has never been more important. The Bursar frequently has the unenviable job of ensuring that the school ICT system simultaneously delivers: • The best possible learning experience to pupils • Provides for the smooth running of the administrative side of the school • Safeguards the pupils • Complies with all relevant legislation • Serves to attract new pupils to the school And he or she also needs to achieve all of this within the confines of a limited budget!

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6 tips to avoid procrastination at work

You’re about to tackle a task that’s due in two weeks, yet just as you’re about to begin, you become preoccupied by emails in your inbox. The two weeks is then nearly over, and you start to panic thinking to yourself… why didn’t I just get going on it two weeks ago?

Web access in Independent Schools – Protect or Educate?

One of the common themes I get asked about when I visit Independent Schools, is that of web access. It's one of those areas where many schools find it difficult to get the fine balance right between safeguarding and usability.

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5 incredible ways technology has changed the way we work

Technology is ingrained in our lives and impacts everything we do. It is changing at a dramatic rate and with that comes a change in how we are working. Our workforce expectations are evolving and new technologies are emerging.

The relentless march of technology in schools

I must be getting old, but the other day I found myself wondering, just when did every classroom become an ICT suite? ICT used to be boxed away so neatly. There was that room with all the cables and the stuff with the flashing lights on it where the Network Manager lives, and there were a few ICT suites carefully equipped with highly configured and secured PCs.

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What you should do if your business is hacked!

It is something all businesses dread. You have been hit by a cyber-attack. Despite our best efforts, cyber attacks are on the increase and it is now more of a question of when, not if your business is attacked. Cyber attacks can happen for a number of reasons but research has shown that in 2018, 48% of data security breaches are caused by acts of malicious intent with human error or system failure accounting for the rest.

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Why businesses are embracing Managed Services, and why YOU should too

Your IT department is inundated with problems and your network speed is getting increasingly difficult to deal with. Your business is growing and your IT department/provider is struggling to manage it. If any of these sound familiar then it might be time to think about a change, and that could be moving over to use a Managed Service. A survey from Clutch showed 59% of IT services have transitioned from the traditional break-fix model to a managed service contract.

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3 Cyber Security threats to expect in 2019

2018 had its fair share of cyber-attacks with well-known brands being hit such as British Airways, Facebook and Google+ as well as nearly 300 attacks on universities. In the months leading up to Christmas it seemed as if it was dying down, however, experts have said 2019 is to be a big year for cyber threats. Cyber-crime is on the rise and small businesses have said to be the target of 65,000 attempted attacks per day.