How Managed Network Solutions Are Helping Schools Make the Grade!

According to a 2014 study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, almost 64 percent of the 50 United States provide less funding to public school systems now than they did before the 2008 recession. But it is not because the need for funding has been sated, quite the contrary. Driven by the need to meet high-tech standards being established around the world, school administrators are working to achieve improved network connectivity in classrooms while working within tight budget constraints. For this reason, school districts should consider making the switch from legacy networks to managed network solutions. Most legacy networks are more expensive and difficult to maintain than those that are hosted in the cloud and managed by a third party.

Here are some of the ways that managed network solutions are helping schools meet the challenge of improved technology usage:

Scalability: Cloud-based managed networks provide easy scalability to meet changing bandwidth requirements. Considering the disparate usage of bandwidth during the school year vs. over the summer months, it makes sense to utilize solutions that enable scaling back when students are on vacation. From a more long-term perspective, school districts that are growing or shrinking can also maintain an adequate level of connectivity in a cost-effective and timely manner. No matter how much bandwidth is used, managed networks provide a pay-as-you-go method that ensures school districts are not throwing money away.

Technical Support: While most schools do have an on-site technical support team, managed networks are able to offer a higher level of customer care. The IT available through managed networks allows automatic software updates without requiring users to purchase rights or wait for existing contracts to expire. Third-party providers can also run network diagnostic checks as well as monitor usage. By enabling a third-party provider to handle network issues, schools free up their on-site technicians to handle other on-premises tasks, optimizing their skill sets.

Security: Protecting student records, both personal and academic, should be a top priority for school districts when addressing their networking solutions. Managed networks provide a broader level of security than legacy ones that are solely reliant on internal IT staff. Similar to the way that software is automatically updated, security patches are automatically downloaded on managed networks. In addition, monitored networks also track usage to ensure that access to certain parts of a school’s network is restricted appropriately. Another component of tracking is that content filters can be put in place to ensure that students don’t access inappropriate content. All of these security features protect privacy as well as mitigate the chances of a network being hacked.

Due to these considerations, the switch to a cloud-based monitored networking solution makes sense for school systems. With such networks, school administrators are better able to manage their resources and personnel, all while providing a higher level of security.

Cox Business

As technology takes an increasingly larger role in the classroom, preparing kids for their future has as many advantages as it does challenges. Providing the speed and quality that students and teachers need is something we at Cox Business are very proud to do. We can help design a system for your school that's tailored to the needs of your students, teachers and administrators, all while accommodating your budget. Visit www.coxbusiness.com/education to learn more about Cox Business Education solutions