Saving IT Budgets in the Education Field
With many classrooms across the country integrating 1:1 student to computer learning, IT equipment has become heavily integrated into school settings. Computer learning means a vast increase in information and data creation; requiring substantial data back up and security measures to protect it. Magnetic data tape is the lowest cost a most reliable medium for data storage and security. Regardless of how heavily learning institutions depend on computers and other electronic devices, not many school districts have a dedicated IT department with the ability to handle the vast amount of data back up and equipment requirements. Let our IT experts help with upgrades and disposal of equipment when needed. We can flawlessly help save your educational budget, without students missing the next assignment.
Securing Students' Data
With over 50 years’ experience in data security, we can help with the liquidation of computer and IT equipment without any concern for data leaks. From personal laptops and desktops containing personal information to servers and hard drives with student records; we keep everything confidential and secure.
A plan for guarding against ransomware in the education industry
So what can school districts, universities, online educators and other education providers do to guard against the threat of cyber attack? Here is a simple five-point plan that will go a long way to helping IT professionals in the education industry secure their defenses.
Stay up to date
Make sure that servers and PCs are up to date with the latest operating systems and antivirus solutions.
Retire unused IT assets
Consider if older machines, which are beyond updates or support, could be replaced or retired. The cost of doing so, and inconvenience of replacing older equipment will probably be less than the impact of a data breach.
Educate employees
Make sure everyone in the organization is familiar with ransomware methods and can recognize attempts to gain password credentials or circulate harmful links and attachments. Schools employ so many different and diverse professionals, covering a multitude of functions, that there needs to be a culture of vigilance across the entire organization.
Be prepared for an attack
Use different credentials for accessing backup storage and maybe even a mixture of file systems to isolate different parts of your infrastructure to slow the spread of ransomware. Educational institutions that follow the “1-10-60” rule of cyber security will be better placed to neutralize the threat of a hostile adversary before it can leave its initial entry point. The most cyber-prepared organizations should aim to detect an intrusion in under a minute, perform a full investigation in under 10 minutes, and eradicate the adversary from the environment in under an hour.
Create an Airgap
Three copies of your data, on at least two different media, with one stored offsite (e.g. cloud or tape) and one stored offline (e.g. tape). Having your data behind a physical air gap creates perhaps the most formidable barrier against ransomware. Tape can greatly speed up your recovery in the hours and days that follow an attack, especially if your primary backups have been disrupted. Tape is also supremely efficient for storing huge amounts of infrequently accessed student and faculty records for a very long time. Tapes can also be encrypted so that even if they did fall into the wrong hands, it would be impossible for thieves to access or use the data.
