Secure Education Internet Services Under Threat

Concern is emerging over web security as education establishments face LEA funding cuts from 1^st September specific to internet services as part of broader fiscal cuts of 40%. Some organisations could find provision of internet services goes up by 300% in cost.

And the adoption of sub-standard approaches as a result of cost cutting will impact on efficiency and compliant internet access solutions for pupils, parents, teachers and lecturers according to pro-active service, support and solutions provider Icomm Technologies.

As budgets shrink and education moves towards virtual learning platforms, it is becoming more critical for organisations to cost effectively monitor internet content and application activity through, from and to a network at the same time as balancing ease of access with security.

Without secure authenticated internet services, education establishments limit the capability for technology education and further attainment goals plus they leave networks open to abuse.

related

share this page

Icomm Technologies’ Technical Manager, Mark Allbutt, said: “Technology in education is a sensitive necessity proven to further learning speed, breadth and depth. The move towards virtual learning platforms is superb progress but properly managed internet access is at the core of the approach.

“With the public sector purse being squeezed by 40%, schools are now faced with some serious challenges of service provision. And the latest cuts delivered by LEAs, regarding managed web access services, could be a major blow to furthering technology education and attainment.

“Some organisations have said they are considering whether to offer internet enabled services at all or indeed just cut corners with lesser solutions.

“A well managed internet service, that opens the door to larger virtual learning platform capability, should include a fully authenticated remote access approach that validates users considerably before providing secure access. Without this, the door is open for viral or malicious system attacks and outsiders to abuse access to an organisation’s network, files and services.

“Furthermore, a fully managed firewall will ensure once access has been achieved, users are focussing their efforts on education goals rather than abusing bandwidth to download music, view sites like Facebook, YouTube or even pornography. A quality approach enables monitoring and blocking of inappropriate sites and applications down to individual end user level.

“Without these secure and managed approaches, education will leave itself liable to internet abuse or restrict its community from optimised learning. Neither is an option.

“By pooling resources, consortia or federation approaches are using the purchasing power of many to access these best practice managed approaches for the broader benefit of the regional community.

“The key is for specifiers to meet the challenges of reducing capex and opex whilst improving service delivery to users as opposed to just maintaining it. That means more efficient and compliant services for less money.”