Many of today’s K-12 classrooms are home to digital solutions that were previously only seen in institutions of higher education. The digital age has swept through many levels of education, bringing massive changes for K-12 school districts, educators, and students alike.
In order to adapt to an ever-evolving technical landscape, school administrators must be prepared to invest in innovation and outsource certain tasks or services as needed. The safety, security, and stability of modern learning depends on the ability to steward these resources well.
“Managed services” describes the process of outsourcing business-critical tasks that are related to network infrastructure, security, and communication. A managed services provider is one that facilitates these services to other organizations, businesses, and industries.
Managed services can include a variety of technical tasks, but it most often involves:
In the realm of education, school network management software is any program that provides the network manager with access to install or configure new programming as part of the overarching system.
School network management software is also useful for managing the local area network (LAN) at a school location. Typically, the LAN connects multiple electronic devices, servers, and sign-ons, which is very common in a school environment.
Cloud computing offers the ability to access information, systems, and servers from any location. In the realm of education, this provides expanded opportunities for educators to use devices like laptops, mobile smartphones, and tablets to deliver instruction.
Cloud computing is not only changing the way that students learn, but it also alters how school personnel interacts and manage daily responsibilities. This new approach to education has the ability to alter everything from assignment submissions to resource access, to confidential student files.
As a result of its importance, the cloud computing industry in education is projected to be worth over $25 billion in the next several years.
K-12 school districts must now confront problems that were once found only in colleges and universities. Students now have access to technological resources at younger ages, which means tech solutions must be appropriate for the age, stage, and educational needs of each learner.
Parents and families also have higher expectations when it comes to communicating with school personnel in digital formats. This creates further pressure on school systems to offer advanced, secure, and well-managed options for digital communication.
Managed services can provide relief to K-12 school districts that need to troubleshoot current issues or come up to speed with modern standards. With the rise in virtual learning, K-12 districts can greatly benefit from school IT support services.