Safeguarding IT in UK Schools

Safeguarding your pupils has always been a priority for schools but more recently there is a focus on safeguarding measures to incorporate the schools fast evolving IT / ICT systems covering both external internet usage and internal network use.

How information is accessed:

school devices / BYOD / static or mobile devices

What content is accessible:

block everything? or allow access but track activity so that appropriate action can be taken (disciplinary or educational).

Prevent Duty compliant broadband:

Schools Broadband with built-in Prevent-Duty compliant filtering & reporting.

Monitor & report user activity:

not just online but off-line across the network. Cyberbullying, self-harm & radicalisation isn’t just an internet problem so web filtering may NOT pick up on it - that is where internal network monitoring and reporting (products such as Impero and Policy Central) come in to play to offer reports and instant alerts to your safeguarding officer on unusual activity.

Physical safeguarding mechanisms:

door access security, intercom entry, visitor management & CCTV IP Surveillance.

To discuss your schools IT safeguarding concerns, call NS optimum on 01926 745608 or email info@nsoptimum.co.uk

Is Windows 10 good for UK schools? We think so…

Is Windows 10 good for UK schools? We think so…

A considerable amount of scepticism surrounding windows 8 and then windows 8.1 resulted in limited take up in schools with it being used primarily as a mobile device operating system due to its touch screen capability. The NS Optimum review of Windows 10 showed that it combines the best of both worlds with touch screen capability for mobile devices and interactive LED screens, with the traditional desktop for fixed school computers. Windows 10 gives a uniform touch and feel across all devices (PC, laptops, tablets and phone) which is clearly a great advantage for children in todays education environment where they're learning on a multitude of different devices.

The license upgrade to Windows 10 is free from genuine copies of windows 7 and 8 and it is included in your Microsoft OVS ES (EES) Desktop agreement if you have one in your school.

Many schools are starting their windows 10 deployment now, which is a much earlier take up than any previous new windows release from Microsoft. This is largely due to it being a stable and significant improvement on the last 3 versions, but also due to the high demand for touch screen technology in schools, an area which has caused much confusion over the past few years as to which touch-screen tablet devices to deploy - iPads, Android or Windows tablets - Whilst other devices have their own benefits, Windows 10 tablets are now fast, capable and most importantly now have a reliable, stable platform to run on. For schools this means they can now have class-sets of tablet devices that can be used in school or away from the network but that can be centrally managed, that can access all network resources and be locked down for pupil use, all of which are problems for non-Windows devices running on a Windows network.

NS Optimum see this as the start of Microsoft being integrated into many other areas of the classroom with OneNote being used with Interactive LED screens which will incorporate the multi-touch facility and bring the collaboration of the classroom into the 21^st century which can reduce many of the problems associated with multiple Interactive technology software platforms.

If you'd like advice on running Windows 10 in your school(s), please contact NS Optimum on the details below. NS Optimum review schools IT systems and can offer advice and full reports on its findings, problems that need to be overcome (such as incompatible hardware) and the best way to move forward with your Windows 10 upgrade and future school IT development.  

NS Optimum Limited

Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Tel - 01926 745608
Email - info@nsoptimum.co.uk

NS Optimum are a provider of IT systems, hardware, software & support to UK schools & colleges