Technology & Learning - March 2009 - (Page 38) www.schoolcio.com Strategies for K-12 Leaders An Prevention Technologists Use Network-Access Control to Protect System Resources, Students By Matt Bolch position in another district. He’s been in the IT field for 25 years. Whether for an entire district, a single The story: Because the district is campus, or one classroom, allowing so spread out, it built its own private authorized access to a computer netnetwork. But the cost prohibits one work can be fraught with challenges. network for administrators and teachThe log-in process should be fairly ers and a second one for students. The seamless for approved users, giving district has 1,200 computers in a 3-to-1 them speedy access to approved Web ratio in secondary schools and a 5-to-1 sites, databases, and other sources of ratio in elementary grades. information. It also should be tough on After beginning implementation of unauthorized users, shutting them out another solution only to discover that quickly and effectively before they can that company was shutting its doors, cause problems. But guests and other Danielson turned to InfoExpress temporary users often need access, Dynamic NAC. “We evaluated several and this presents its own challenges. other vendors before making the selecSchool CIO talked with three IT tion,” Danielson says. “This was the best administrators to learn how each is solution to fit our needs, and we defidealing with the issue of networknitely checked the company out, after access control (NAC). getting burned before.” Network tech William Sixsmith Who: Stephen Danielson, explains that district computers are on manager of information an approved gray list and get immeditechnology services ate access. To ensure that computer Strategies for River configurations are not changed and to Where: Rainy K-12 Leaders District School Board, make updates easier, the district also Fort Frances, Ontario, uses Faronics Deep Freeze. Canada Rainy River is conducting final testing The district encompasses more than of a policy allowing faculty and students 11,500 square miles, with 15 schools to bring their own laptops to school. The that serve 3,500 students. process involves an agreement that the Background: Danielson has been school principal must sign and further with the district for nine years, previapproval from Sixsmith before an outside ously serving in a senior technology computer is placed on the approved list. Ounce of InfoExpress Dynamic NAC will be used to ensure that outside computers are up-to-date on anti-virus and system updates before allowing access. The district is adopting a strict one-strike rule against anyone who violates district policy. Who: Justin Dover, network administrator Where: Harpeth Hall School, Nashville, TN The private all-girl 5–12 school has 642 students. Background: Dover has been with Harpeth Hall for seven years after working as a network and systems engineer for a medical company. The story: Students in the upper grades (7–12) are required to buy specific laptop tablets that they own but Harpeth Hall controls while they are used on campus. Teachers in grades 5 and 6 have access to three laptop carts with 20 tablets each. Strategies for K-12 Leaders 38 | School CIO Special Section http://www.schoolcio.com
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