News in the Channel - issue #34

NETWORK SECURITY FOR EDUCATION PROVIDERS

Contributors

have open networks, available for any device to connect to. This means it’s easy for viruses, malware and hackers to enter and create havoc on the network especially with the growing range of highly sophisticated phishing attacks, such as deep fakes.” Trends With schools and universities increasingly appreciating the threat they face from cybercriminals, their demands of network security are changing. “Schools and universities are increasingly moving towards managed, outcome- based services instead of owning and maintaining complex infrastructure themselves,” says Ed Knight, MSP lead, Paessler GmbH. “They want complete visibility across their entire digital environment; on- premises, cloud and IoT so they can identify issues before they escalate. Automation, clear SLA reporting and faster detection and resolution are top priorities. Education customers are also looking for subscription-based models that align with academic budgeting and help them manage costs more predictably.” Scott Rogers, business unit director – security, UK & Ireland at TD SYNNEX, notes that ransomware remains a major worry and there is growing concern about how AI can be used to target schools. “As a result, we are seeing increased interest in advanced techniques such as privileged access management, security information and event management, Secure Access Service Edge and zero trust network access. We are also seeing more enquires about security-as-a-service and Security Operation Centre-as-a- Service offerings.” Graham agrees that education providers increasingly demand zero-trust architectures, multi-factor authentication and endpoint protection. “There is also a push for solutions that are simple to manage with limited IT resources, while

meeting Department for Education cyber security standards and, for colleges, Cyber Essentials certification,” he says. “One recurring theme from IT managers in schools is the pressure on time. Many schools have limited teams. This means decision-makers are frequently prioritising solutions that automate maintenance tasks and support rapid issue resolution. Tools that free up time and simplify remediation are increasingly in demand, allowing IT managers to focus on core operations and improving the classroom experience.” Rachel agrees that simplicity is key. “A small primary school and many secondaries won’t have the resources to manage their own cybersecurity in the way that they would like to,” she says. “Academies, trusts and local authorities may have dedicated IT staff, but even they are often shared between multiple sites. This is why a lot of schools – at primary, secondary and FE levels – now rely on services providers to manage their infrastructure and security and ensure that licences and policies are kept up to date.” Components of solutions When putting together solutions for education providers, there are various components that should be considered. “Effective solutions for education must combine continuous network monitoring, multi-site visibility, and simple, actionable insights,” says Ed. “Key elements include automated alerting for critical systems such as Wi-Fi, DNS, and IoT devices; built-in SLA and compliance reporting; and easy integrations with existing ITSM or ticketing tools. Solutions like PRTG Enterprise Monitor allow MSPs to centralise monitoring across entire school trusts or districts, while still delivering tailored dashboards and reports to individual schools. This ensures reliable connectivity, optimised bandwidth and minimal classroom disruption.” Dray Agha, senior manager of security

Rachel Rothwell

zyxel.com

Mat Pullen

jamf.com

Graham Foxwell

kyoceradocument solutions.co.uk

VimalRaj Sampathkumar

manageengine.com

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