Information Technology

Information, news and features for the education sector IT professionals


Implementing a Unified Communication Platform to Build Community Trust

New York district overhauls school-to-home communications efforts with a unified, data-rich communication platform to improve disconnected communications with families.

Education Targeted by 'ChaChi' Remote Access Trojan

A previously unnamed remote access Trojan, or RAT, that had until recently been targeting local governments in France, has set its sights on the education sector in the United States. It’s being deployed by PYSA/Mespinoza ransomware operators, according to new research.

Internet Security Report: Fileless Malware on the Rise, Defenses Failing

Seventy-five percent of malware is going undetected by “traditional malware solutions,” according to a new report. And 74% of threats detected in the last quarter were zero-day malware, an all-time high, according to the researchers.

Wearables See Major Jump as New Form Factors Emerge

Wearables are seeing a huge surge in growth. The total number of smart wearable devices shipped in the first quarter of 2021 grew by more than 34% over the same quarter in 2020.

Procurement Shifts Online as a Result of Pandemic

Across all sectors, including K–12 and higher education, procurement is making a big shift toward online, propelled in large part by the pandemic. Some 85% of organizations report they pushed more of their procurement to digital as a direct result fo the pandemic, and 96% of those expect to continue doing so beyond the pandemic, according to a report released this week.

E-Learning to Reach $1 Trillion Within 6 Years

The surge in distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic is helping to drive staggering growth in the worldwide e-learning market.

Cybersecurity Top K–12 IT Priority with Lousy Follow Through

Twenty-three percent of school systems have a full-time employee dedicated to network security. According to a new survey, urban districts were the most likely (41%) to have a cybersecurity specialist on staff, while rural and town districts were least likely (each with 15%); 19% of suburban districts reported a specialist.

K–12 Expanding Services in Response to Pandemic

In the last year, to help its community of students, families, teachers and staff through the pandemic, K-12 districts began offering new services. Those included contract tracing, remote counseling and more.

Broadband and Digital Equity Top Concerns Among IT Leaders

Concerns about digital equity are on the rise among IT leaders in K–12 education. Nearly every respondent in a recent survey said he or she had heightened worries about students' home access to devices and the internet, to support remote learning.

3 Ways to Support Students Lacking Adequate Broadband

Students in rural areas, in areas just outside of suburbs and in areas with high population density (subsidized apartments, mobile home parks) have less access to high-speed internet than their counterparts in cities and suburbs. There’s also an estimates 1.47 million homeless K–12 students in the United States, who also have significant issues with access.

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