Schools must bolster network continuity as they adopt more technology

Key points:

• Institutions should consider always-on connectivity through OOB management
• FCC adopts $200M cybersecurity pilot program
• Critical steps to help school districts combat ransomware attacks
• For more on network continuity, visit eSN’s IT Leadership hub

Technological innovations have always been a vital aspect of education, with today’s classrooms coming a long way from chalkboards and overhead projectors to the latest in cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Network infrastructure is at the heart of these modern technologies, enabling the resources and devices teachers and their students use daily.

Unfortunately, many institutions do not have suitable networking solutions in place to facilitate always-on connectivity. Should a human error or a cyberattack compromise the network, these technologies could become unavailable, making essential educational processes impossible.

The consequences and causes of network downtime in education  

As educators become more reliant on network-dependent technologies to do their jobs, the greater the consequences when these things become inaccessible due to unexpected network outages. Just as the driver who only uses their backup camera struggles to reverse without it, so is the predicament educators find themselves in today.

Online learning, for example, requires constant connectivity–should the network go down, students will have no way of accessing learning materials or turning in assignments. Likewise, network outages can block staff from accessing financial and operational systems and learning management applications. In some cases, educators may be unable to complete fundamental tasks such as taking attendance or using grading systems.

In addition to disrupting educational processes and jeopardizing productivity, network outages can be expensive, mounting up tangible costs in recovery fees as well as intangible costs such as damaged reputations. Research from Comparitech shows that between 2018 and mid-September 2023, ransomware attacks against K-12 and higher education institutions around the world cost over $53 billion in downtime.

In recent years, cyberattacks on K-12 schools have increased mainly due to these institutions being easy targets for bad actors. A 2022 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that classes can take up to three weeks to return to normal after an attack. The report also notes that behind the scenes, some districts can take nine months to recover.

Bolstering network resiliency with Out-of-Band Management

There are two ways to manage a network: in-band management and Out-of-Band (OOB) management. Many education institutions rely on the former, which involves managing the network through the network itself. The issue with this methodology is that when an outage occurs, there is no way for network engineers and IT personnel to access remote devices and remediate the problem.

Alternatively, OOB management allows network engineers to establish a separate management plane that operates independently from the data plane or productive infrastructure. In other words, a school’s technicians can use OOB management to reach remote devices without directly accessing the IP production address in the data plane. Even if the network is down, IT teams can still access, manage, and remediate devices remotely and securely.

Some best-in-class OOB management solutions allow network engineers to detect and remediate issues through proactive monitoring, including systems that automatically notify requisite personnel of network issues or environmental inconsistencies via email or SMS. By preemptively recognizing and remediating issues, educational institutions can detect faults before they spiral into failures, minimizing downtime and operating costs through operational continuity. Moreover, the ability to monitor and remediate problems remotely eliminates the need for schools to dispatch engineers to sites to make configuration changes and troubleshoot issues, saving precious time.

Additionally, OOB management enables education institutions to isolate and contain security incidents, like breaches or attacks. Locking down and quarantining affected parts of the network will prevent bad actors from moving freely, protecting the sensitive data of students and staff. These capabilities significantly enhance network resilience in the face of cyberattacks, preserving network integrity to ensure learning and other business operations can continue without interruption.  

The need for connectivity amid rapid technology adoption

As advanced technologies go from novelty to mainstream, more schools and universities across the world will adopt them, including artificial intelligence, wearable technology, natural language processing, and virtual and augmented reality, reshaping learning for the better. Simultaneously, students and faculty demand faster, more innovative applications and devices.

Although these technologies and applications will open the door to new educational possibilities, they will place greater strain on the network and increase the risk of outages, underscoring the need for always-on connectivity through OOB management.  

About the Author:

Alan Stewart-Brown is VP of EMEA with responsibility for overseeing all Sales, Channel Development, Marketing events and SE activities across the EMEA region. Alans’ primary focus is the development and execution of sales strategies, talent development and channel initiatives that will ensure the accelerated growth of the Opengear business across the region. Alan brings 25 years of sales leadership experience gained across the technology sector, including Wireless LAN, Enterprise Software, BI Analytics and e-Commerce. Before joining Opengear Alan held Senior Pan-European Sales Management positions at Xirrus, Fiserv, AIM Technology, eColor and Phoenix Technologies. Alan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Imperial College, London.