For those who work in education, it can feel like you’re expected to have all the answers. However, working in education does not make you a certified IT specialist. In short, educators’ job is to help students learn, not troubleshoot IT issues.
Regardless of the type of educational institution, they all share one thing in common: they’re reliant on technology to teach students and foster an efficient learning environment. That’s why outsourcing a managed service provider (MSP) is essential to maintaining a strong IT infrastructure built to an institution’s specific needs. With the right MSP on your side, you can breathe easy knowing that a team of IT experts is only a call or message away!
Here’s what educational institutions should keep in mind when outsourcing an MSP.
Easily Accessible IT Support
IT disasters can happen any time of day, so why should IT support only be available during business hours? When it comes to troubleshooting, you’ll want to work with an MSP that offers Help Desk as a Service (HaaS)—preferably one that is available 24/7. With a team of experts on your side, you can trust that your organization has additional layers of support—whenever it is needed. This is primarily helpful for hybrid or remote groups that work asynchronously or in different time zones.
Enterprise-Level Cybersecurity
Did you know that educational institutions are one of the top targets of cybercriminals? These institutions handle personal student data and confidential research data—not to mention that colleges store a wealth of student loan information. However, the right MSP will ensure that adequate security measures are in place to prevent cybercrime, such as cyberattacks and ransom attacks. Additionally, it’s a good idea to find an MSP that supplies customized ransomware training for employees—because students aren’t the only ones who are targeted by cybercriminals.
Ideally, you want an MSP that offers three-layer cybersecurity support—antivirus protection, endpoint detection response (EDR), and a security operations center.
Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions
You don’t want to wait until disaster strikes to come up with a solid disaster recovery plan! As the saying goes… “Better safe than sorry!” To ensure peace of mind, you want a data backup solution that is resilient, dependable, and automated.
Your backup is so much more than an insurance policy for your institution. Just think of all the scenarios that can cause data loss. Whether it’s a weather disaster or ransomware attack, your backup plan allows your team to recover more quickly with fewer consequences. Cloud-based backups are especially effective at preserving your data in a major disaster.
Rely on Exact IT as Your Premier MSP
In the education sector, consider an MSP that has the longevity of your goals in mind. At Exact IT Consulting, we tailor our services to meet the unique needs of educational institutions—so our clients can continue to educate the masses while dodging any issues that may arise in the process.
Instead of acting as a tech “vendor” to our clients, Exact IT is a true partner in implementing new and improved IT approaches. When you partner with Exact IT, our team will manage your IT and cybersecurity needs, so you can manage the education. Schedule a consultation today to get started!
