Schools must strengthen network continuity as they adopt more technology

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Technological innovations have always been a vital aspect of education. Today’s classrooms have come a long way from whiteboards and projectors to the latest cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Network infrastructure is at the heart of these modern technologies, allowing teachers and their students to use the resources and devices on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, many institutions do not have adequate network solutions to facilitate always-on connectivity. If human error or a cyberattack were to compromise the network, these technologies could become unavailable, rendering essential educational processes impossible.

The consequences and causes of the network collapse 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 his backup camera has a hard time reversing without it, so is the situation educators find themselves in today.

Online learning, for example, requires constant connectivity: if the network goes down, students will have no way to access learning materials or turn in assignments. Network outages can also prevent staff from accessing financial and operational systems and learning management applications. In some cases, teachers may be unable to complete critical tasks, such as taking attendance or using grading systems.

In addition to disrupting educational processes and jeopardizing productivity, network outages can be costly, incurring tangible costs in recovery fees as well as intangible costs such as reputational damage. Research from Comparitech shows that between 2018 and mid-September 2023, ransomware attacks against K-12 and higher education institutions worldwide cost More than $53 billion in downtime.

In recent years, Cyberattacks on primary and secondary schools have increased mainly because these institutions are easy targets for bad actorsA 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.

Strengthening network resilience with out-of-band management

There are two ways to manage a network: in-band management and out-of-band (OOB) management. Many educational institutions rely on the former, which involves managing the network through the network itself. The problem with this methodology is that when a service outage occurs, network engineers and IT staff have no way to access remote devices and troubleshoot the problem.

Alternatively, OOB management allows network engineers to establish a standalone management plane that operates independently of the data plane or production infrastructure. In other words, technicians at a school can use OOB management to reach remote devices without directly accessing the production IP address on the data plane. Even if the network is down, IT teams can remotely and securely access, manage, and repair devices.

Some of the best-in-class OOB management solutions enable network engineers to detect and troubleshoot issues through proactive monitoring, including systems that automatically notify necessary personnel of network issues or environmental inconsistencies via email or SMS. By preemptively recognizing and fixing issues, educational institutions can detect faults before they become failures, minimizing downtime and operational costs through operational continuity. Additionally, the ability to monitor and troubleshoot remotely eliminates the need for schools to send engineers to sites to make configuration changes and troubleshoot issues, saving valuable time.

Additionally, OOB management enables educational institutions to isolate and contain security incidents such as breaches or attacks. Blocking and quarantining affected parts of the network will prevent malicious actors from moving freely, protecting sensitive student and staff data. These capabilities significantly improve network resilience against cyberattacks, preserving network integrity to ensure that learning and other business operations can continue uninterrupted.

The need for connectivity amid rapid technology adoption

As advanced technologies move from novelty to mainstreamMore and more schools and universities around the world will adopt these technologies, including artificial intelligence, wearable technology, natural language processing, and virtual and augmented reality, which will improve learning. At the same time, students and teaching staff are demanding faster and more innovative applications and devices.

While these technologies and applications will open the door to new educational possibilities, they will put greater pressure on the network and increase the risk of interruptions, underscoring the need for always-on connectivity through OOB management.