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As educational institutions across the globe adapt to remote and virtual learning in response to the repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis, their IT departments are relying on their current infrastructure to accommodate the needs of students, faculty, and staff.
However, with the surge in demand and usage, these technologies are being stretched to their limits, prompting institutions to carefully assess their IT solutions and procedures and identify areas for enhancement.
The successful implementation of remote learning requires various resources such as improved security protocols, extra licenses, video conferencing software, and high-quality technical assistance. These measures are crucial for ensuring both safety and effectiveness in remote learning.
Fortunately, educational institutions such as school districts and higher education facilities have various choices to strengthen their IT infrastructure to offer the most effective solutions and technologies to their students and staff. A potential approach to achieve this is by collaborating with a managed service provider.
Advantages of Collaborating with a Managed Service Provider for Meeting Remote Learning Requirements
Reducing the Amount of Time that Students & Faculty are Not Able to Work or Attend Classes
A proactive strategy is adopted by managed service providers to ensure the network health of their clients. By implementing monitoring and management practices, they can detect and resolve any potential risks to IT systems, often before they can impact end users.
In case of any problems that may arise and cannot be initially contained, managed service providers have established techniques for either resolving the issue or providing additional support to promptly address the situation and ensure that users can operate smoothly.
The implementation of these assertive strategies results in a decrease in technical interruptions for the students, faculty, and staff, ultimately leading to a boost in overall productivity within the institution.
Utilize On-Demand Resources to Alleviate Stress
Frequently, internal IT departments expend a significant amount of their time and assets addressing simple IT problems such as resetting passwords and resolving internet connectivity problems. These tasks may divert attention from more crucial tasks such as updating or replacing equipment, implementing new technology, and meeting the growing demand for digital platforms in education.
By outsourcing their level 1 IT support desk to a managed service provider, educational facilities can free up time to focus on crucial projects and initiatives, all while ensuring that the technology needs of students, staff, and faculty are being met.
Moreover, beyond the realm of IT, managed service providers can provide level 1 support. It has become a prevalent trend for educational institutions such as school districts, colleges, and universities to utilize different support desks for tasks like course registration and financial aid.
One of the advantages of working with managed service providers is their ability to provide round-the-clock application support for various tools and technologies, such as learning management systems, student portals, Office 365, Zoom, and many others. Another benefit of teaming up with a managed service provider is having access to a skilled and experienced resource who can assist with security protocols and the implementation of new technology.
Gain Access to IT Expertise on an As-Needed Basis
As remote learning gains more traction, there is also an increase in IT-related problems and demands. While internal teams are accustomed to assisting their users, they may not have enough staff or resources to handle a significantly higher number of requests.
Educational institutions can benefit from round-the-clock access to professional support by teaming up with a managed service provider for their remote learning technology requirements. This includes assistance with evaluating general IT problems and setting up and integrating technology applications.
In certain situations, there may be a need for a higher level of assistance to address a critical or top-priority IT problem. In such cases, managed service providers can escalate the issue to the relevant personnel to ensure a prompt resolution.
Providing Assistance Remotely from Anywhere
Managing IT support across multiple locations can be a difficult task for higher education institutions. This can be due to limited resources staff furloughs or layoffs. In such scenarios, managed service providers can assist by providing simultaneous support for multiple campuses.
The managed service provider can offer support by addressing any IT problems that may be preventing students or faculty from effectively using their technology. This can be done either on-site or remotely through break/fix assistance.
Logistics support for remote learning, including hardware and software, can also be provided by managed service providers to prepare students and faculty.
Several service providers are capable of obtaining and handling licensing and VPN connections to ensure constant access to a secure and dependable network for end users. They can also aid in setting up and providing support for video conferencing platforms and learning management systems, creating an ideal environment for remote learning.
As remote learning becomes increasingly popular, numerous higher education institutions have turned to cloud technology for a more adaptable and protected solution.
Collaborating with a managed service provider that is certified as a cloud service provider (CSP) has many advantages for colleges and universities. Apart from assisting with the entire planning and transition process, some providers also provide continuous support, including handling all communication with the cloud vendor, to save time and resources for the institution.
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