Building An Education Network for the Future

Building an IT Foundation for the Future
Michael Przytula – Director, Strategy & Technology
VInet Solutions

IT in Education Today
Students are becoming more like corporate users
Demanding new services
IT is becoming a greater part of almost every class
Word Processing, Research, Video Conferencing
More IT at home = more exposure to new technologies

Challenges
How to keep up with rapid change?
How to keep the network secure?
How to keep students safe?
How to continually provide new service(s)?
Lead or Follow?
The world is becoming more online

Where do you want to
What do you have already that you can leverage?
Building a successful education network is a journey
Very few educators have the funds or resources they need to do it in one hit
go today?
Things you need to think about
be in 3 years?

Building an Education Network

Network Considerations
Get the foundation right
Keep the end goal in mind
Speed / Bandwidth
IP telephony? PoE?
Where is your Internet connection?
Wireless
The network should play a key role in security architecture

Platform Considerations
Needs to support your business vision
Student = User or Learner?
What will they use when they leave?
Physical & Virtual
Cost
Capital & Operational
Applications Support

Access Considerations
Physical & Logical Control
Inside Out & Outside In
Content Filtering
Management Complexity
Cost
Integration
The best access solution will combine both network and platform technologies working in tandem

Application Considerations
Curriculum and Administration needs must be catered for
Educational & Operational
Age and Compatibility
Deployment Method & Management
Chargeback & Audit
Are you creating information silos?
How easy can applications share information?

Management Considerations
Must address all environment aspects
Network/Platform/Access/Applications
Tight lock-down & control
Admin & Classroom Management
Delegation to teachers or trusted students
Cost
Resources and Skills
Now and the future

Sound like a Corporate Network?
Yes – except.....
Users can be more malicious
Can’t dictate control over home devices
Users are consistently on the bleeding edge
Who had the first iPhone?
Used Instant Messaging and Social Networking tools?
Student or Teacher?
You have a duty of care

The Successful EDU Network
Educates & services students as they use it
Supports trusted and untrusted devices
Seamless access
Inside and outside
Audit / Filters / Controls
Minimises licensing and support costs
Fosters native integration been network, platform & applications

Can your Environment do this?
Find the closest 3 vacant computers to classroom 7?
Locate where Johnny is?
Regardless of school or personal device...
Print to any printer from any device without accessing the secure network?
Print your assignment from home to the library printer and collect when you arrive?

Important Components
Network
Get the core correct
Manageable / Intelligent Switches
802.1x
Wireless
Platform
Integrates across the entire component stack
Server/Desktop Integration

Important Components (cont.)
Access
Single Directory & Simple Access
3rd party products increase admin & cost
Applications
Easy Information Access
Limit Information Silos
Web-based apps remove a lot of challenges
Management
Keep toolsets small, familiar & easy to use
Allow delegation

Do you have a plan for Win7?
XP will not last forever!!
8 years old!!
Win7 + W2008R2 opens huge opportunities for EDU
SharePoint Integration
Network Access Protection
Power Management
GPO granularity
Virtualisation

Windows 7 Planning
Application Readiness
Virtualization
Platform Deployment Method
Group Policy
Environment Lock-down
Wireless & Netbooks
Power Management – Get Greener!!

Shared Storage
Technology has driven cost down and options up
iSCSI
No HBA’s or FC switches
Dell EqualLogic
Low Cost of Entry
Highly Scalable
Full Featured
Increase flexibility & availability

Next Generation EDU Services
IM & Presence
Virtual Teams
I don't need to go to Jenny’s to do my assignment
Video Conferencing
Language/Cultural Classes
Borders & Parents
Teachers and Parents
Report Cards & Assignment Submission Online

Young People are drawn to Tech
Live @ EDU
Students are the first to trial and feedback on next generation corporate features
Corporates attract young staff with technology
Going to work in the future, not the past

In Summary
Know where your school wants to go
Educate the business on the options
Take stock of where you are now and what you have
Plan a roadmap for the next 3 years
Execute religiously
Plan during term, execute during breaks
Obtain outside assistance where needed
Show progress to staff & students

THANK YOUAny Questions?