Augusta County Eliminates IT Problems with Layered Security by Kelly Batke – 04/18/11

Imagine spending over 60% of your IT day cleaning up malware infections? That’s how the IT technicians spent the majority of their time at Virginia based Augusta County Public schools.  They suffered extensively from a host of IT problems, caused primarily by malware attacks.

The IT problems also posed significant risks to the variety of confidential data, like student, medical, and financial records. The importance of keeping the data safe was critical since the district is required to meet compliance mandates under both Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The district turned to the complete layered security protection from Faronics. Faronics Anti-Virus ensures that any known malware threats are contained, Anti-Executable’s application whitelisting protection tackles all threats that evade anti-virus solutions, and finally, Deep Freeze protects workstations by restoring computers to their original state with a simple reboot.

The layered security strategy has helped the district combat their chief IT problems. IT support requests are now reduced by over 60%; their system availability has increased; endpoints are secure; and finally they have fulfilled required compliance regulations.

Classroom Collaboration Software Connects Teachers and Students at Oklahoma City University by David Anderson – 04/20/11

Oklahoma City University recognized the the immense benefits in ensuring that their 4,000 students and staff had access to the latest computer technology. But how could these tools which help students connect with the outside world also allow them to connect with each other and their instructors?

Merely placing a computer in front of a student does not necessarily lead to an enhanced and more effective learning environment, so Ernesto Chávez, Manager of Instructional Technologies and Media Services, and his staff started looking for a more effective method. They found their solution was classroom collaboration software, and from previous experience with Faronics and Deep Freeze, they evaluated Faronics Insight.

“Myself and two IT instructors evaluated the software, and we were hooked. We purchased it immediately and deployed it into our computer labs without hesitation.”

Faronics Insight allows instructors to educate, assist, monitor, and communicate with an entire class from one central computer and, as a result, many classroom distractions became a thing of the past.

Insight’s classroom collaboration options are just as powerful as its classroom control features and the software has opened new opportunities for teaching in the classroom and both faculty and students are taking full advantage of it.

“Faronics Insight has made a significant impact to our institution’s education. The software has opened new opportunities for teaching in the classroom and both our faculty and students are taking full advantage of

Classroom Management Software Provides Total Control for Bangor Township Teachers by David Anderson – 04/20/11

Computers in schools have the power to enhance the classroom experience for both students and teachers, but the benefits can easily be lost to to inherent distractions. To solve this problem, Bangor Township Schools in Bay City, Michigan, employs classroom management software, and in particular, Faronics Insight.

Bangor Township administrators believe that having the best technology available will better prepare their students for today’s world. Josh Kolka, Technology Administrator, agrees but this also meant that he had to help teachers battle distractive elements, like web surfing, social networks, and gaming, that technology can bring.

“(Technology) is great when it comes to fostering collaboration and teamwork between students, but it does make it very difficult for a teacher to monitor what students are doing at all times.”

As a result, Josh was receiving requests to implement a classroom management software solution that enabled teachers to view and control student workstations from their own workstation. When renewing his Deep Freeze licensing, he discovered Faronics Insight. He found Faronics Insight easy to use and implement, and immediately made the decision to purchase it.

According to Josh, the Insight feature that is most popular with the teachers of Bangor Township is the remote control option. The teachers are able to monitor student activity via the Insight Console, and if a student visits a website or opens an application that is off topic, the teacher remotes into the student’s workstation