Revolutionizing School IT: Ballston Spa’s Journey with Deep Freeze and Faronics Anti-Virus

Overview

In the picturesque town of Ballston Spa, New York, the Ballston Spa Central School District (BSCSD) is recognized as a model of educational excellence, serving a vibrant community of over 4,200 students. The district, known for its innovative approach, boasts a range of facilities, including a high school equipped with state-of-the-art computer and science labs. However, beneath this veneer of technological advancement, BSCSD’s IT infrastructure faced an arduous challenge.

The challenge: A daunting IT landscape

About a decade ago, Brian Merchant, the newly appointed Coordinator of Technical Support Services, stepped into a scenario where the IT environment was less than ideal. The district’s tech team found themselves in a relentless cycle of rebuilding computers — a time-consuming task that involved re-imaging around one computer per week. This routine not only drained resources but also diverted the team’s attention from focusing on more strategic IT initiatives.

The challenges didn’t end there. With the rise of global malware attacks, the district’s existing antivirus solutions were falling short. They were not only sluggish and network-intensive but also struggled to deliver timely updates, especially in an all-Windows environment. This inefficiency left the district’s network vulnerable, and the IT team stretched thin.

The transition: A new start with Deep Freeze and Faronics Anti-Virus

Determined to turn the tide, Mr. Merchant recalled his successful experience with Faronics Deep Freeze at a previous smaller school. Deep Freeze, known for its robust instant system-restore capabilities, was a game-changer. It maintained the original workstation configurations, allowing any changes, including potential malware threats, to be wiped clean with a simple reboot. This meant the end of constant rebuilds and troubleshooting — a significant relief for the IT team.

However, the district’s transformation wasn’t complete without addressing the antivirus conundrum. The quest for a compatible and efficient antivirus solution led Mr. Merchant to Faronics Anti-Virus. This solution promised compatibility with Deep Freeze and boasted faster processing, reduced network load and superior effectiveness against malware.

Implementation: A strategic overhaul

The implementation phase was both strategic and meticulous. Deep Freeze was deployed across the district’s 1,700 workstations and 30 servers. The IT team, initially skeptical, soon witnessed the transformative power of Deep Freeze. The once frequent support calls dwindled, freeing the team to focus on more impactful IT projects.

Parallelly, Faronics Anti-Virus was integrated into the system. Unlike traditional antivirus solutions, it didn’t require a maintenance mode for updates. This meant that even computers in a ‘Frozen’ state received timely antivirus updates, ensuring continuous protection against malware threats. The network traffic, a significant concern previously, was now remarkably reduced.

Results: An impressive transformation

The results were nothing short of remarkable. An immediate 80% reduction in software-related issues and system crashes was observed. Deep Freeze enhanced the IT infrastructure’s reliability and brought an unexpected benefit — compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The assurance that no sensitive student data was retained on the computers in case of a security breach was a significant relief.

Faronics Anti-Virus, on the other hand, proved its mettle by consistently protecting the network against malware, without the previous delays and network performance issues. The IT team, once overwhelmed with updates and maintenance, now enjoyed a more streamlined and efficient workflow.

Conclusion: A new era in IT efficiency

Today, the Ballston Spa Central School District is a testament to strategic IT solutions’ power. Integrating Deep Freeze and Faronics Anti-Virus has simplified the district’s IT operations and allowed the team to redirect their focus to more critical and strategic projects. The district’s journey from a challenging IT environment to a streamlined and secure one is a story of transformation, innovation and strategic foresight.

In the words of Brian Merchant, “These two products have not just simplified our job; they’ve ushered in a new era of IT efficiency and reliability, allowing us to focus on what truly matters — enhancing the educational experience for our students.”