New Zealand schools have been managing IT in their schools in a vastly different way from how things are handled here in the US.
In 2013, the rise of internet and network usage in schools made the Ministry of Education realize that local schools could no longer manage their own networks while keeping everyone safe online.
Consequently, a new plan was unveiled to make everything much easier, letting schools focus on education rather than worrying about managing their IT services.
Network for Learning (N4L)
N4L is effectively a managed network service for schools, which was introduced under the Te Mana Tuhono program in New Zealand. It meant that every single state school in the country connects to the network. That’s over 800,000 people per day, with over 5.2 million GB of data consumed per month.
There are two key aspects of this managed network infrastructure, with the first one being the Wi-Fi 6 technology. This was developed by CommScope, and it basically allows for numerous devices to connect to the internet without issues relating to speed or reliability.
In a school setting, you can see how crucial this technology would be, preventing slow internet access and outages.
This technology connects to the managed network, which is where the second key aspect comes into play. It lets the company provide better support to all the schools under the program, being able to find issues before students or teachers notice them.
In essence, the whole N4L system will improve school network security and reliability, all without putting any additional demands on the faculty. Schools don’t need to invest resources in IT management, and the teachers can do what they do best; teach!
How Can the USA Adopt Some of These Practices?
Obviously, there are far fewer state schools in New Zealand than there are in the US. So, an N4L approach would never work nationwide as it would be too expensive.
However, some of the practices in place could be adopted in the US for both schools and businesses. The Wi-Fi 6 technology is a prime example of this; businesses can start using it for more reliable network connections, leading to less downtime at work.
The whole concept of managed IT services is also something that should be further adopted in the US. More schools and businesses should start outsourcing their IT services, giving themselves more time to focus on their strengths.
Find an IT Company That Can Help You Make a Difference
In conclusion, the New Zealand way of doing things has underlined the benefits and importance of off-site managed IT services.
Consequently, your business needs to find an IT company that can help you make a difference and be far more efficient. The ideal company will offer full-scale IT management, taking care of everything for you.
In turn, you have more time to focus on what matters most in your business. Everyone in your office can focus on their daily tasks, rather than worrying about IT issues or trying to solve tech problems. Productivity increases, leading to more profit potential.