CIO OPINION students and encouraging self-paced learning . And , rather than deter the use of personal devices , they are becoming increasingly more embedded in the educational toolset .
And so by enabling a more digital workplace , staff will be freed up to make faster decisions and engage students whose learning styles vary . Already we ’ re seeing education employees reap the rewards of technology . In Aruba ’ s recent study of more than 1,000 employees , almost three quarters ( 74 %) said they could accomplish more throughout the day and had the opportunity to develop new skills ( 74 %).
However , as the smarter classroom gradually becomes a reality , so is the question of security – and how it is managed – must be addressed .
Keeping security in check
Worryingly , just under half ( 49 %) of teachers admit they rarely ( if ever ) think about cybersecurity , despite 91 % acknowledging its importance . In addition , more than three-quarters ( 76 %) believe there is room for improvement in the way
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AS THE SMARTER CLASSROOM GRADUALLY BECOMES A REALITY , SO IS THE QUESTION OF SECURITY – AND HOW IT IS MANAGED – MUST BE ADDRESSED .
connected technology is managed . This is a challenge for institutions . Schools , colleges and universities alike share the same priority : providing the best possible education to cater to students whose expectations are growing exponentially . To connect with them in a meaningful way requires reliable , optimised , and personalised learning experiences . But an influx of Internet of Things ( IoT ) devices and a cohort that aren ’ t all trained in security best practices , puts networks at risk of intrusion . And , more seriously , puts young people at risk of communication from people who may wish to abuse , exploit or bully them .
Tackling this issue requires both accountability and an autonomous approach to security . Ensuring there is ownership over IoT security is imperative and some institutions have appointed ‘ digital champions ’ who review technology and share practices that foster innovation .
Technology , too , will play its part in managing the cybersecurity risk . Colleges and universities must implement new tools that go beyond traditional cybersecurity measures , such as User and Entity Behaviour Analytics ( UEBA ), which identify patterns in typical user behaviour and flag any anomalies . These kinds of solutions don ’ t hinder employee creativity , collaboration , or speed as many clunky security systems do . Instead , they provide real-time protection and enable quick responses should a network breach occur . www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO 39 39