Vilnius International School: an external IT partner resolved not only long-standing network security issues
In today’s educational system, information technology (IT) plays a crucial role in schools, transforming the learning process and the overall school environment. Every school community member, including students, becomes an IT services user, with personal accounts that manage information about their progress, results, and other important details. IT provides communication channels, access to learning resources, task-sharing functions, and other tools essential for the learning process.
Connectivity and information security are vital not only for the quality of education but also for the safety of students, with filtering systems in place to prevent inappropriate content from reaching the learning environment. Schools educate minors, making it mandatory to ensure the security and flexibility of devices and communication networks. Therefore, control tools are necessary to protect students from inappropriate content and data breaches, as it’s only a matter of time before schools become targets for cybercriminals.
“If information technology (IT) disappeared one day, we would last only two days because the learning materials and data accumulated in the systems are critical for successfully running a modern school,” says Rebecca Toth Juras, Director of Vilnius International School.
A Partner Brings Deep Specialized Knowledge
Given the significant role IT has gained in school education, choosing a reliable and competent partner becomes crucial. Although it may initially seem that all IT needs can be met by employing one or a few specialists, the reality quickly proves otherwise. Modern schools need to integrate numerous complex systems. For this reason, relying on internal resources becomes increasingly challenging, and the need for external service providers becomes evident. The need to hire an external IT partner for Vilnius International School arose due to network security and the necessity of maintaining and supporting the educational system.
“The range of required knowledge and competencies is so broad that a company can’t have so many in-house IT specialists. Additionally, even after hiring an employee, there’s a constant risk that they will leave, necessitating the hiring and training of another, which is both time-consuming and costly,” shares the director.
The director adds that as a company grows, it is very important for the external IT partner to grow alongside it. The school uses more than 1,500 increasingly sophisticated and complex devices simultaneously, making it essential to ensure the smooth functioning of systems and fast internet.
The Human Factor in IT Is Relevant
Vilnius International School, in search of a reliable and professional IT partner, chose “Altic IT,” replacing the previous provider. This decision was based on several key factors: smooth communication and promptness, active involvement of an experienced IT manager in projects, the presentation of the working team, and competitive service pricing. As noted by school representatives, “better to be slightly smaller but have a good reputation in the market.”
The initial work performed by “Altic IT” quickly proved that the choice was right. One of the primary projects at the outset involved assessing the existing IT systems and replacing software that did not meet quality and security standards, which had been causing constant disruptions. After correcting the network configuration and eliminating errors, the school was finally able to carry on its daily activities smoothly without interruptions. Complaints about connectivity disappeared entirely within a few days.
School representatives acknowledge that, in the absence of an internal IT specialist, it is crucial to have an external partner who not only solves emerging issues but also performs broad, ongoing IT maintenance. “For instance, we had problems with our website, which isn’t part of ‘Altic IT’s’ responsibilities. However, their specialists actively investigated our problem and helped identify the causes, thereby speeding up the resolution. Proactivity and going the extra mile are invaluable qualities of this company, which is why we choose to work together,” states the school representative.
This partnership ensures stable IT support and provides the school with the assurance that its IT infrastructure is reliable and secure, under the supervision of professionals who do more than what is asked. Such an approach creates a safe and modern environment for the school community, allowing a focus on the primary mission—education.
