Why IT Asset Management Makes Sense for Schools
According to a recent survey, 70% of teachers report that every student is assigned their own personal learning device, which has a big spike since COVID-19. As a result, schools are facing an increased number of IT assets, and IT teams are being challenged to manage those assets properly.
Education institutions that are overcoming these new challenges have been adopting IT Asset Management (ITAM) software to manage their hundreds and even thousands of IT assets. Below, we outline some of the reasons that ITAM software makes sense for schools:
1. Centralized Control Over School-Wide Assets
Realistically, manually keeping track of a school’s IT assets is nearly impossible. It exposes a school to an increased amount of lost or misplaced assets, mistakes in inventory, and preventable costs. With a centralized platform to keep track of all assets, IT teams know where every laptop, projector, desktop computer, telephone, etc., is at all times without needing to flip through spreadsheets and multiple programs.
2. Cost Efficiency for Tight Budgets
Schools often deal with limited budgets, so it is important that every IT asset’s use is maximized and unexpected costs are minimized. With ITAM software, schools can identify underutilized assets, and as a result, they purchase less unneeded equipment. Those abandoned laptops sitting in that teacher’s closet? They’re getting used until their last day.
3. Enhanced Security Maintenance
When schools don’t comply with regulations regarding data privacy, they can face security breaches that are costly to repair. Administrative, student, and staff information is at risk due to a poor ITAM program. ITAM software helps schools maintain accurate records of their IT assets, which are essential to maintaining the security of their devices. If a device is lost or stolen, it can be quickly located or remotely wiped to prevent data breaches.
4. Adaptability and Scalability for Changing Institutions
There’s the inevitable summer break and the back-to-school season for schools. Running an operation where students return devices and then are assigned a new device requires a highly organized and accurate system. That is where ITAM software can help IT teams at schools. They can automate device assignments for individuals and students, removing the need to do it manually. Additionally, accurate user records are kept for when it’s time to return devices. If your school is growing, then an ITAM tool can help you scale and keep operations running smoothly without adding multiple steps to your operations.
Final Thoughts
Schools that have implemented ITAM software are running their ITAM operations like a well-oiled machine. IT teams are able to focus more on supporting day-to-day needs without getting stuck on inventory or asset issues. We’ve seen it first hand with the schools that have Teqtivity. If your school is ready to take control of its IT assets, explore how Teqtivity can help.