When choosing a cloud storage solution for your school district, there are many things to consider, from cost to Ransomware protection. Then you need to decide if you can afford to invest in cloud backup or a subscription service. Here are some tips to help you choose the best solution for your needs. After reading this guide, you’ll be well on your way to choosing the right solution for your school district.
Cost-effectiveness
If you are considering adopting a solution of cloud storage for developers for your school district, the first step is to conduct a data inventory. Determine the size, location, and security of all data sets, and determine which data migration approach is the best fit for your needs. Consider a hybrid approach, which allows your district to take advantage of cloud infrastructure while still preserving its own infrastructure. This approach will allow your school district to keep important data on-site but not risk losing it due to a rogue attack.
As more information from schools and districts is brought online, storage capacity in data centers has to expand. And that information needs to be secure, accessible, and secure. But the cost of maintaining network-connected servers is high, and maintaining a mixed-protocol network with SAS and SATA drives is a nightmare. Backup is a major pain, and high availability can make daily service levels a challenge.
Ransomware protection
In today’s world, cybercriminals have targeted educational institutions as their primary targets. Some recent reports suggest that ransom demands topped $30 million. Consequently, it’s crucial for school districts to protect their data from ransomware attacks. Thankfully, there are a number of cloud storage and data backup solutions that can help protect their data from these threats. Listed below are some of the advantages of cloud storage for school districts.
Secured storage for school district data is a critical component of a successful BDR plan. Ransomware attacks can lock up valuable school data, preventing its return. To protect your data, you must ensure that your cloud storage solution provides secure backups. Experts recommend choosing cloud storage that offers high-level encryption and multiple-factor authentication. You can also purchase USBs and external hard drives and physically disconnect them from the system.
Privacy
In today’s increasingly digital world, it’s crucial to ensure that sensitive data stays safe. In the cloud, data is stored on third-party applications. School districts entrust sensitive data to these vendors, but poor data handling or weak defenses can lead to leakage or theft. In addition, school districts can be held liable for security breaches due to regulations like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which require schools to take reasonable measures to protect students’ information.
Private cloud storage is an excellent option for school systems. Teachers and staff can store student work in private cloud storage to protect sensitive information. In fact, most digital exchanges between students and teachers are private. Private school papers are private; emails and other communications between teachers and students are meant for teachers only. Additionally, private data stored on computers is vulnerable to theft and destruction. In addition to preventing data theft, private cloud storage solutions also offer a number of security features.
Pricing
School districts may have dozens of software products licensed from vendors. Not all of them are suitable for cloud storage. As such, schools must research the capabilities and pricing model of software contracts to determine if moving to the cloud makes sense. In addition, they should look at the bona fides of the cloud vendor to ensure it is a good fit for their school. After all, schools’ data will be stored in a shared environment, not on a single server.
Before making a decision on cloud storage solutions, school districts should perform a thorough data inventory to determine which systems and applications would be most beneficial to the district. These inventories should include the size of data sets, location, and security protocols. After assessing the existing infrastructure, schools should determine how to migrate data, and if there is a steep learning curve. Testing the solution in a live environment can provide valuable insight into how users interact with it.
