We help schools use technology to be safe and productive in the classroom and the administration offices.
Why You Need Help
The education industry has been ranked the worst in cybersecurity out of 17 major industries. Analysis published by SecurityScorecard reveals an incredible risk to students considering the sheer amount of personal data amassed on school networks. In the 2018 Education Cybersecurity Report, SecurityScorecard found that the education industry is not taking many of the necessary steps to protect students from cyber-vulnerabilities. According to the study, the main areas of cybersecurity weaknesses in education are application security, endpoint security, patching, and network security. (1)
Schools have valuable information to protect for both students and employees. However, as financial and physical security issues arise, cybersecurity can fall down the list. As Ann McMullan, project director for the CoSN Empowered Superintendents Program reminded attendees at a recent webinar, cyberattacks are increasing in K-12 — from phishing attempts to outright hacks. (2)
In a recent report to the U.S. Congress, the Kentucky Department of Education said its schools faced more than 4 billion breach attempts in 2017.
A wide range of cybersecurity threats are sweeping through the education sector, creating problems and costing public schools significant time, money, and trust. Criminal hacking groups have terrorized and extorted school communities. Email scams have led to identify theft, fraudulent tax returns, and stolen public funds. Configuration mistakes and lack of updates by district staff, third-party vendors, and other outside groups have left teacher and student information vulnerable. Still, most school leaders are likely underestimating the real dangers they face. (3) To make matters worse, most schools are struggling with just keeping their technology working, much less keeping it secured.
Small rural schools lack the budget and man-power to properly take care of the technology in their schools. Technology, and especially security, has become very complex and changes daily. It takes alot of time and effort to stay on top of new developments and have the knowledge that is needed to stay ahead of the bad guys. The IT work of a school is important and requires focus. To be successful, it cannot be someone's secondary responsibility. It also requires more than 1 person to do it right. However, small rural schools lack the budget to have multiple IT techs on staff. It also requires the investment in the proper management tools to keep everything in good shape. We can help you with the right tools, processes and staff to keep you safe, secure and productive.
How We Can Help You
Our team has many years of experience keeping technology at large corporations running. We have taken that experience and adapted our processes and tools to fit the educational technology world. We can provide a level of experience and service that is not possible when you try to take care of your technology on your own.
It is impossible in today's world for one person to be an expert in every aspect of technology. Our team of technicians each have areas where they are very knowledgeable. This allows us to have a wide ranging base of technical knowledge, while still having a depth of expertise to solve the toughest problems.
Does your school experience any of these problems?
- Do you seem to constantly be putting out IT related fires, but never getting ahead?
- Do you have a good backup of your important files?
- Do you have slow computers or internet?
- Do you have strange pop ups or messages on your computers?
- Has anyone had a virus, been a victim of a 3rd party data breech or a victim of identity theft?
- Are you not really sure of the over all safety and security of your network?
- Do you have technology problems that you just can not seem to solve?
- Do you just wish you could get your computers to work reliably?
We can help you with these problems and many more.
Security Assessments - 9 out 10 schools have serious security problems that endanger the students, staff and families of the school district. We have the technology and processes to review your network and give you a customized action plan to help lower the technology risk at your school.
On-Going Security and Support - We provide remote and on-site technology support to keep all of your equipment working at its very best. We have the technology, processes and people to watch over your network and your devices to monitor for problems, keep your equipment updated, support your end users and make sure that the bad guys are not getting into your network.
Technology Purchasing and Installation - When we first go to a school, we usually find a collection of random devices that were purchased based on a personal preferences or whatever was available at the time. Since there was not any overall technology planning, it means that there are devices that can not or do not work properly because they are not compatible. We can help you purchase, configure and install the right equipment, the right way. The way that works and saves your precious money and time.
Support Help Desk - If you have an IT technician that you would like to keep on staff, we can still help you. We can provide the tools to keep your technology updated and working properly, then take the first level support calls that can be worked remotely. This frees up your technician to work on just the things that require on-site support. This also frees up your technician to work on more strategic projects, instead of spending all of their time going classroom to classroom to reboot someone's computer or reset their printer. We can also provide additional on-site support to help your technician on larger projects.
We would be glad to discuss how we can help your school be safe, secure and productive in the classroom and the administration offices. Give Cleatus a call at 580-782-2266 X11.
Bibliography
Working with Ultimate IT Guys was the best decision that I have made in a long time.
Connie Caldwell
Director - Omaha KS Housing Authority
I just wanted to let you know that I have had nothing but awesome work done from Marcus, he has so totally helped me out a great deal. Every time that I have a issue he is on it. I am so thankful to have him as my IT Guy to go to. He's awesome. You have a terrific employee.
Thank you so much
Edna
Roby TX Housing Authority
Ultimate It Guys has been the Cameron Housing Authority’s IT company since 2017. I couldn’t ask for a better one. The staff is quick to help & very professional. They will work with you until your problem has been solved. We will definitely use them in the future.
Julie Ausmus
Executive Director
Cameron MO Housing Authority
The Nevada Housing Authority has been doing business with Ultimate IT Guys since June 2016. Prior to that time, we struggled with good tech support and did not have anyone in house capable of taking on that responsibility. We have had a very positive experience with Ultimate IT Guys and their tech support staff.
They make themselves available anytime for the support and training needed and keep us with the most recent updates. I have enjoyed the webinars and now have access for myself and the staff to those webinars that we miss. The value for the service provided by Ultimate IT Guys is worth a look at for your agency. You will find them customer service driven, have the ability to problem solve and easy to communicate with.
Carol Branham Executive Director
Housing Authority of the City of Nevada MO
Just sending a "thank you" for the webinar last Thursday..lots of useful information about passwords that I needed and I appreciate it very much!
Sharon Wright
Executive Director
Avinger TX Housing Authority
Hi I am Joan Wright, I am the Executive Director at McGregor Housing Authority. I have been with Ultimate IT Guys since 2017.
We are from a small community and we just don’t have much for computer support in this area. I met him at Texas Housing Association and he has done a wonderful job for us. His service is 24/7, all I have to do is pick up a phone and call him. One of his support staff is always happy to work with us. I have all my faith in Ultimate IT Guys they do a wonderful job.
Joan Wright
Executive Director
McGregor Housing Authority
We have been very pleased and impressed with the services and product advice we have received from Ultimate IT Guys.
They provided a big picture view of our business risk, then broke it down into actionable details through the assessments and the reports they provided to us. All very professional and informative but still in layman's language in a way that anyone can understand it.
Mike Chapman
Executive Director
Lubbock TX Housing Authority
Ultimate IT Guys have truly been a big help to Trinidad Housing Authority for the past 5 years. From keeping our computer systems up to date and virus free, to their excellent customer service. When we have an issue with our computer software or hardware, there is never a wait and they are always there to help, and at very reasonable prices.
Teresa Crawford
Trinidad Housing Authority
Trinidad Texas
I highly recommend the Ultimate IT Guys to anyone who needs IT support services. They have consistently given us excellent service at a reasonable price.
They know the needs of PHA’s, and are particularly well suited to filling the IT needs of housing authorities who are not large enough to have their own in-house staff. They can do virtually all the work they need to do remotely, so there is no waiting for an IT tech to show up. Our experience with The Ultimate IT Guys has all been positive, they have been a pleasure to do business with!
Don Eaves
Executive Director
Overton Texas Housing Authority