SubscribeLaptops are as commonplace in schools and colleges today as the blackboard once was. Whilst few argue about their benefits it's only the more enlightened that can be confident about their security.
So exactly what are the risks? Colchester based laptop security experts, LapSafe® Products (a division of FRAB Limited) explain: "From the schools and colleges we visit, there are few that haven't suffered some type of laptop crime. It might be laptops that 'go missing' whilst out of the building, or a more serious break-in by thieves who know precisely what they're looking for and regard mobile IT equipment as an easy target. For schools this means damaged buildings, lost hardware and data, disruption to teaching staff and higher insurance costs."
The prognosis sounds gloomy, but LapSafe's® innovative solutions are proving to be effective deterrents that considerably reduce the rate of laptop loss.
Perhaps the most widely adopted security measure is to store laptops in lockable re-charging cabinets. LapSafe® advise IT Heads to look carefully at what these cabinets offer before making their choice. Cabinets should be robust with a fully welded chassis, anti-jemmy hinges and high security locks, and an alarm system that can be activated independently or linked into the building security system.
Functionality is equally important: safe fast laptop re-charging facilities, "network ready" options (providing inbuilt connectivity for wireless to LAN) and for some schools the ability to download and upload data to all the laptops whilst being stored securely is a must. The cabinets should be able to grow with the needs of the school as not all schools have the budget to purchase all their laptops at once. These are just some of the features that should be on the shopping list. In-built power management and automatic temperature control cooling is essential and all these features need to comply with the latest safety regulations.
Cabinets from LapSafe® come in a variety of sizes from the ability to store single laptops at each desk (Solo™ and Solo Plus™) to mobile units holding anything up to 40 laptops. Where fixed storage is required the Ambassador™ cabinet is becoming extremely popular, it has a small footprint and offers individual storage bays in one wall mounted cabinet for up to 25 laptops. These units are secure enough to fit into corridors and libraries allowing students individual access to their laptops.
Laptop Lockdown™ products, which physically fix the laptop to the desk whilst the student is working, have also earned their keep in many schools and colleges, as have security cables that allow the laptop to be attached to a desk or nearby fixture. These are ideal for use 'on the move' when security is often compromised.
It's not only laptops that are potential targets of crime - digital projectors can be equally at risk. LapSafe's® projector solutions secure the equipment and provide an elegant yet effective visual deterrent plus a high level of physical security.
As schools plan to buy more laptops and introduce them into new areas of the curriculum, and as parents and governors make increasing contributions to the IT budget through fund-raising activities, it would seem even more vital to protect assets that have been so hard-won. No wonder then that many schools are coming to regard the small additional spend on security products as an intrinsic part of their budget as the laptops themselves.
