Security Strategy: Universities and Schools
How universities and school systems in the New York area
prevent equipment theft
Every
educational institution makes significant investments in technology. Losing
equipment to theft means losses on many levels: lost instructional time, lost
research and lost precious resources. Most schools, in effect, self-insure,
which makes the impact even worse. And most do not have the means to replace
lost equipment, especially when it was purchased with grants, capital and school
funds.
With the deployment of notebooks, netbooks and tablets, the challenge is even
greater. Besides worrying about lost PCs, educational institutions are concerned
about the theft of digital projectors, televisions and other AV equipment, as
well as laboratory equipment, mice, speakers, monitors and internal components,
all of which can be protected.
 The
right theft prevention strategy depends on your equipment, your environment,
your budget and the exposure at each of your locations.
As wireless classrooms and laptop, tablet and netbook configurations are
deployed, schools use mobile carts and stationary cabinets to provide the best
possible security, as well as re-charging and electrical protection.
A wide variety of
these
carts, cabinets and cases
are available. While many schools use
carts, situations that do not require mobility can have better security at a
lower cost with cabinets designed for classroom use.
Click here.
NYC Takes Action Against Theft
Since 1988, the New York
City Department of Education has awarded a comprehensive contract to proved
security devices for computers, printers, copiers, administrative equipment, AV
and lab equipment… anything that could walk. It is the largest contract of its
kind. Since 1988, the contract has been held by Datamation Systems.
New York sets extremely rigorous performance standards and requires anti-theft
devices that not only deter thieves, but also carry a no-theft warranty that
assures that equipment stolen will be replaced. Using special maximum security
enclosures and pads with special keying, Datamation Systems has provided tens of
thousands of such devices under this contract, securing equipment provided by
Dell, Apple, HP, Lexmark, Lenovo and countless other vendors. Urban schools are
a virtual laboratory for testing the performance of security devices. But the
challenges (and risks) are no less significant in suburban or rural settings,
public or private.
In Other Schools and Universities
\undreds of other school
districts have programs to protect their equipment. Others implement programs as
they deploy new technology.
Some Universities work security devices into their risk management programs,
covering equipment losses only if a piece of equipment is secured or holding
departments responsible for a significant deductible if an approved security
device is not used. Physical security can be an effective part of an asset
control program, keeping equipment where it is supposed to be.
For additional information on protecting school assets, please
contact us.
For a list of devices commonly used by
education customers,
click here.
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