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Thursday, May 29, 2008

Getting a Secure Broadband Network

As the penalties are lifted, I'm back in the swing of blogging. There's one little problem, which many adults of kids understand...sharing bandwidth. There is also the security of your network. My kids have computers and consoles that cause the system to crawl when in use simultaneously. Thrilling. With my limited knowledge of computers, I asked someone at a popular chain about it. They were very helpful in explaining how systems work and the appropriate network needed.

Discussing the issues with my kids, they broguht up some very important issues about their school's network. How are they able to have webcams with teachers and students from other countries participating? Furthermore, how is it that such a large campus with multiple buildings keep their systems running smoothly with optimized security? Of course that made me wonder about the following question.

What if you need secure broadband network services on a larger scale?
There are companies that provide secure broadband network services on a larger scale for institutions of education. One such company is Trillion. They have an informative site that explains the problems that arise with such a heavy exchange of information. Watch their video that explains the challenges faced by large networks and the solutions they provide. Their site states they are the largest national competitive service provider of fixed licensed wireless and fiber WANs for K-12 school districts in the United States.

What can a system like this accomplish?
They help districts manage students online portfolios. My children each have a portfolio that they access from school with a special number and password. Power Point presentations are saved there, as well as other projects that are assigned.
Another interesting aspect of my district is that they have begun to implement sakai. It is a system that allows students to log in and complete their homework assignments online. My daughter The Diva (the vegan/environmentalist) thought it was a great idea. It saves trees..she says. However, it brings up a lot of issues. For example, it pressures families to have broadband services instead of dialup (or no internet access at all). That's a whole other story.

Systems like Trillion's have many more pros than cons. They can greatly enhance a school's security and increase their academic reach. In these times of technology, it's good to know that schools are taking precautions to protect our children, while taking major strides to provide a competitive education.

What was the final outcome? I have to upgrade my system. I'm glad that things have picked up because it's not going to be cheap for me...

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