Home Working and Remote Learning

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The New Normal of Home Working and Remote Learning

In the ever-evolving landscape of education and work, one thing has become clear: the need for robust, secure, and fast internet connections is paramount. As more schools adapt to remote learning and home working, ensuring that devices remain secure regardless of their location is of central importance. With hacking attacks on the rise, particularly targeting those working from less secure home networks, schools must be more vigilant than ever.

In this article, we’ll explore the importance of securing remote devices, the tools available to achieve this, and how enhanced broadband can make all the difference.

The Importance of Security in Remote Work and Learning

The shift to home working and remote learning has brought about many benefits, such as flexibility and accessibility, but it has also introduced new security challenges. Hackers are increasingly targeting remote workers and students, exploiting the relatively weaker security measures often found in home networks compared to those in professional or educational environments. This trend underscores the need for schools to implement stringent security protocols to protect sensitive information and maintain the integrity of their educational activities.

Securing home working devices involves more than just installing antivirus software. It requires comprehensive solutions that can ensure data privacy, protect against cyber threats, and maintain a seamless user experience. This is where technologies like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Remote Desktop Services (RDS) come into play.

The Role of VPNs and RDS in Ensuring Security

To bolster security for home working and remote learning, utilizing VPNs or RDS is essential. These technologies provide a secure conduit for data transmission, shielding sensitive information from prying eyes.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): A VPN routes your device’s internet connection through a private server rather than your Internet Service Provider (ISP). This means that when your data is transmitted to the internet, it appears to come from the VPN server rather than your actual device. This intermediary process hides your passwords and IP address, making it much harder for hackers to intercept and exploit your data. Think of it as your personal “cyber cloak of invisibility”—perfect for keeping your digital secrets safe.

Remote Desktop Services (RDS): RDS works similarly by allowing users to access a computer remotely over a network connection. This means that sensitive data never leaves the secure environment of the school’s network, even when accessed from a remote location. Both VPNs and RDS rely on a strong, fast, and consistent broadband service to function effectively.

The Crucial Role of Enhanced Broadband

The effectiveness of VPNs and RDS in securing remote devices is heavily dependent on the quality of the broadband connection. Slow or unreliable internet can disrupt these services, leaving users vulnerable to security breaches. Therefore, investing in high-quality broadband is not just a luxury but a necessity for modern educational institutions.

At IcyTea, we understand the critical role that robust internet connectivity plays in securing remote learning and working environments. This is why we offer a leased line option as part of our broadband services. A leased line provides a dedicated, high-speed internet connection that ensures your broadband speed and strength are not compromised. This dedicated connection is crucial for maintaining the performance of VPNs and RDS, ensuring that your teachers and students can access digital school resources securely and without interruption.

The Benefits of a Leased Line for Remote Learning

Leased lines offer several advantages that make them an ideal choice for educational institutions:

  1. Consistent High Speed: Leased lines provide a consistent and symmetrical internet speed, which is essential for the smooth operation of security tools like VPNs and RDS. This ensures that users experience minimal lag and disruptions, facilitating a more productive remote learning environment.
  2. Enhanced Security: With a dedicated connection, leased lines offer enhanced security compared to shared broadband connections. This reduces the risk of cyber attacks and ensures that sensitive educational data remains protected. It’s like having a personal bodyguard for your internet—always on duty, never taking a tea break.
  3. Reliability: Leased lines are known for their reliability. Unlike standard broadband connections, which can suffer from slowdowns during peak usage times, leased lines maintain their speed and performance regardless of the time of day or the number of users online. It’s the internet equivalent of a trusty old friend who’s always there when you need them—no ifs, ands, or buffering.

Supporting Remote Education in Uncertain Times

The shift to remote learning and home working presents both challenges and opportunities. Ensuring that students and teachers are connected securely and reliably is crucial for maintaining the quality of education. At IcyTea, we are committed to supporting schools through these uncertain times by providing seamless, protected, and cost-effective broadband solutions.

Our tailored broadband services are designed to meet the unique needs of educational institutions, providing the speed, security, and reliability required to support remote learning and working. Whether it’s through the implementation of VPNs and RDS or the provision of a dedicated leased line, we have the expertise and solutions to keep your digital school environment secure and efficient.

Stay Secure with IcyTea

In the modern educational landscape, ensuring the security of remote working and learning devices is more important than ever. By leveraging technologies like VPNs and RDS, supported by high-quality broadband connections, schools can protect their sensitive data and provide a safe digital environment for students and staff.

At IcyTea, we are here to help you navigate these challenges with our comprehensive broadband solutions. If you believe in the importance of secure, reliable internet for your school, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Together, we can ensure that your remote learning and working environments are protected and efficient, allowing you to focus on what matters most – providing a high-quality education.

With IcyTea, your internet connection will always be as cool and reliable as a refreshing iced tea on a hot summer day. So, reach out and let’s book in a digital cuppa!

 

How to Improve Internet Speeds with A Leased Line for Your School

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Are you looking to improve your school’s broadband speeds?

Symmetrical download and upload speeds. Uncontended internet usage. Priority fault fixes… What’s the catch?!

Well, often the answer to the above is the sheer cost of the connection. Here at IcyTea, however, we offer schools the fastest leased line options without breaking the bank. We are an agnostic supplier, and have access to an ever-increasing number of different providers. The best part? Alternative networks are often MUCH cheaper than your core network carriers.

Heard enough? Click here! Want to learn more? Read on…

So, what is a leased line?

A leased line is a private telecommunications circuit between two or more locations. It is sometimes also known as a private circuit, but whichever way you look at it: this connection is bespoke to you. A leased line is the highest grade internet connection you can obtain and, because of this, you get: upload speeds that match your download (from 100Mbps to 10Gbps+!), business-grade Service Level Agreements (SLA) that ensure you get any issues fixed fast, and sole-access to the connection.

All other wired internet options (SOGEA, FTTP etc.) will provide a contended connection, meaning you share the main internet ‘pipe’ that services your area. If you have a heavy internet user nearby then you will see your speeds impacted as a result, and there isn’t anything that can be done in this situation. Leased lines could be an answer if this is your situation, but is this the answer for you? Read on to learn more.

Broadband and leased lines connect to your business premises in different ways. They both still come through a cable, but the difference is to do with how they get to you. With a regular broadband package, you get your internet from the local cabinet, one of those green boxes that you would see on the side of the road. The cabinet contains many different cables, copper-wire or fibre that deliver internet to your area. The difference comes with how cables are split as the internet gets to you. With regular broadband, the cable gets split between all the premises on your street using that broadband but with leased line, you will get a dedicated circuit that’s only used for you. No sharing = faster speeds.

Schools face the challenge of large numbers of users which stresses most broadband systems leading to slower speeds. With a leased line, however, this won’t be so much of an issue. Your school’s leased line is only there to provide your users with internet, giving you the maximum possible speed for your school. The only question: what speed do you need?

As with all connections, leased lines need to be paired with effective security solutions. IcyTea’s broadband package offers: filtering for every device (even for pupils at home),  reporting, monitoring (to alert against any reduction in students’ wellness levels) an industry-standard firewall, a Service Level Agreement in the event of any faults, and safeguarding training to ensure all staff are on the same page. These are all features directly tailored for schools, and keeping pupils safe within the school environment. A great all-round package for quality learning and safety.

If you would like anymore information regarding leased line broadband, please get in touch.