UK schools save time and money with Dell KACE Systems Management Solutions

Dell Software has expanded the number of schools that have implemented its Dell KACE systems management appliances, helping schools cut the amount of time and money required to support and manage IT devices within the classroom and ensure pupils can use IT assets more effectively as part of their learning. Part of the growth in the number of schools implementing Dell KACE Appliances is due to a successful partnership between Dell and Joskos Solutions.

Dell Software provides systems management and deployment functionality through dedicated appliances. These appliances make it simpler for education IT staff to manage, update and support IT assets across schools, colleges and universities. By automating IT tasks and keeping assets up-to-date, IT staff within education can help teachers get the most out of technology within the classroom.

St Faith’s is the largest preparatory school in Cambridge, with over 500 pupils. The school has implemented the Dell KACE K1000 Systems Management Appliance to improve both the management of IT devices across the school’s classrooms, as well as enforcing desktop power management policies that turn off machines automatically outside school hours and when they are not being used.

“Working with Joskos, we wanted to improve how IT assets were managed and controlled so that pupils would get a consistent and positive experience of technology within the classroom. Following their recommendation, we implemented the Dell KACE appliance, which quickly demonstrated its value through improvements to tasks such as patching, system updates and enforcement of security policies. We are also using the built-in desktop power management function of the K1000 to power down machines, reducing energy bills and our carbon footprint,” commented Richard Brent, Bursar at St Faith’s. “This is part of our wider approach to reducing energy consumption across the school, which includes everything from lighting and building development through to IT. This approach led to the school winning the coveted Eco Schools Green Flag award in 2012, and we are looking to continue this green outlook in the future.”

Nick Madhavji, managing director at Joskos said, “We have seen strong interest from schools in how they can reduce their overheads around IT; better systems management is an ideal way to do this. For the schools that we have been working with, Dell represents an efficient way to control and manage IT devices and assets. At Woodbridge High School, the KACE appliances have saved around 200 hours’ worth of time that would have been spent on systems management tasks, as well as cost reductions of £10,000 through better systems management and improved availability of IT assets. The power management within the K1000 appliance has also saved the school in the region of £12,000 as well."

Jim Docherty, UK public sales at Dell, commented, “We see that education establishments of all kinds have their own distinct challenges around systems management. Primary schools have limited resources to assign to keeping their IT equipment patched and managed, while secondary schools and colleges can have complex IT estates to manage and support. Universities and colleges are now also facing more management headaches on the IT front as staff and pupils are asking to bring in their own devices and connect them to the network. From mobile device management through to systems management and deployment, the Dell KACE appliances provide a simple and cost-effective way to deal with the multiple challenges that exist around IT management, assisting IT teams in keeping up-to-date with the latest changes, patches and updates.”