The rapid transition to remote learning in response to the onset of the pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to administrators, educators, and students. However, the pressure to support new ways of learning was felt most intensely by people responsible for managing schools’ technology environments. Whether that burden fell to a small IT team or a single technology specialist, school systems were forced to quickly make digital investments with limited budgets.
Today, schools still face significant cost pressures as they return to in-class and hybrid learning. However, they are now aided by an influx of new federal funding—an investment of $122 billion directed to K-12 schools as part of the American Rescue Plan, which Congress signed into law in March 2021.
The question is, can you help schools simplify their technology stacks to better support both classroom and hybrid learning and increase their resilience—without negatively impacting security, learning outcomes, or costs?
With SYNNEX and Microsoft Education in your corner, the answer is a clear “yes.”
Choose the right foundation
Regardless of where they are in their transformation journey, you can help schools simplify their technology stacks using Windows 11 devices and Microsoft Education tools. With Microsoft for Education as a foundation, schools get access to all the programs they need to ensure an effective, highly secure, and accessible platform.
For example, with Microsoft Intune for Education, schools can manage devices used by students, teachers, and administrators—including Windows, iOS, Apple OS, and Android—from a single portal. It enables teachers and students to be productive while protecting school data. With Microsoft School Data Sync, it’s simple to manage classes. School Data Sync synchronizes school information systems (SIS), learning management systems, Teams, and Intune for Education—helping teachers to quickly create classes and groups across all the tools they use to monitor student progress. And, Microsoft for Education is affordable. When a school provides its administrative staff with either a Microsoft 365 A3 or A5 license with Microsoft for Education, it includes up to 40 free student licenses.
To get more details about Microsoft Education, download the partner playbook.
Provide the right devices for every student
Windows devices come in a range of technologies with affordable pricing, starting as low as $219. Education customers can choose from rugged, waterproof devices to 2-in-1 multi-modal devices available with pens. Windows devices provide all-day battery life and quick starting to help students stay productive and learn from anywhere.
As a SYNNEX reseller, you can offer schools the option of Device as a service to reduce their capital expenditures and ensure students have access to the latest devices. With Windows Autopilot, schools can easily manage and deliver Windows devices by choosing from either no-touch, low-touch, or custom setups. And they can support multiple modalities, whether mobile devices, laptops, or personal computers, using Azure Virtual Desktop and Microsoft 365.
Learn more about choosing the best path to upgrade customers.
Keep students safe and secure
Schools are increasingly targeted for ransomware and cyberattacks—raising the stakes on schools’ technology security and their ability to protect their students and data, whether in the classroom, at home, or anywhere in between.
While technology competitors such as Google focus on securing their own cloud and Chromebooks, Microsoft for Education takes a comprehensive approach to securing students along with the school’s technology and campus.
For example, Microsoft 365 provides built-in protection for devices, servers, and endpoints with tools and features like multifactor authentication, access management, communication policies, and Defender for Office 365. In addition, Windows 11 is the most secure Windows to date—with powerful, built-in protection for data, devices, and users, and the ability to secure information and identities, even on lost or stolen devices. And with Intune for Education, schools can manage every application and deploy critical security patches to the entire school population, without ever touching students’ devices.
Take a closer look on how Teams is keeping classrooms secure.
