However, if you’re responsible for creating the kind of innovative e-learning environment envisioned, you face some difficult challenges. How do you balance the wished-for educational freedoms and exciting collaborative opportunities with the very real security challenges that your new ICT environment will create?

Protecting your e-learning environments isn’t child’s play

The Internet is a security minefield for under-age users who can easily be exposed to violent or otherwise unsuitable websites. More IT savvy pupils may also try to hijack your web resources for illegal downloading and peer-to-peer sharing of MP3 and video files, leaving schools liable in the eyes of the notoriously litigious entertainment companies.

Malicious viruses and worms can rapidly bring servers crashing down. Sensitive data can be extracted by unauthorised third parties via Trojan Horse programmes. Spyware and phishing can leave financial and student data perilously exposed.

The only way to protect your pupils and staff - as well as your reputation - is to put best-practice security policies and products in place. That means talking to 3Com.

Our education experts will help you play it safe

Just as security issues shape the government’s new schools agenda, they also drive 3Com’s multiple award-winning TippingPoint™ family - the industry’s most powerful network security solution.

Based on a unique Intrusion Prevention System, it’ll safeguard your vulnerable data and users against malicious attacks and improper Internet use, supported by our Digital Vaccine^® service, which automatically protects you against emerging new threats. In addition our professional content filtering services make the Internet the safe learning environment you want it to be.

3Com can help you with other security concerns too, such as site surveillance. You can monitor every corner of your site by deploying low cost IP-CCTV, using our built-in Power over Ethernet product features. This is a cost-effective way to install surveillance across your school campus — and being based on a single network, it attracts lower maintenance overheads too.

This combined approach forms the core of a best-practice ICT security policy, and helps you free up staff to focus on more value-added e-learning projects.

Keen to learn more?
Please call +800 3266 3266 and
ask to speak to a network consultant
about 3Com’s secure education approach
or visit http://emea.3com.com/edutech