THE Journal — Security/Privacy
50 Districts Adopt SchoolMessenger Alert System
According to communication systems developer SchoolMessenger, 50 districts across the United States have deployed its SchoolMessenger for Cisco Unified Communications, an alert system for K-12 institutions. The company has also updated the system to provide SMS text messaging.
(7/9/2007)
KY High School Links Cameras to Police Cruisers
Bishop Brossart High School in Alexandria, KY last week launched a program that links security cameras on its campus to Alexandria Police Department cruisers. The system allows police access to the school's cameras in real time in their cruisers from any location.
(7/9/2007)
Virtual Ed Link To Provide Emergency Response
Emergency response software provider Viyya Technologies will be teaming up wth energy management firm The Atlantic Cos. to launch Virtual Ed Link, a new unit designed to provide emergency management technologies for K-12 and higher ed institutions. The letter of intent between the two companies was signed earlier this month.
(6/25/2007)
Whittier Union HSD Links Parents, Teachers
Introducing a new technology tool often has unexpected results. At Whittier Union High School District south of Los Angeles, teachers and parents are having more face to face interactions after the district introduced an automated system for contacting parents about student behavior.
(6/21/2007)
Disaster Recovery: Personal and Up Close
As we move into what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts as an above normal Atlantic hurricane season, this month's column will focus on a little considered aspect of disaster recovery, personal business continuity. What does business continuity have to do with security? Both are based anticipating and planning for bad things. So don't be surprised when your boss wants you to be on the organization's disaster recovery team. You may be surprised at how much you can contribute.
(6/12/2007)
Case Study: NJ District Ramps Up Security for Laptop Deployment
The quality of academic programs has become a significant competitive factor among high schools in recent years. This is particularly evident in top private schools like St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, N.J., a co-ed, Catholic high school operated by the diocese of Trenton. At St. John Vianney, the institutional program is geared toward college preparation, offering honors, advanced placement and special needs courses available in all disciplines. At a 98 percent college placement, it's clear that St. John Vianney has made a commitment to providing academic excellence.
(6/12/2007)
Chicago-Area Schools To Use Web-Based Notification Systems
Honeywell recently announced three Chicago-area school districts will use its Web-based notification service, Honeywell Instant Alert for Schools, to improve communication with parents. Oak Lawn-Hometown School District, New Lenox School District, and Oswego Community Unit School District will join more than 20 other Illinois districts that currently rely on the service.
(6/12/2007)
NY School Deploys HD CCTV Surveillance System
With the mission of preparing at-risk children to live safely within their home communities again, nothing is more important to The Berkshire Farm Center in Canaan, New York, than the round-the-clock security of its residential students. So when it came time to upgrade its aging CCTV video surveillance system, the decision to move to a network-based, high-definition system was easy.
(6/12/2007)
Virginia School District Taps GVI For Video Security Project
GVI Security Solutions Inc., a provider of video security surveillance solutions, announced the receipt of an award for the first phase of a new school video security project from the Chesterfield County Public School District, located in Virginia--not far from Blacksburg and Virginia Tech.
(6/12/2007)
Computer Security Products Distributing, Supporting Xtool Security Tools
Nashua, NH-headquartered Computer Security Products has begun solely distributing Houston, TX-based Xtool Mobile Security, Inc.'s Xtool Tracking and Encryption software products.
(6/12/2007)
St. Bernard Powers OpenDNS Site Blocking
DNS provider OpenDNS is expanding its list of safety features for kids by implementing new site blocking capabilities. The goal is to provide a means for school, library's, parents, and others responsible for kids' access to the Internet to be able to block sites deemed inappropriate for minors, including adult sites and social networking sites. OpenDNS is expanding its security toolchest with the help of St. Bernard Software, which is providing the technology behind the service's site-blocking capabilities.
(6/12/2007)
Securexam 'Cheat-Proofs' Remote Test Taking
Software Secure (Cambridge, MA) has released its Securexam Remote Proctor system, which provides exam security for distance learning environments. Working with Troy University's (Troy, AL) distance learning program--which maintains an advanced distance learning program -- the system eliminates the need for remote students to take exams on-site or in the presence of a proctor.
(6/12/2007)
DyKnow Releases Vision and Monitor 5
Education technology developer DyKnow has released DyKnow Vision and Monitor 5.0. Both tools, designed for classroom environments, add enhancements in the areas of compatibility, user interface, and various productivity features.
(6/5/2007)
AlarmPoint Launches Notification Grants
AlarmPoint Systems has launched a new grant program offering emergency notification systems through its new Crisis Notification Systems Grants Program.
(5/17/2007)
Long Odds, Short Fuses
Following last month's unprecedented massacre at Virginia Tech, security has, once again, temporarily moved to the top of the policy agenda in schools. As educators, parents, school staff, and concerned human beings in general, we all want to provide the absolute safest environment possible for the children in our care. Incidents of violence on college and school campuses remind us of our vulnerabilities. Couple this feeling of vulnerability with major media coverage, and we wind up with pressures both internal and external pushing administrators into immediate action.
(5/8/2007)
Orange County DoE To Deploy SEMS
The Orange County Department of Education in California will implement a new Safety and Emergency Management System (SEMS) from Maxxess Systems, a provider of network-based security systems. The contract calls for Maxxess to install the system at several schools over the next few months.
(5/7/2007)
Virginia District To Deploy Novell Security Systems
Fairfax County Public Schools recently developed a five-year plan to implement Novell security and identity technology for their districts websites. The technology is designed to help districts manage security and identity issues for its constantly changing student population and meet government regulations.
(5/3/2007)
Biometrics in K-12: Vendor Claims and Your Business Plan
My own quest for "The Truth about Biometric Devices in Schools" led to this three-part series on biometrics in K-12. It's a controversial topic, not just in the United States, but in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, which has its own concerned citizens fighting to ban fingerprinting of children in schools. My premise has been that before you decide to ban its use or buy into biometrics, you need to have an understanding of the technology itself and applications available, knowledge of key issues and concerns that have been raised, a keen eye for vendor claims, and then a sound business plan of action that leads to a security solution you really need.
(5/2/2007)
Biometrics in K-12: Issues and Standardization
I began this three-part investigation on using biometrics in K-12 after reading The Truth about Biometric Devices in Schools. In part 1, I defined biometrics and indicated that they are creeping into nearly every market in our society, particularly since the tragedy of September 11. There are applications used in education to authenticate transactions; control entry into various facilities; monitor time and attendance; secure access to laptops, PCs, and networks; and more. I introduced you to the most commonly used biometrics in schools, which are fingerprints and handprints, provided resources for you to make your own investigation into the nature of those technologies and products available, and left you with concerns to think about. Now I'll delve more into those issues that have been raised by parents, students, and civil liberties groups. All of this is intended to help you better decide to ban its use or buy into biometrics. Stay with me, for in part 3 we'll look at vendor claims and a sound business plan of action that leads to a security solution you really need.
(4/25/2007)
Miami-Dade Renews Desktop Security
Miami-Dade Public Schools, the fourth-largest school district in the nation, is implementing new security measures to protect its 90,000 desktops and 50,000 e-mail accounts from spam, viruses, worms, spyware, and unwanted applications.
(4/24/2007)
Chicago Area Districts Aim to Enhance Parent Communications
The greater Chicago area's Oak Lawn-Hometown School District, New Lenox School District, and Oswego Community Unit School District will use Minneapolis, MN-based Honeywell's Instant Alert for Schools to improve communications with parents.
(4/23/2007)
Biometrics in K-12: Ban or Buy? (Part 1)
Biometrics are creeping into nearly every market in our society. The technology is used in forensics, government and law enforcement, healthcare systems, the military, business enterprises, and now in education to authenticate transactions, control entry into various facilities, monitor time and attendance, secure access to laptops, PCs, and networks, and more.
(4/18/2007)
Biometrics in K-12: The Legal Conundrum
Biometrics are among the latest implementations for school security. There are many issues to consider, which have been voiced by parents, students, and civil liberties groups. It's an international issue. Just look at LeaveThemKidsAlone.com, and you will see the extent of the uproar raised in the United Kingdom regarding fingerprinting of children in schools. For the most part, questions are the same ones being posed in our own country. Blogs are in use to discuss the issue in the United States and abroad, such as Pippa King's Biometrics in Schools.
(4/10/2007)
Promisec Spectator Expands Agentless Endpoint Security
Security solutions provider Promisec has unveiled a new version of its Promisec Spectator Professional, an endpoint security management suite. The latest version adds support for Windows Vista and includes performance and feature enhancements as well.
(4/9/2007)
Districts Adopt NetSupport to Manage Student Computers
NetSupport Inc. has reported that several districts and individual schools around the country have adopted NetSupport products to provide control over students' computer systems.
(4/9/2007)
