Technology Outsourcing

ENA by Zayo Launches New Consulting Services, Managed IT Infrastructure Solutions for K-12 Schools

• By Kristal Kuykendall
• 12/08/22

ENA by Zayo, a technology infrastructure provider previously known as as Education Networks of America until Zayo acquired it earlier this year, has launched a new suite of vendor-neutral IT consulting services for K–12 schools dubbed ENA Ally.

The new solutions enable schools to outsource some or all of the expertise needed for IT infrastructure upgrades and cybersecurity improvements, avoiding the need to hire a full-time IT staff amid a tight labor market, the company said. Among the new solutions: all-inclusive and à la carte Wi-Fi/WLAN services with flexible management and hardware options, as well as the ENA Ally team’s expertise to design and build private LTE networks customized to fit individual school districts’ unique needs.

“Zayo’s unique hardware-neutral service approach gives K–12 school districts access to ENA by Zayo’s team of dedicated, experienced engineers who solve IT workforce and cybersecurity challenges, regardless of the school’s infrastructure,” Zayo said in a news release.

About 19,000 K–12 schools nationwide use ENA by Zayo technology solutions, which include managed connectivity, communications, cloud technology, and cybersecurity services, Zayo said; any public school participating in the federal E-rate program is eligible.

“With ENA Ally, schools can leverage nationally recognized engineers to address workforce shortages, enable them to secure their digital learning environments and bridge the digital divides that exist both on and off their campuses,” said Michael McKerley, president of ENA by Zayo.

ENA Ally services aim to address the numerous IT challenges that public schools face, including IT workforce shortages and the ever-growing risk of cyber attacks.

“ENA Ally technology services, i.e., customized consulting and implementation, support K–12 school districts as they face workforce shortages and hiring challenges, specifically the cost of hiring new employees with the necessary technical expertise in areas of the country where it’s hard to recruit and keep new talent,” the company said. “School districts can leverage ENA by Zayo’s expertise to engineer secure digital learning and operational environments, as well as receive ongoing network security management to address cybersecurity challenges.

A recent example of a project completed for Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Florida, was cited in the company’s announcement; the district contracted ENA by Zayo to upgrade its infrastructure in a short timeframe.

“At Hillsborough County Public Schools, we are committed to building future-ready digital learning environments that support our students and staff,” said the district’s Chief Technology Officer Thomas Weeks. “We commissioned ENA by Zayo to implement a cost-effective solution to upgrade our aged switching and wireless infrastructure at our district’s administrative sites. The resulting solution provides the district with the overall benefits of increased productivity, reduced costs, and greater speed and reliability for accessing our data.”

This new ENA Ally portfolio follows the closing of Zayo’s acquisition of ENA in June 2022.

Learn more at ENA.com.