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Adopting new technology is a crucial step towards creating a secure learning environment—but the behind-the-scenes tasks that school IT departments are responsible for during implementation are numerous, and implementing new technology is not without its challenges. Understanding these concerns—and getting IT involved early in the process—paves the way for successful adoption and integration.
Let’s explore the important factors that school IT departments need to consider when adopting new technology for school safety.
Information Security and User Authentication
Protecting student information means adhering to data privacy and compliance with federal and state regulations, especially those focused on protecting children’s data. When choosing a safety software partner, it’s important to give your IT department the opportunity to do their part in vetting that software’s ability to protect sensitive personal data from cyberattacks and breaches.
This process will include considerations such as:
1. System and Organization Controls
Schools collect and store a variety of sensitive information and trust vendors to secure their data via the highest possible level of security and privacy for sensitive information. Solutions that are designed to protect sensitive information, mitigate risks, and streamline day-to-day processes allow technology departments to focus on their core responsibilities.
We are excited to announce that we have successfully completed our System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2® Type 1 examination on our path to SOC 2 Type 2 in 2023.
This report represents our dedication to the security and privacy of your information—we are doing our part to keep your information protected. We know it is an important part of our role in school safety and security.
Read more about our SOC 2 examination and what it means for you here.
2. Authentication and User Management
Software that uses the device’s native identity authentication and supports Single Sign On—as well as providing integrations with your school’s database—helps to ease the administrative burden of user account management.
Asset Management
Managing the software and hardware required for your school’s safety and security presents its own challenges, as well. Choosing the right technology partner means your IT department can help your school to:
3. Maximize safety funding by choosing software that enables native, bi-directional integration with a school’s digital security systems and peripherals, which means your different—and pre-existing—safety systems and devices can work together, streamlining your technology environment rather than requiring a full overhaul.
Choosing the right solution for your school also means maximizing your available funding. Raptor’s solutions cost up to 10x less than badge-based systems and are up to 75% less expensive to maintain.
4. Streamline tracking and updating of school assets by choosing a partner with flexible device options. Being able to choose between vendor-supplied hardware or using technology already at your district’s disposal enables you to get the most out of your available resources.
Unlike badge-based systems, Raptor can be accessed on any web-enabled device, which means your staff can use their own devices or pre-existing, school-provided devices. There’s no need to track hundreds or thousands of additional devices, as with badge-based systems. And with a fully integrated safety ecosystem, you only have one software platform to manage—not several. Updates are pushed out to your connected devices, saving your team hours of labor updating the systems themselves.
5. Scale your safety technology as your schools grow and evolve with a partner that can integrate with your existing safety technology and offers fully-integrated solutions—it means you’ll benefit from a partner able to seamlessly adapt to changing requirements.
“Raptor evolves. It’s one of the reasons I really like the product. They take recommendations and they generate them; they go in and code them and then they make them better.” David Wrzesinski, Director of Safe Schools at Robinson ISD
Modernize your school's safety
Many school leaders are turning to AI technology in school operations, to better protect their school from potential threats while reducing manual data processing with real-time reports and data analysis capabilities.
Learn more about ways you can maximize your school safety technology use in our free guide.
Related Resources
Guide: The Role of IT Staff in Modernizing School Safety
Considerations To Streamline Safety and Security Demands on School Technology Departments
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