Keeping technology current is an ongoing challenge for Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, but it has created a multi-year plan to replace aging technology throughout the division.
The plan for 2021-22 is to replace 35 staff laptops with newer models, replace 30 desktops at the division office and for school administrators, and replace 130 Chromebooks. However, Holy Trinity believes that it will be a challenge this year to obtain new devices due to pandemic-related delivery delays.
The division also plans to replace several core battery backup systems this year — including installing a natural gas generator at the division office —to keep school systems online longer during power outages.
Other challenges Holy Trinity faces include:
- ensuring CNET internet speeds are stable, especially for digital classrooms;
- replacing equipment and adding new infrastructure to its wireless network in schools — with the addition of new tablets, Chromebooks, and laptops, the division sees the need to invest in this area; and
- replacing phone systems since many are aging, such as the system at St. Michael School.
Trustees with Holy Trinity’s board of education received a report during their April meeting about technology and its use in the division. Trustees voted to receive and file the report.
The goal in 2022-23 is to replace 130 Chromebooks, 45 teacher laptops, replace storage infrastructure, and replace and renew security firewalls, the report said. In 2024-25, the goal is to replace 130 Chromebooks, 45 teacher laptops, 22 computers in the lab at Vanier Collegiate, and replace the core server infrastructure.
Currently in the division, there are 85 Windows desktops, 220 Windows laptops, 12 Apple computers, 60 SMART devices, 60 75-inch TVs, 120 Airtame wireless devices, 56 printers, 220 tablets and 1,853 Chromebooks.
Safeguarding the web
Holy Trinity uses a service called GoGuardian to monitor its Chromebooks. Teachers can use this software to oversee devices while students are using them. The program also logs all internet use for suspicious activity. This includes watching for students who research ideas on self-harm.
As of early April, 88 per cent of division staff had completed cyber security training about scams, the report said. This was needed since there have been “sharp increases” in spear-phishing attacks worldwide that cause massive losses to businesses.
“We have already begun seeing the benefits of this training, as numerous phishing campaigns have been reported to IT by staff who are now trained to identify suspicious email,” the report noted.
On average, Holy Trinity’s filtering system catches 8,500 spam emails, 3,500 phishing emails and 100 emails with malware.
Sophos Antivirus has also detected and blocked 50 virus infections and more than 200 virus downloads this year.
Protecting data
The IT department maintains data back-ups for all critical services, with staff and student data backed up at the division office and replicated at Vanier, the report said. Division office data is backed up locally and duplicated at Vanier.
School and student data back-ups total four terabytes and core service back-ups total seven terabytes of space.
The IT department has worked with IBM Canada to conduct a security assessment and penetration test of Holy Trinity’s networks, the report said. This helps the department determine where holes or system exploits exist and how to better secure the network from intruders.
Physical security
The IT department handles security cameras at schools, and to date, has installed nearly 50 cameras throughout the division. Many devices are used to monitor schools’ front doors when the office is not located near the main entrance, the report said. Cameras also monitor parking lots, outdoor areas, hallways and common areas.
The next Holy Trinity board meeting is on May 10.
