Back-to-school IT tips to keep your school running smoothly

After the six-week holiday, it might not just be the students needing a refresher when returning to class after the long break. Your computer system will also need a quick health check to ensure it is all working as it should be before you start the new term.

Simple checks before the term begins will help to start the new year off in the best possible way and minimise the risk of getting caught out by cyber-attacks.

As experts in school IT, we have produced a handy list of advice for staff and students on how to get their IT systems back on track after the summer holidays.

Preparing staff IT for the new school year

1. Update your computer before returning to work

Updates help to keep your computer running smoothly and fix any bugs in the software or glitches in code. Restarting your computer and installing updates to the latest version is essential to keep the system free from errors. Always follow your internal IT guidelines on how to do this. If you are unsure, speak with your IT manager or support team.

2. Check for errors

When you return to school before the students have come back, check that all the systems, computers and software are working as they should be. Are there any error messages? Are any of the computers running slower than usual? Look out for messages, software notifications or errors in the programs that might show that things aren’t working as they should.

3. Be patient

If things don’t work immediately, be patient and give it some time. Many people will be accessing the system simultaneously, so give it a chance to work. Get yourself a well-earned cuppa, wait 10 – 20 minutes and try things again.

4. If you experience anything abnormal, go to IT

If you notice any issues or abnormal activity with your computer or software, report them immediately to your IT department. Don’t wait for the problem to progress into a bigger problem. Catching IT issues early on can prevent more costly errors in the future.

5. Be kind

It will be a busy period for your IT team as they help the school to get back to work after the long break. You can help to reduce their stress levels by being smart with your IT and prioritising calls. Do not delay with security concerns, but if you have simple IT challenges that are not preventing you from working, discuss with your IT team when would be an appropriate time to fix the problem.

6. Make sure you can access your applications, systems and emails

After you have updated your system and before you begin working, take five minutes to check that everything is working correctly and that you can access the servers, systems, applications and emails you need to.

7. Don’t be quick to click

After six weeks away, you most likely have hundreds of emails clogging up your inbox. Take your time to review each email’s content and delete those you are unsure of. Don’t be tempted to click on emails you don’t recognise, and be vigilant for potential phishing emails designed to catch you when you are busy. When you are under pressure and faced with a long list of emails, you could find yourself more susceptible to scams.

8. Don’t click links you are not sure about

No matter how intriguing the link may appear, if you are unsure where it came from, or if something doesn’t seem right, do not click the link. Be very careful here, as links in emails can often be disguised to look legitimate. Hacker’s links can install malware onto your computer and even travel across the network, causing widespread disruption. If you are unsure, it is best not to click on the link and get advice from IT.

Helping students get back to school

1. Check your passwords

After six weeks away, it may be difficult to remember all your passwords. Don’t forget to go through your accounts and check all your logins. Now might be the perfect time to reset new passwords as well. It is always good to periodically change your passwords to prevent hackers from accessing your data. There are sophisticated automatic password reset systems that can manage this process for you. If your school doesn’t have this and requires help setting it up, Halchax can support you. Just give our team a call to find out more.

2. Is all your work still accessible?

Review your files and check that all your work is still accessible. If you cannot find a file or are concerned that something is missing, contact your IT department, who may be able to retrieve your files or provide a solution.

Worried your IT isn’t back to school ready? If you need extra support or want to check that your systems are running smoothly, Halchax offers a FREE Health Check Service for schools across the country.

Our IT experts will assess what you have in place currently to see how we can increase your security and make it safer for your school. We will work with you to get the best result within your school budget.

Halchax can offer advice about what you can do to keep your schools safe from cyber-attacks or incidents. We explain the primary cyber security risks schools face and how they could be targeted. We also offer ongoing support online or in person in times of uncertainty.

To book your FREE School Security Health Check get in touch today: 0330 102 7464 or info@halchax.co.uk