Solutions IT - Australia

St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School, located in Western Australia, is a progressive institution that embraces the digital age. In recent years, the school has experienced an exponential increase in wireless devices, which became even more pronounced as they planned to introduce a 1:1 device initiative. However, their existing infrastructure was struggling under the increased load, prompting a search for a solution.

The Challenge

The school had a robust internet connection, but its aging wireless infrastructure was ill-equipped to handle the influx of devices. Regular operating system updates, application updates, and continuous access to cloud-based data overwhelmed the network. As Ashlee Dale, Technologies Coordinator, explains, “The network infrastructure struggled under pressure and as a result the wireless connection regularly dropped out. Put simply, too many devices and not enough access.” The situation reached a point where Professional Development days held in the main hall would entirely disrupt the network, rendering staff devices useless throughout the day.

Solutions IT Approach

In response to the connectivity challenges, Solutions IT conducted a comprehensive wireless audit across the campus, including RF Spectrum analysis and predictive planning based on the anticipated number of devices and usage patterns in each area. This information was crucial in planning the correct number and placement of wireless access points to meet the school’s coverage and capacity requirements.

Moreover, Solutions IT introduced their Wireless-as-a-Service (WaaS) offering, which provides proactive monitoring of the school’s infrastructure and wireless network, traffic shaping, and firewall inclusions. The WaaS service offers specific tools to manage bandwidth usage and block inappropriate activities like gaming sites.

The Result

Within a week, the old wireless access points were replaced with new hardware. The deployment was smooth, and the upgrade resulted in a network that could efficiently handle updates, downloads, streaming services, and uploads without interrupting students’ learning. Dale noted, “The deployment was a seamless experience and now we have a network that can efficiently handle updates, downloads, steaming services and uploads, without interrupting the students’ learning experience.”

Furthermore, the school witnessed a shift in learning spaces’ utilisation, with classes leveraging outdoor areas while maintaining wireless connectivity to enhance students’ learning experiences. The two year levels with 1:1 devices could now fully utilise their devices in real-time.

Solutions IT’s WaaS offering provided the school with improved security, scalability, and a fixed monthly payment plan that eliminated ongoing associated hardware and software costs. The school now enjoys a reliable, efficient, and robust wireless network, supporting its commitment to providing quality education in today’s digital age.

An innovative NDIS provider that has been supporting Western Australians with disabilities since 1991, Nascha integrated Microsoft 365 and Cloud Solutions to their organisation to overcome their IT challenges. With around 60 service users and more than 80 staff, they achieved enhanced productivity, security, and staff engagement–a success story that underscores the transformative power of strategic IT partnerships in driving the organisation’s growth and efficiency.

The Challenge

Nascha has a strong commitment to helping people with disabilities live the lifestyle of their choice. To be able to ensure that staff and clients were well supported, they needed to overcome significant IT challenges, such as outdated IT infrastructure, limited remote work capabilities, and hindrances due to a server-based system.

“We were struggling with our IT systems for a long time. We had frequent issues almost everywhere, which made it hard to collaborate and communicate with our staff and service users. We felt frustrated with the system, which often took days or weeks to be looked at,“ said Christopher Goh, Quality and Compliance Manager – Nascha.

The challenges faced by Nascha included an unreliable internet connection, email systems, and file storage, leading to difficulties in remote document access and sharing, thereby hindering effective collaboration and communication. Moreover, a low level of cyber awareness and security practices left the organisation susceptible to data breaches and compliance risks. Additionally, the inadequate IT support further amplified these issues, affecting daily operations and staff satisfaction levels.

Solutions IT Approach

Solutions IT, the new partner of Nascha since 2023, was engaged to overhaul the entire IT infrastructure, transitioning the organisation to Microsoft 365 and cloud-based systems. A personalised and comprehensive managed IT service was provided, including cybersecurity, cyber awareness training, and full IT support.

“Solutions IT staff are very professional and knowledgeable. They understood our needs and challenges, and provided us with a personalised solution. They migrated us to Microsoft 365 and cloud-based systems, which gave us the flexibility and security we needed. They also trained us on how to use the new tools and how to be more cyber aware. They are always available and responsive whenever we need their help,“ said Christopher.

Microsoft 365 was integrated to facilitate remote work, enhance collaboration with tools like Microsoft Teams, and strengthen version control for shared documents. Additionally, cyber awareness training and enhanced security measures were put in place to comply with new regulations, ensuring data protection and instilling peace of mind. This proactive approach led to a notable enhancement in IT support responsiveness, directly improving daily operations and boosting staff satisfaction levels.

The Result

The transition to Microsoft 365 and cloud-based systems was a success, bringing positive outcomes for the organisation, such as:

• Increased productivity and efficiency, as staff could work from anywhere and access documents easily.
• Improved collaboration and communication, as staff could use Teams to chat, call, and share files.
• Enhanced security and compliance, as data was protected by encryption, multi-factor authentication, and backups.
• Higher staff satisfaction and retention, as staff felt supported and valued by the responsive IT support.

Alta-1, a specialised school curriculum and re-engagement institution that caters to a unique demographic of young individuals, successfully navigated a transformative change into integrating Microsoft Surface into their network. With 23 campuses serving nearly 1000 students, the deployment of Surface devices not only enhanced student engagement and personalised learning experiences but also gained overwhelmingly positive feedback–a reflection on Alta-1’s dedication to providing a safe and holistic learning environment where these young people can re-engage with education.

The Challenge

Initially aligning itself as an Apple school, Alta-1 encountered significant obstacles when transitioning to incorporate Microsoft 365 tools into its educational infrastructure. The school faced notable disparities and operational inefficiencies, as their existing devices failed to effectively support class activities, resulting in frequent data loss and limited integration with essential Microsoft 365 applications. These hindrances not only delayed student progress but also created barriers to efficient teaching practices. Alta-1’s Head of ICT, Simon Grant mentioned “A lot of things just did not work. There were quite a few problems with the equipment we had before. It was configured in a manner that would not benefit the class. It made it harder for students,” highlighting the urgent need for change.

Solutions IT Approach

To address the challenges impeding its educational objectives, Alta-1 sought the expertise of Solutions IT, a trusted Managed Service Provider (MSP) and the institution’s long time IT partner. Reflecting on the partnership, “Alta-1 works with very complex young people. They are very mindful of change and implementation of change so it has to be very, very carefully managed,” said Shelley Forbes, Alta-1 College Network Principal. “It needs to be strategic. It needs to be well mapped out and well planned.”

Collaborating closely with Solutions IT, Alta-1 strategically opted to transition to the complete Microsoft ecosystem, encompassing Microsoft 365 and Surface devices. Through meticulous planning and consultation, Solutions IT proposed a tailored solution involving the deployment of 800 student laptops, 180 staff laptops, and additional Surface Pros for mobile staff members. This comprehensive approach aimed to deliver an integrated technology solution that would enhance educational outcomes and empower students and staff alike to leverage the innovative Microsoft tools for more effective teaching and learning experiences.

The Result

The strategic alignment with Microsoft solutions brought about a transformative shift in Alta-1’s educational landscape. The introduction of Surface devices revolutionised the way students engaged with learning materials, promoting seamless collaboration and personalised learning opportunities across diverse environments. With the ability to access their Microsoft 365 accounts from any location, students could effortlessly retrieve documents from OneDrive and commence their work promptly, fostering increased productivity and engagement. Encapsulating the positive impact, Shelley shared, “The feedback from students has been really, really positive. I was in Katanning recently and the students there were telling me how fantastic it was to be able to just have the device where you can just write on it.” This underscored the versatility and functionality of the Surface devices, providing a tangible demonstration of how technology could be harnessed to optimise the learning experience and empower students to achieve their academic goals.