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Dell KACE Helps Higher Educational Institutions Embrace BYOD and Lower Security Risk through Endpoint Systems Management Best Practices
[October 24, 2014]

Dell KACE Helps Higher Educational Institutions Embrace BYOD and Lower Security Risk through Endpoint Systems Management Best Practices


(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 24 October 2014 Release date- 23102014 - Round Rock, Texas - Dell today announced ongoing adoption by higher educational institutions worldwide as they increasingly embrace Dell KACE Systems Management solutions to better track an influx of mobile devices, while decreasing security risks through greater visibility across entire IT infrastructures.



As part of 2014 National Cyber Security Awareness Month, Dell KACE is highlighting the importance of integrating endpoint security functionality-along with traditional systems management capabilities-to identify vulnerabilities more easily across all servers, desktops, laptops and tablets.

This is particularly relevant in higher-ed settings, where IT teams must continually balance budget restrictions and resource constraints against demands for highly secure, reliable and manageable systems. In some higher-ed environments with a high percentage of BYOD, IT teams have little control over which devices are being brought in, yet they are responsible for keeping everything running and safe from potential security threats.


'With Dell KACE, faculty, staff and students at higher educational institutions can have peace of mind knowing they are using the most current learning apps and collaboration tools while safeguarding critical IT infrastructures from security risk,' says Bill Odell, vice president of marketing for Endpoint Systems Management at Dell Software. 'The key for our thousands of higher-ed customers around the globe is the assurance that embracing BYOD and personalized learning strategies can be done safely because apps running on different devices across multiple operating systems are configured, secured, updated and managed properly.' Drexel University's Westphal College of Media Arts and Design Automates Patches and Complies with Campus-wide Security Initiative At the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University, a five-person IT team updates and patches 800 PCs, Macs and Linux desktops for use by 200 faculty and staff members, as well as students preparing for careers in media, design, and the performing and visual arts.

With the Dell KACE K1000 Systems Management Appliance, the IT team automated software patching and application deployment, bringing all desktops into security compliance while eliminating 100 hours of overtime for quarterly digital asset updates.

'With the Dell KACE appliance, I can easily see where our equipment is, who is using it and what they're doing with it,' said Jason Rappaport, director of IT at Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. 'When I need a quick inventory of computers or an overview of application status, I can get it myself in a few seconds.' Sweden's Sodertorn University Drives Next-gen Learning while Bolstering BYOD Support Sodertorn University, located near Sweden's capital of Stockholm, provides 13,000 students and 850 staff with access to an ever-increasing array of university-owned PCs and Macs, as well as personally owned devices, as the BYOD trend has taken off among students, faculty and staff.

By deploying the Dell KACE K1000 and Dell KACE 2000 Systems Deployment Appliance, the university automated software updates and deployments, expediting a migration to Windows 7 on 450 computers in one week while better supporting BYOD programs and policies. Additionally, the university has increased various information-driven education services as well as next-gen and personalized learning strategies.

'We have been empowered by the Dell KACE technology and can use its many features for improving the IT base underpinning student learning and administration,' said Simon Tarasewicz, IT technician, Sodertorn University. 'We can push ahead with our BYOD policies safe in the knowledge that we can manage access for the benefits of students and staff.' University of Toronto Scarborough Boosts Efficiency and Reliability of Campus Computers More than 10,000 students and 1,000 faculty and administrators at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) have access to the latest software on more than 1,000 faculty and staff PCs, as well as another 600 lab computers throughout the campus. In addition, the faculty and students rely on 30 top learning apps, which must be kept current to support courseware.

The university embraced Dell KACE Systems Management Appliances to speed imaging and OS migrations, as well as automate regular software updates and patch management. With Dell KACE, UTSC has reduced imaging time by 30 percent, improved asset management and increased support across its multiple OS environment.

'We enjoy an improved view on the health of our endpoints,' says Abdulrauf Gerhani, manager of IT client services for University of Toronto Scarborough. 'The Dell KACE appliances are the 'heartbeat' check of our computers that allow us to proactively check the state of our systems and help keep the university running,' Princeton University Speeds Updates and Inventory while Securing Faculty Computers The Office of Information Technology (OIT) at Princeton University ensures that 5,000 faculty and administrators have the most up-to-date software to deliver the best classroom experience.

To accomplish this, the 11-person OIT Software Support team deployed the Dell KACE K1000 to ensure that major software is kept current to guard against security vulnerabilities. KACE also integrates seamlessly with Intel VPro remote management to fully leverage the set of security and manageability capabilities built into Intel Core vPro processor technology, which is a critical piece of Princeton's infrastructure.

'If our security officer asks us how many machines have received a certain software patch, for example, I can go into the KACE appliance and run a report,' said Phil Immordino, manager of software support for the Office of Information Technology at Princeton University. 'As our environment expands, we will continue to use the Dell KACE appliance to inventory our machines, update them all quickly and frequently, and tightly control the entire infrastructure.' Dell KACE Delivers Comprehensive Endpoint Systems Management The award-wining Dell KACE systems management appliances provide comprehensive, easy-to-use and affordable solutions for securing and maintaining critical IT assets. Dell Software delivers endpoint systems management capabilities in an appliance-based architecture that simplifies deployment and ensures fast time to value. Dell KACE also provides world-class systems management capabilities as part of Dell's Enterprise Mobility Management solution. For more information, visit www.dell.com/kace.

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