Resources

These have been extraordinary times for the world, our country, our school districts and our families.  We are implementing remote learning plans and remote access plans to keep the district functioning in this time of social distancing, crowd restrictions and mandated closings.

Earlier this month, on March 2, NIST formalized a significant number of changes to its password recommendations as part of the final release of its updated Digital Identify Guidelines document or NIST publication SP 800-63-3.  The full document which includes three additional sister documents (800-63A, 800-63B & 800-63C) is here: https://csrc.

Microsoft has announced they are tightening the security standards for LDAP communications on Microsoft Active Directory networks.  This has huge implications as there are so many things in a typical school district’s use that require some form of LDAP communication.

The Cybersecurity news has been pretty depressing over the last week. I read an article that a Cybersecurity insurance company is refusing to pay for a Merck breach incident because it is NotPetya and that is from Russia and was designed as a cyber warfare tool.

Bob and are now multiple years in discussing the same thing – how to improve your district’s security footprint.   For most of that time many ignored our warnings as too hard, too expensive, or “on my list”.  But when a member of the family dies, everything  becomes very real and suddenly what is impossible becomes […]

Now that we have shifted to predominantly remote workers and remote teaching and learning, we have a number of new challenges as well as increased threats. Challenge #1 – Remote File Access.   The solution is moving files from traditional home directories and traditional common drives to cloud-based shared folders and home directories.

As you go through your normal yearly planning cycles remember that in January 2020 Microsoft will be retiring Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, and Microsoft Exchange 2010.  That means no security updates and no vendor support if something goes wrong.

 One of the most confusing things we all encounter is Microsoft software licensing.   You hear one explanation and then another.  We are left mystified – hoping that we did it right and the school district is legal. On Wednesday, April 25th at 10:00 am Microsoft will be providing a Microsoft Licensing specialist in a webinar […]

CSI is excited to announce our third hands-on learning event entitled “Introducing Microsoft Teams for Next Generation Classroom Teaching and Learning” in our classroom in partnership with Microsoft on Tuesday, April 17th from 9 am until 1 pm. Microsoft Teams is the digital hub that brings conversations, content, and apps together in one place.

CSI and Microsoft are excited to present a Windows 10 in Education Deployment and Manageability Workshop on Wednesday, February 28th from 8:30-12pm.  Microsoft will be coming to our office and providing a very detailed presentation on all things Microsoft relating to the deployment, management licensing, and upgrading of Windows 10 in education.