Jobos Posted September 9, 2015 Posted September 9, 2015 We have PCE running here on 150 machines but very unhappy on it's reliability. Previously it was bad but for some reason seems to have gotten worse since changing their name to Future Digital. I often see posts about Impero and their site looks good but how does it work? I'm assuming the client runs on the workstation and the server collects the info. Is the server in the cloud or a machine in the school? What else can Impero do what PCE can't? At the moment all we're after is to monitor computer usage and capture any misuses so any info on the joys of Impero would be welcome and also how does it compare in costs against PCE? Thanks.
Arreks Posted September 9, 2015 Posted September 9, 2015 Never used PCE but Impero has or will have pretty much every feature you'll ever need, they pride themselves on that. Reliability has gone down recently but I'm hoping it'll spring back up. When I first got it last year it was pretty much perfect, never had any issues.
6Foot2 Posted September 9, 2015 Posted September 9, 2015 Our Impero server is a visualized server on site alongside our other visualized servers. I am not familiar with PCE but there is a lot that Impero can do that we do not use. However, we have recently renewed our Impero subscription and I took the opportunity to purchase Patch Management. This allows me to update Chrome, Adobe products, Quicktime etc without having to create new packages. It also offers updates to Windows products but I leave that to our Windows update service.
Jobos Posted September 9, 2015 Author Posted September 9, 2015 However, we have recently renewed our Impero subscription and I took the opportunity to purchase Patch Management. This allows me to update Chrome, Adobe products, Quicktime etc without having to create new packages. It also offers updates to Windows products but I leave that to our Windows update service. I like the idea of the patch management, that would save so much time!
Jobos Posted September 11, 2015 Author Posted September 11, 2015 Had the quote back from Impero and it's not cheap! £15 each machine plus £6 each machine support after the first year so can't see the HT buying it at that price
jamin100 Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 I sold it to the SLT from a safeguarding perspective. We had policy central, it wasn't working impero filled this gap. It's now been in for 18 months
Jobos Posted September 14, 2015 Author Posted September 14, 2015 Can impero take captures from staff laptops at home? I ask because that is something the HT wants to do with PCE.
synaesthesia Posted September 14, 2015 Posted September 14, 2015 Surely that's on dodgy legal ground? If not, then certainly morally! I'd say Impero is worth every penny for both it's capabilities and it's support.
Jobos Posted September 14, 2015 Author Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) Funny you should say that as I was thinking along the same lines. I know another local school who has installed PCE on the teacher laptops but I would rather not myself but it's the HTs call. Personally if I had a school laptop with PCE on it I just wouldn't use it but that's just me! Edit: just had a new quote from impero and apart from the first year cost it compares favourably with PCE for year 2 and after. Edited September 14, 2015 by Jobos
jamin100 Posted September 14, 2015 Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) Can impero take captures from staff laptops at home? I ask because that is something the HT wants to do with PCE. Yes. Captures are recorded on the laptop and then synced back to the impero server when it's back on site It is a school device after all no matter where it is Edited September 14, 2015 by jamin100 spelling
GrumbleDook Posted September 15, 2015 Posted September 15, 2015 Yes. Captures are recorded on the laptop and then synced back to the impero server when it's back on site It is a school device after all no matter where it is It is, but the policy needs to clearly state expectations and appropriateness of use. There can be expectations to some privacy unless explicitly published and staff are made aware. This is an area where unions seriously advise against it and for very good reasons. Does the school have a policy for ensuring only limited staff have access to the results? Does the school keep records of when it was accessed and why? Treat it as you would CCTV ... and there is plenty of good advice on EG already on that, or you can just go straight to the ICO for their policies and practices advice.
RichCowell Posted September 15, 2015 Posted September 15, 2015 I've had Impero for about 5 years now and have been thoroughly impressed with it... I've also got it running on a virtual server and it's been pretty reliable... I got it initially to replace Ranger, and when all the e-safety talk started, and when comparing it with the price of others it was extremely favourable... now it does a whole load more and when compared against alternatives against all the other things it does, it's still favourable... I'd be happy to chat more about it if you want to PM... ANME members new to Impero get a discount too, so that's always a bonus! :-)
jamin100 Posted September 15, 2015 Posted September 15, 2015 It is, but the policy needs to clearly state expectations and appropriateness of use. There can be expectations to some privacy unless explicitly published and staff are made aware. This is an area where unions seriously advise against it and for very good reasons. Does the school have a policy for ensuring only limited staff have access to the results? Does the school keep records of when it was accessed and why? Treat it as you would CCTV ... and there is plenty of good advice on EG already on that, or you can just go straight to the ICO for their policies and practices advice. Yes we have an encryption policy in place that all staff must sign at the start of each academic year. There is only 1 member of the SLT allowed to check staff logs. It also states in the policy that the software won't be used to go looking for wrong doing, it will only be used for any violations that are naturally captured by the system. We also have a training session once a year for all staff regarding encryption, monitoring and esafey 1
B1enji Posted October 14, 2015 Posted October 14, 2015 Have you looked at Smoothwall e-Safe? Takes all the effort away of sifting through false positives or any data away.
Jobos Posted October 15, 2015 Author Posted October 15, 2015 Have you looked at Smoothwall e-Safe? Takes all the effort away of sifting through false positives or any data away. What sort of cost is it say for a 450 pupil primary school?
TechMonkey Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 What sort of cost is it say for a 450 pupil primary school? @B1enji Would be interested in this as well.
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