Looking for a secure portable device for Child Support worker ...

[BlueSkies]

Hi there,

 

We have a member of staff who visits lots of local schools providing support services to vulnerable children. At the moment she waits until she comes back to her 'base' school to type up her notes on a school computer.

 

We are looking to see if there would be a suitable device (lightweight laptop, surface, tablet, etc) that she could take with her on these visits so that notes could be typed up immediately (with anonymised details to reduce risk).

 

Main considerations are:

Security - we need something that can be secured/encrypted as it will spend a lot of its time away from the base school.

Portability - the support worker already carries a lot of kit with her, so a big heavy laptop probably wouldn't be suitable.

Transferrable - whatever application is used to type up the notes on the device needs to be easy to transfer back to the main school computer for final typing up and insertion of names/other personal details.

 

We have looked at Surface Pro (a bit too expensive), Windows tablet (can these bit Bitlocker-ed?), Android tablet (unsure of encryption options/transferability of documents).

 

Does anyone have any other suggestions of a suitable device that we could take a look at?

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited July 19, 2018 by BlueSkies

[Cazale]

Any laptop with a TPM chip (most do have them these days) and at least the Pro version of Windows (for bitlocker), unless you're using Windows 7 still, in which case you need to use Enterprise. You can encrypt laptops without TPM, but you need to enter a password every time it boots. You can also encrypt iPads.

 

We do this out of routine for all iPads and laptops we supply to schools. I always think it's better to treat every portable device as though it contains confidential information.

[sted]

word on an 4g ipad/android tablet and a bluetooth keyboard store docs in onedrive so they are never on the device and can be accessed on any pc with word 2013+ on it easily (assuming you have office 365 if you are google just use gsuite instead and a device)

[BlueSkies]

Any laptop with a TPM chip (most do have them these days) and at least the Pro version of Windows (for bitlocker), unless you're using Windows 7 still, in which case you need to use Enterprise. You can encrypt laptops without TPM, but you need to enter a password every time it boots. You can also encrypt iPads.

 

We do this out of routine for all iPads and laptops we supply to schools. I always think it's better to treat every portable device as though it contains confidential information.

 

 

Hi there, thanks for your reply. Our W10 laptops are currently encrypted with Bitlocker. We were really looking for something more lightweight and portable than a standard laptop (and not as expensive as an iPad!) as our Support Worker is already laden with a lot of stuff to carry around with her! Just looking for different ideas.

 

Thanks

[LeMarchand]

Windows tablet (can these bit Bitlocker-ed?)

 

Yes, with these caveats.

 

Any laptop with a TPM chip (most do have them these days) and at least the Pro version of Windows (for bitlocker), unless you're using Windows 7 still, in which case you need to use Enterprise. You can encrypt laptops without TPM, but you need to enter a password every time it boots.

 

There are plenty of small/light Windows convertibles about which should fit your bill and be potentially easier to lock down/control than other devices (as you're already used to W10). Something like this https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/ideapad/miix-series/-Miix-320/p/88IPMX30837 runs at about £200 for the "pro" version.

[Cazale]

Note sure if it helps but you can pick up iPads for <£260 with education discount. <£290 with a heavy duty case.

 

But yes, as someone else said, the limitation (or feature, depending on your POV) of tablets is that they store Office documents in the cloud.

[psydii]

Definately iPad + Office 365 + Bluetooth keyboard.

 

Give XMA a call they have great pricing on iPads with rugged keyboard cases at the moment, and will be able to advise on Office365 if needed.

Edited July 19, 2018 by psydii

[p858snake]

Microsoft Surfaces are pretty lightweight, I believe from memory HP has a similar device style as well.

 

I know the Dell XPS 13 is pretty small and leightweight as well.

[Arthur]

We have looked at Surface Pro (a bit too expensive), Windows tablet (can these bit Bitlocker-ed?), Android tablet (unsure of encryption options/transferability of documents).

Surface Go?

 

£300.04 (4GB RAM/64GB eMMC) or £402.96 (8GB RAM/128GB SSD) + £79.15 for the black type cover. All prices are ex. VAT.

 

It weighs 522 grams (1.084 kg with type cover) which is lighter than Apple's 12.9" iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard, although it's not available until 23/08/2018.

[Blue_Cookeh]

I'd look at the Lenovo X280 personally (or X260/270 if you want to buy old stock/refurb at a huge discount). Built like tanks, reasonably light, relatively small at only 12", TPM, very good enterprise management capabilities. Lenovo support is top notch too.