Protecting Computer Rooms From Damage

[AssassinLynx]

Hi All,

 

I am new to the IT Technician role and have been finding my feet, I was just wondering what sort of software options there are for controlling the PCs of the IT Suites at our schools. It is a way of mitigating the amount of damage we are having in our suites due to the rooms being left unlocked by the teachers after numerous attempts to tell them to lock the rooms after use.

 

I know that the college I attended had a system that stopped use unless a teacher was present to activate the machines.

 

My overall question is what things have you done to mitigate the issue and if there are any software options to allow people to book the room and only use the PCs in that room for an allotted time slot?

[JJonas]

We have Salto smart locks on our IT suites. You cant get in there without an authorised mifare pass card and the system logs whose card was used

[Jcx500]

We have cameras in all IT Suites, We do a daily check to make sure equipment is working correctly, If teachers don't monitor damage or report it. Its simple Go to SLT and explain the problem and get them to work alongside you in telling teachers that they should be monitoring there classes, We use impero to monitor activity in IT Classrooms I'm not sure if it stops use without the teacher present tho

[AssassinLynx]

Hi,

 

Thanks for that, I will talk to the other IT techs at my school and see if it's viable.

[mavhc]

Change the locks until the teachers start doing their jobs

[psydii]

Keep the rooms locked unless supervised. Monitor closely to identify what supervision is in place when damage occours, present a damage report weekly/monthly to SLT. (i.e. report damage, time of damage, and who was present). Sometimes you get lucky and SLT take steps to 'support' teachers who are struggling.

 

After 15 years of this on and off, CCTV got installed for us as part of a wider project. Damage has fallen close to zero.