Single Network - Locking Computers

[andy_whitlock]

Students are unable to lock workstations, staff have been informed they should lock when leaving a workstation unattended (typically they don't - of course)!

 

So a screensaver lock for staff it is - just wondering what a reasonable locking time would be. I think a 10 minute lock, hower I know some staff would like longer.

 

The point is; if staff locked the workstations when they left them - there wouldn't be a need for this auto locking.

 

Perhaps it's a technical solution to a non-technical problem? Education!

 

 

Your thoughts...

[penfold]

Your right it is a non technical problem and there is no right answer, and it all depends on your staff use. However, before you go setting a blanket time, remember that some staff use computers connected through a projector and 10 mins might seem long enough, but not in all cases. I would start by asking some staff how long they think is long enough and if you get no response strart with something small and increase it little by little.

 

When I introduced it previously I think I ended up increasing it to 30 mins for some staff due to the things they were showing through their projectors.

[andy_whitlock]

The issue we have is; the longer the idle time without locking; the more chance of unauthorised access! Catch 22

[RobJohnson]

Make it a mandatory 5 minutes. If they complain explain to them that if they locked their workstations you wouldn't have to enfore such draconian measures.

[mrbios]

Prepare yourself for bombardment of angry teachers, we tried the same thing and SMT made us remove it due to, as said above, the projectors problem.

 

If there was a way to tell a PC when a presentation was on that'd be fantastic though as that'd solve that issue.

[SYNACK]

I instituted that at my schools after warning them about it for a year, when the teachers got antsy I reminded them that they had a whole year to change their ways, they didn't and the 15 minute lockout was the result.

 

With the backing of SMT it just becomes an accepted part of the way the system works, it helps to have warned them about it for ages beforehand.

[Dom_]

You could go for a bluetooth lock, if the same staff use the same PC all the time, you can pair it to their phone, then when they go out of proximity it will lock.

 

Bluetooth Proximity Lock

 

Obviously you'd have to get a few cheap bluetooth dongles (about £1), and rely on the staff having a phone with bluetooth, and it depends on staff using the same machine all the time... :-)

[andy_whitlock]

mrbios - that would be a good check however the number of staff who leave SIMs logged in, their mail logged in and a powerpoint running - and go off for lunch!

[36Degrees]

the number of staff who leave SIMs logged in

 

.. projected onto the whiteboard ..

 

- and go off for lunch!

[andy_whitlock]

We don't have many staff who project SIMs onto a whiteboard.... if they do I am usually found jumping up and down pulling my hair out!

[andy_whitlock]

I've been lenient and made it a mandatory 7.5 minutes