GREED

One was broken now fixed. Nice to see our very own Programme Director Matthew Plummer looking so sharp!

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/76154-something-keep-eye-dfe-2.html Worth having a look at those listed on the IMLS framework, some I imagine you have already discounted as well as spoken to. Obviously, taking advantage of my sponsorship, Aspen is one to take a look at too. Interestingly, it meets both your requirements list... if you want it to.

AspenMIS - YouTube On the Aspen MIS YouTube channel, there are video testimonials from current customers, including how parents and students are getting on! In addition, there are some new feature picks on areas of Aspen MIS and also Aspen Learning, if you want to find out just a little more about the product. Graham

errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Slapping myself for saying this but won't the ADP Tool that is used as part of SLG do this for you?

*Comes running is arms flapping all over the place...* Actually the job has been done for me!

I think we would all be keen to know this if an MIS did indeed claim this.

I think this is a case where tone cannot be read through text. I see Matt is supporting SIMS being 'in the cloud'... which given my new perspective I don't agree. I don't consider SIMS via a VPN as a cloud solution. I consider that getting at a desktop application through the internet.

Do I what? I have edited original post to make my point clearer.

Well Well, I can see my presence is not needed! Thanks @vikpaw @matt40k for the mentions! There are a number of points made which I would like to answer: # Aspen MIS is in the process of a 'facelift', which while does give an improved visual interface, has a huge investment into making the interface available and usable (or more usable) to mobile and tablet devices. Going much the same way as Windows 8 did, build core elements for touch devices, and build it out for the desktop. More on that in the summer! # Aspen MIS can be hosted locally if you want to. There is no increased cost, however you lose the cost savings for server, power, upkeep, backups, maintenance, DR etc. # I agree with @matt40k: just saying an MIS is 'cloud' because you can access it over a VPN is very different to a dedicated web based/web presented system. Making a client type system available over the internet compared to one that is naturally available via web browsers is a huge gap. Lets leave that one there! Graham

Would you say Microsoft owns your Word documents? An MIS is just a piece of software (or for me... a way of life!), should be treated as such. Schools own the data.

The bog standard way was always to create user defined security roles, and exclude exam results on the day.

My god, @vikpaw didn't we both put this in as change requests years back???

I gotta say I am up there with @PhilNeal I am out of my depth currently but have learnt a lot just from reading all of these replies. Our dev team is working on a project with DFA right now for a customer, and this customer couldn't be more concerned about security... lets leave that one there. So will be interesting to see how that pans out later this year. We are also working with DFA that is not part of the MIS, as I have said, and sits at a separate layer of security...

A very good conversation. There are many aspects that can be covered here, including the justification for dual factor authentication specifically for cloud MIS compares to client MIS that is accessable via the internet still. Instances where the likes of Groupcall connect is also interesting. Dare I get picky, but this is for x third parties to also answer, how they intend to resolve this compared to how will x cloud MIS resolve this for them (all). I must say this has given me some things to think about. What I can say is currently Aspen MIS itself does not use DFA, but customers we are working with utilise DFA through an additional layer, separate from Aspen MIS. We are working on a project to have DFA embedded into Aspen for a large customer in the US. I will also have a better understanding how this will work in practice in the summer and will be happy to share Ultimately, now everything can be accessed over the internet, there is the conundrum we have always had: Security over convenience. How can we conveniently get data to x third party (or from) while still being secure with a data key or the like... I don't have the answer myself!

@vikpaw mate Can you give some examples of third party products that require an ad-hoc or even constant communication link with the cloud MIS in this scenario. I want to respond with specifics here as we are working with the same scenario with a customer using a Dual-Factor Authentication separated security layer between t'nternet and MIS. This is common in local authorities who are hosting the MIS in their data centres. It is not a standard feature outside of this. I'm interested at why the distinction between cloud and client MIS here, given so many client MIS's are available via a remote desktop-type facility, which have the same levels of authentication (i.e. not usually dual factor). With the concern, I would want DFA on everything regardless of the cloud.

Interesting...

Yes I have not been very clear on my original point there! Yes aware LRS is the central authority for ULNs and CTF is the method of choice for import in this instance. I'm now going to be quiet for a bit, particularly as I appear to be stealing the thread...

I was generalising on the import facilities Aspen offers. - - - Updated - - - I was generalising on the import facilities Aspen offers.

Through an import routine. Doesn't require the CTF standard, as Aspen can import any XML or CSV or similar file (including CTF). So if you had a basic long list (of anything you want to import in fact), you can. If the import definition isn't already built by us, the school or LA can build it easily themselves (very simple), save it and use it again and again.

Be nice if you could import them into SIMS in a bulk action....

Actually scratch that, not for this thread...

Mwahahaha!! Good comeback! I see you are pro SIMS then?

Cough cough Aspen... :-)

I'm assuming you are a SIMS user for MIS? Don't forget to ask about SIMS integration experiences.