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Every day’s a school day. Doubly so in an era where technological disruptions are becoming more prevalent. So how can Australian schools and universities build resilience into IT?
Never let a good crisis go to waste, and with what was labelled as one of the largest IT outages of all time now in the rearview mirror, it’s vital we learn the lessons.
Whether its primary schools transitioning to cloud-based systems or universities managing hybrid learning environments, the need for resilient infrastructure has never been more crucial. But what practical steps can educational institutions take to better prepare for future disruptions?
In the words of the philosopher Alain de Botton, resilience is “A good half of the art of living.” In the education sector, resilience may also be the smartest half of learning; it’s about maintaining the ability to teach and learn under pressure. The global outage earlier this year reminded us of how deeply connected we are, not just within schools or campuses, but across the technology landscape that supports learning.
Many breathed a sigh of relief that the incident wasn’t the result of a malicious attack. But that does little to comfort the many institutions and students affected by interruptions in online learning, lost productivity, or delayed assessments.
For schools relying on cloud-based systems, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and remote access for staff and students, the outage showcased how our interdependence in technology can be both a strength and a vulnerability.
Even if your institution wasn’t directly impacted, odds are, it felt the ripple effects. When technology fails, it doesn’t matter how well-maintained your internal infrastructure is when external partners or providers hit a wall. Which brings us to the concept of resilience: continuity is how a school or university reacts to crises, but resilience is what helps prevent them in the first place.
In the wake of this global disruption, it’s clear that a renewed focus on technology resilience is needed. Here are five areas of focus for schools and universities.
1. A connected response: Reflecting on readiness
When the emergency protocols were triggered, what happened? This recent crisis was a stress test for many schools and universities, revealing how prepared – or unprepared – they were.
Did your institution have a disaster recovery plan ready to go? Were backup systems for cloud-based platforms functional and easily accessible? Did staff and administrators know what to do, or were they left scrambling?
Conducting a Post-Incident Review (PIR) is essential. Look beyond just the technical fixes. Was communication clear and effective? Were students and staff kept informed? How did your external partners perform? A thorough review, supported by independent third-party experts, can offer critical insights into what went right and what needs improvement in future scenarios.
2. The human element: Cool heads and steady hands
While automation can take us far, this outage demonstrated that when systems break, human intervention is still critical.
During the outage, tech teams worked tirelessly to fix issues across the globe, some even driving to remote locations to restore service. This applies to schools and universities as well. Whether it’s a network administrator working through the night to get the LMS back online or an IT support officer helping teachers navigate temporary disruptions, the human touch is irreplaceable.
For schools with limited internal resources, it’s worth considering partnerships with MSPs or outsourced IT support that can step in quickly during a crisis. Ensuring your team – whether internal or external – is trained, responsive, and able to work under pressure is key to bouncing back from technical disruptions.
3. Know your ecosystem: Interdependence in education
In education, IT systems don’t exist in silos. From primary schools using national assessment platforms to universities relying on global research networks, educational institutions are part of a much larger ecosystem. This means that understanding your technological interdependencies is critical for resilience. When one system fails, the effects can quickly cascade.
For example, many schools rely on educational software providers. Do you know how resilient these partners are? How will an outage affect your ability to access critical learning materials or online assessments?
Understanding where the vulnerabilities lie within your extended network – whether it’s a cloud service provider, an LMS vendor, or a national infrastructure – is crucial for resilience planning. Engage with your partners to assess their risk preparedness and ensure they are on the same page when it comes to incident response.
4. Disaster planning: A comprehensive view
Educational institutions face a range of risks, from cyber threats to natural disasters and IT failures. While cyber risks have dominated recent headlines, the outage highlights the need for a broader view of risk.
Whether it’s a server going down during exams or a data breach impacting student records, it’s essential to have robust contingency plans for all possible scenarios.
Recovery is not just about restoring data – it’s about ensuring continuity of learning. Schools and universities should regularly review and test their disaster recovery plans.
Do you have clear protocols for when online learning platforms go down? How quickly can you recover access to digital learning resources? How do you communicate with students, teachers, and parents during a disruption?
5. Building a culture of resilience: From the ground up
Resilience in education is not just about having the right technology in place – it’s about fostering a culture that prioritises preparedness and adaptability. If resilience and contingency planning weren’t already a topic of discussion at the leadership level, they should be now. Educational institutions, from school boards to university councils, must embed resilience into their technology strategies.
This means involving everyone – teachers and administrators – in regular testing and planning. Ensure that staff have access to critical recovery plans and know how to act in an emergency. Regular drills, clear documentation, and ongoing training are essential.
Importantly, resilience planning should extend beyond the IT team. Make sure the educational leadership is invested in and aware of the importance of a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to IT crises.
The global outage was a painful wake-up call for many sectors. Education is no exception.
Is it possible to predict or avoid future disruptions? No. But schools and universities can take steps now to build resilience into your IT, ensuring that when the next crisis hits, you’re prepared to keep teaching and learning. In education, where every lost day can impact outcomes, the cost of proactive resilience planning will always be less than the price of inaction.
Bet on the future – it’s going to happen anyway.
With tried-and-true experience across the education sector, and trusted by more than 1400 companies, Brennan is Australia’s leading systems integrator and outsourced IT partner.
Visit www.brennanit.com.au for more.
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