Many higher education institutions are still using ancient access points, old operating systems, and outdated storage systems, so it’s time for an overhaul. Whether moving to the cloud or upgrading software, large migrations are meant to seamlessly integrate technology to operations while also setting a foundation for the future and simultaneously maintaining security. 

This migration needs to be strategic and methodic, and it must include plenty of communication and technical risk assessments. In this article, we will talk about how these migrations can happen and how they benefit universities.

Plans For Tiered Migration

Most Chief Information Officers will know that Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft. The majority of educational institutions have made the upgrade to Windows 10, but those that have not can follow the approach that Florida State University took.

When the university started the migration to Windows 10 from Windows 7 in 2016, the associate director of IT services, Alex Morales, was at the forefront of the initiative. The migration was essential not only because Windows 7 support was coming to an end but because FSU required an operating system that was cloud-ready and that had OneDrive for Business. 

In the first four months, the university had completed the process with their first 1,000 computers – those in labs and public environments. For students, the migration was smoother than anticipated. It was tougher to update departmental and division PCs, but it happened eventually. 

The Importance of Keeping Software Up-to-Date

It might go without saying for some people that keeping software up-to-date is crucial, but it is worth mentioning anyway. When higher education institutions rely on outdated software, they are putting themselves at risk of malware and cybercrime attacks as cybercriminals develop more advanced ways of infiltrating school databases.

Outdated software is also less reliable and is more prone to malfunctioning. The new software offers more mediums for learning, like graphic-design programs, music composition programs, and more. 

Finally, updated software can complete the learning experience, as each student has a different capability for learning. Modern education software is best for evaluating students and providing teachers with a guide. 

Training IT Staff

The IT team at the University of Arizona assessed the potential of moving their applications to the cloud around 2013. They understood how working with the cloud could transform educators’ and students’ education experience in several different forms. 

The solution was an inclusive and robust training program that would develop familiarity with the cloud and confidence in the IT team. Communication was also essential to emphasize how using cloud technology could further staffers’ careers. 

They began with the most straightforward, smallest application – the grants management system – which had only about seven users and a handful of databases and servers. They then progressed to HR and the financial system. The final aspect of moving to the cloud was the student admin system, which went successfully.

Concluding Thoughts

As you can see, migrating to new IT software initiatives is not an impossible task, and doing so can transform the education experience for higher education institutions. Soon, every IT team at every university will be facilitating the change to modern software.