
The return to school in September is always a pressure point for IT Managers. After a long summer break, devices are switched back on, thousands of students reconnect to Wi-Fi, and teaching staff expect seamless access to cloud tools.
Typical challenges include:
🔑 Key takeaway: The education IT checklist is about more than ticking boxes. It’s about protecting learning time, avoiding embarrassing outages during inspections, and keeping staff confident in IT systems.
Education has become a prime target for cybercrime. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has repeatedly warned that schools face increased ransomware threats. Attackers know that downtime directly impacts students, putting pressure on schools to pay ransoms.
Key Threats Facing Schools in 2025:
Real Example
In 2023, several UK schools were forced offline for weeks after ransomware attacks. Exams were delayed, parents couldn’t access portals, and staff reverted to paper registers.
Quick Wins for Cybersecurity
Imagine an Ofsted inspection is due, and student records are suddenly lost. Without reliable backups, you risk non-compliance, reputational damage, and financial penalties.
Why Backup Matters in Education
Case Study
A UK college lost access to its Microsoft 365 environment after a malicious insider deleted key data. Because they had Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup, they restored everything within hours.
Best Practice Steps
Schools face unique challenges: teachers, students, temporary staff, governors, and contractors all need different access levels. Managing this manually is a nightmare.
Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) simplifies the process:
Example in Action
A school with 2,000 students used Entra ID to enforce MFA only for staff, reducing friction for pupils while keeping sensitive HR data secure.
💡 Many schools don’t realise they already have Entra ID bundled in their existing Microsoft licensing.
Devices are often the weak link. Over summer, laptops sit unused and unpatched. When thousands reconnect, IT systems are flooded with vulnerabilities.
Device Audit Checklist
Real-Life Scenario
A sixth form college discovered 40% of its student laptops hadn’t updated since June. Within a day of reconnecting, several malware alerts appeared. A device audit before term start would have prevented this.
Devices are often the weak link. Over summer, laptops sit unused and unpatched. When thousands reconnect, IT systems are flooded with vulnerabilities.
Device Audit Checklist
Real-Life Scenario: A sixth form college discovered 40% of its student laptops hadn’t updated since June. Within a day of reconnecting, several malware alerts appeared. A device audit before term start would have prevented this.
Licensing is a recurring pain point. Many schools either over-purchase licenses (wasting budget) or run out at the start of term (blocking access).
Best Practices
Example: One academy trust reduced its Microsoft licensing costs by 18% simply by auditing and reallocating unused licenses across multiple schools.
Network demand spikes massively in September. Streaming video lessons, Teams calls, and AI-driven EdTech platforms all add pressure.
Areas to Test
Example: A primary school upgraded to Fortinet firewalls and instantly saw a 50% reduction in attempted phishing access by students.
Budgets are shrinking, but needs are growing. AI can help schools buy smarter.
How AI Helps in Procurement
Example: A college used AI procurement tools to project its next 3 years of device refresh needs. By buying in bulk strategically, they saved 22% over three years.
An IT roadmap helps schools avoid firefighting and plan strategically.
Roadmap Tips
Example: One MAT (Multi-Academy Trust) planned a phased VoIP rollout across 10 schools over two academic years. By spreading investment, they avoided large one-off costs.
Here’s your education IT checklist condensed:
✅ Update cybersecurity tools and staff training.
✅ Test backups and recovery processes.
✅ Audit devices and enforce MDM with Intune.
✅ Prepare for PSTN switch-off with VoIP.
✅ Audit Microsoft 365 licenses.
✅ Run network health tests (Wi-Fi, firewall, redundancy).
✅ Use AI procurement tools to stretch budgets.
✅ Draft an IT roadmap aligned with the academic calendar.
The new school year doesn’t need to bring IT headaches. With the right education IT checklist, you can ensure your systems are safe, efficient, and future-ready.
At Qual Limited, we’ve been supporting the education sector for over 30 years. From cybersecurity and Microsoft licensing to VoIP and procurement, we understand the pressures IT Managers face.
👉 Contact Qual Limited today to get your tailored education IT checklist for 2025.
At Qual Limited, we specialise in streamlining IT procurement and fulfilment for the education sector. Our approach includes:
With 30 years of experience, we understand the challenges of IT procurement and provide customised solutions to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs, and improve IT fulfilment speed.
IT procurement doesn’t have to be complex. Qual Limited simplifies the entire process, ensuring you get the right IT solutions at the right price, without the usual frustrations and delays.
Book a consultation today with your dedicated Personal Account Manager and discover how we can streamline IT procurement, enhance efficiency, and drive cost savings.
Book your consultation now and take the stress out of IT procurement with Qual Limited
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Ken, our Senior Sales Consultant, has been with Qual since 2000. Renowned for his excellent customer reputation, Ken specialises in supporting education and providing expert advice on hardware solutions. With decades of experience, he is trusted for his knowledge, reliability, and commitment to finding the right solutions for every customer. Ken’s dedication ensures that clients receive the best service and support every time.
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Pretesh, our Head of Managed Services, is an IT generalist with broad expertise and a straightforward approach. He listens to your needs, explains everything clearly, and offers honest advice on what’s worth your investment. From everyday IT challenges to major projects, Pretesh is here to help—no nonsense.
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Are you looking to connect with a dedicated account manager who can tailor IT solutions to meet your business needs?
Open
Mon – Fri: 9.00am – 5.30pm
Holidays: Closed