Recognising the need to provide its learners with the most reliable and responsive technology, Hottentots Holland High School (HHH) in Somerset West has appointed Space Age Technologies (SAT), as its sole IT provider, relying on SAT to plan and implement an expansion and network migration from a Novell- to Microsoft-based platform.
Microsoft South Africa is convinced of the power of information technology as the greatest enabler in developing social and economic well-being. "The nurturing and empowerment of SA's future leaders and business decision-makers start in the classroom, where their individual talents and strengths are developed," says Mike Cathie, director at Microsoft South Africa.
"With the pace at which technology moves, we support these initiatives that use our technology to lay the foundations that will promote and enrich the students' learning experiences in the classroom and for life."
Stellenbosch-based management service provider (MSP) SAT, first introduced HHH to the robust features of Microsoft architecture in 1999. With a substantial growth in the amount of eager IT scholars, HHH identified a need for continual technological development, and previously contracted SAT to deploy a Windows based platform for two of the three IT classrooms, with access to both Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) 2000 and Exchange 2000 server.
The most recent network upgrade included a migration of the last part of its network from Novell to Microsoft. Three separately operating networks created frustration within the school, and based on the success of the previous migration, the school decided to consolidate its entire IT infrastructure into one coherent Windows domain. A third IT classroom and the administration department's peer-to-peer network were upgraded and then joined to the Windows network. Ten old 486 desktops were deployed in the school's library, connected to a third server and via Windows 2000 Terminal Services (TS) were linked to the primary network. The ISA 2000 and Exchange 2000 servers now serve the entire network of 118 desktops, providing the staff and scholars with improved manageability, collaboration and security features.
"The implementation of a complete Windows-based platform not only improved the learning features for the educators, but simplified the security and administration functions for the school," says Mark Geschke, director of SAT.
Stringent policies were applied to the individual learner accounts to enforce desktop and network restrictions, effectively controlling the access to resources as well as securing the information of the teachers and especially the administration department. ISA 2000 Server's fire walling and auditing capabilities ensure easy detection of Internet and e-mail abuse.
HHH also signed a 'Schools Agreement' with Microsoft, which allows the school to access the latest version of Microsoft software, including access to Encarta and Visual Studio. This enabled SAT to install Windows XP Professional with Office XP throughout the network, allowing 900 roaming users access to Microsoft's new software.
"We strongly believe that Microsoft's technology will be the tone-setter in the future," says Geschke, "and the combined features of ISA and Exchange 2000 server, will provide HHH with a very solid platform for further network expansion."
"Providing our scholars with state-of-the-art technology which is beneficial to their future is very important to us," said Jolanda Botha, educator at HHH. Botha added that the technology and the IT partner are equally important. "The ultimate success factor is the support one gets from your technology provider; it is important that they are sensitive towards your requirements, yet well-informed about the most beneficial solution."
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