How connectivity is enabling SLED organizations to harness the latest technology

The need for connectivity dictates how people conduct business and manage their lives. Yet uptake among many state and local government and educational institutions (SLED) has lagged that of the private sector.

“Some in the public sector have been slow to adopt new cloud solutions or buy into the AI trend that has swept the world,” observed StateTech Magazine. This despite clear indications most taxpayers expect their digital government services to be on par with the best in business.

What type of connectivity makes the most sense for public universities, K-12 schools, municipalities and state institutions? How to strike the right balance between cost and opportunity or between access and security? What are the best ways of ensuring a SLED organization’s connectivity is simultaneously flexible and resilient?

One thing is clear: The role of the IT leader in SLED organizations is undergoing a significant change, whether by facilitating AI-based transformations or creating the networks needed for fuller digitalization. Having the right platform in place is critical to delivering success.

Boosting bandwidth enables a technology evolution

There are many ways investing in bandwidth can improve public service experiences. Creative SLED IT leaders are seizing on the potential of cloud-based platforms like Anything-as-a-Service (XaaS) which leverage the advantage of fiber networks to deliver desired services.

For schools, public service providers and state regulatory agencies, just to name three SLED segments, the widespread use of mobile apps and handheld devices offer vast transformative potential.

The most compelling use of bandwidth is in unlocking the promise of AI. High-speed fiber allows SLED organizations to utilize AI by delivering massive amounts of bandwidth quickly to and from both the people they serve as well as the data centers where this knowledge is warehoused.

IBM notes: “Government agencies have access to several rich datasets of structured and unstructured data that the adoption of AI can help to provide more insights. Understanding that data can help governments provide more efficient services to their citizens.”

High-speed data circuits utilizing dedicated fiber and internet connectivity are becoming the backbone for many AI-focused enterprises, including SLED entities like government research laboratories and universities. These circuits have the ability to scale up to 100 Gbps on a private fiber network, and the low latency is vital for AI algorithms to run effectively.

IT leaders also should make sure their connectivity investment comes with a service-level agreement guaranteeing 100% availability.

Putting security first in your connectivity strategy

Any SLED connectivity strategy needs to consider network security as a starting point in choosing the best connectivity fit. Simply put, breaches caused by security failures can trigger a myriad of issues; not only for agencies and institutions using compromised networks, but also the public which depends on them for needed services.

In recent years, the intensity of cyberattacks on all kinds of schools has been growing significantly. So has the cost of rectifying them. Bad actors see colleges and universities as soft targets for ransomware and other forms of malware.

For higher education IT leaders, investing in security is a means of avoiding serious fiscal and reputational costs down the road. They are guardians of data not only for the institutions they serve, but the students and educators who entrust them with personal information.

Security is critical at any SLED organization seeking to raise their connectivity profile. A more protective mindset around connectivity begins with fiber bundled together with security features such as built-in threat protection, continuous maintenance and 24/7/365 support. 

Focusing on cost-effective connectivity options

Many if not most government entities struggle to some degree with budgetary constraints in delivering connectivity solutions to the populations they serve. This is especially true with recent cutbacks on bandwidth expansion programs aimed at improving connectivity in urban and rural areas.

Particularly for municipal organizations, connectivity is necessary to answering the needs of app- and online-focused local populations. Digitalization is enabling holistic service improvement both in terms of convenience and cost. “Digital public services are on average 74% faster than their in-person equivalents…and 95% cheaper for public institutions to deliver.”

A digitalized government is inevitably more efficient and cost-effective; getting there can be a challenge. Budgets of smaller cities and towns often do not allow for fully fiber makeovers, as an example, at least not in one fell swoop. Incremental steps that bring tangible differences in people’s lives are needed.

For IT leaders at these entities, investing in high-speed coax internet access offers an attractive alternative to waiting on more proactive funding. Delivered across a dense network with nationwide reach, this service is most effective when combined with 24/7/365 support by local technicians to guard against slowdowns.

Establishing redundancy for greater peace of mind

For SLED IT leaders, the right connectivity mindset also envisions how to protect against external disruptions.

For example, at K-12 schools, connectivity often depends on the integrity of a single network location. Disruptions can take many forms, from power outages to circuit breaks to accidents.

As noted in a recent report: “Bandwidth alone isn’t enough…A [school] district’s wide area network (WAN) should be designed with network redundancy to enable resiliency, so learning isn’t impacted by a network disruption event or equipment failure.”

To limit fallout, some schools are reinforcing their internet access with various backup connectivity systems, including wireless internet services that are integrated with existing networks to back up connectivity automatically. This turnkey wireless service can minimize interruptions in learning schedules while extending access to other areas on an as-needed basis.

How Spectrum Business can help

Designing the right connectivity strategy for a SLED organization should comprise consideration of different modes of delivery. This includes selecting a dependable connectivity provider. Spectrum Business offers a range of connectivity services designed to serve the needs of many types of state and local government institutions, as well as K-12 schools, colleges and universities.

See how Spectrum Business can support your organization on their path to fuller connectivity.