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William Penn University chooses Absolute to protect endpoints in student laptop program
Technology Category
- Cybersecurity & Privacy - Endpoint Security
- Cybersecurity & Privacy - Security Compliance
Applicable Industries
- Education
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
Use Cases
- Remote Asset Management
- Theft Detection
Services
- Cybersecurity Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
While the CWA student laptop program is viewed a success by everyone involved, the Information Services Department at William Penn saw two significant challenges to the program: lost or stolen laptop computers, and students dropping out and not returning their laptops to the University. “We had a real problem with laptops not being returned to the College after students withdrew from their programs without graduating” says Dan Morgan, Director of Information Services and Curtis Gomes, Information Technology Supervisor at CWA.
About The Customer
Founded in 1873, William Penn University is a small, private liberal arts college located in Oskaloosa, Iowa. While the campus is steeped in history, its approach to learning is very modern, beginning with the student laptop computer program at the University’s College for Working Adults (CWA). Each CWA student is provided with a laptop for use inside and outside the classroom, allowing continuous, hands-on computer use. The campus network features Internet access from every building, enabling students and faculty to enjoy all the benefits of portability.
The Solution
After some initial research, Morgan and Gomes found a solution that would assist them in minimizing the effects and occurrences of both: Absolute DDS, an adaptive endpoint security solution for computers, tablets, and smartphones. Not long after implementing, Morgan and Gomes noticed a marked improvement in the rate of returned laptops by drop-out students. “Our investment in Absolute is helping pay for itself by the incentive provided by the remote Data Delete function,” said Gomes. “We can perform any number of reports and operations remotely, from deleting the My Documents folder to removing the operating system, which effectively disables the computer. We’ve only had to do this a few times, however, because word got out pretty quickly that we could do this, and now this particular problem has all but disappeared. The Investigations service has also been utilized, with remarkable success. When a student had her laptop stolen from her car, Absolute helped get it back. Within weeks of the theft, the Des Moines Police Department had the laptop in their possession – and the University yet more proof that their investment in Absolute was money in the bank.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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