Managed IT for higher education
Managed IT for colleges and universities
Helpdesk, security, campus networks and FERPA and GLBA support for community colleges, CSU and UC units, and private colleges in Southern California.
The short answer
WCC provides managed IT for higher education: helpdesk, monitoring, security, identity and campus network support, plus the documentation colleges need for FERPA and the GLBA Safeguards Rule. We can run IT for a department or auxiliary, or work alongside your campus IT team.
Compliance
The rules campus IT has to meet
| Rule | What it covers | What IT has to do |
|---|---|---|
| FERPA | Student education records | Limit access to staff with a legitimate need, log access, and put data-sharing terms in vendor contracts |
| GLBA Safeguards Rule | Student financial aid information | Name a qualified individual, keep a written security program and risk assessment, use MFA and encryption, train staff, and have an incident response plan |
| System policies | CSU 8000-series, UC IS-3 | Follow system security standards for campus units and auxiliaries |
| Campus police | Criminal justice information | Meet the FBI CJIS Security Policy for systems that touch it |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education Student Privacy, FTC Safeguards Rule.
Services
What managed IT for higher education covers
Helpdesk and monitoring
Support for faculty and staff, with monitoring and patching for servers, endpoints and network gear.
Security and GLBA program
Endpoint detection, email security, risk assessments and the written program the Safeguards Rule requires. GLBA compliance
Identity and MFA
Single sign-on and multi-factor authentication, especially for financial aid and student systems. MFA management
Campus networks and Wi-Fi
High-density Wi-Fi for lecture halls and residence halls, switching and firewalls. Wireless
SIS and LMS infrastructure
The network, identity, backup and security around Banner, PeopleSoft, Workday, Canvas and similar systems.
Physical security
Campus cameras, access control and lockdown. Access control
Who we serve
Institutions we support
Community colleges
Districts and individual colleges, from network refreshes to managed security.
Network, Wi-Fi, security
CSU and UC units
Auxiliaries, foundations, extension programs and research units working within system policies.
Co-managed or fully managed
Private colleges
Smaller institutions that need a full IT and security team without hiring one.
Fully managed
FAQ
Higher education managed IT questions
What does managed IT for higher education include?
Helpdesk and monitoring, campus network and Wi-Fi management, security tools, identity and multi-factor authentication, backup and the documentation colleges need for FERPA and the GLBA Safeguards Rule. We support the infrastructure around your student information system and LMS; the applications themselves stay with your team or vendor.
Does the GLBA Safeguards Rule apply to colleges?
Yes. Colleges and universities that take part in federal student aid programs agree to protect student financial information under the FTC Safeguards Rule. The FTC's updated rule, with requirements such as a qualified individual, a written risk assessment, multi-factor authentication, encryption and an incident response plan, took effect in June 2023, and the Department of Education reviews compliance through campus audits.
Can WCC act as our qualified individual?
The rule allows the qualified individual to work for a service provider, as long as your institution keeps responsibility and oversight. Our vCISO service can fill or support that role. See GLBA compliance.
Do you work with community colleges, CSU and UC?
Yes. We work with community colleges, CSU campuses and their auxiliaries, UC-affiliated units and private colleges on networks, Wi-Fi, security systems and managed IT. Work for CSU and UC units follows their system security policies, such as CSU's 8000-series policy and UC's IS-3.
Can colleges buy WCC services through a contract vehicle?
Yes. California institutions can buy through WCC's CMAS contract or OMNIA Partners. See contract vehicles.
How much does managed IT for a college cost?
Most institutions pay $150 to $300 per user per month for fully managed service, or less for co-managed support alongside a campus IT team. Network and Wi-Fi projects are quoted separately. See managed IT cost per user.
Get a recommendation
Talk to us about campus IT
Tell us about your institution and what's driving the conversation. We'll review your environment against FERPA and GLBA and recommend a plan.