Summer Tech Prep 2025: A Practical Guide for School IT Teams

School IT departments can take advantage of reduced user demand during the summer. Now is the time to assess and improve your technology infrastructure, address changes and fixes, and prepare for the fall semester. Here are some essential tips to make the most of summer break.

Inventory & Asset Management

Audit Your System

Take stock of your hardware and software assets. Identify items to retire, repair, or upgrade. Use this opportunity to clean up outdated records and ensure accurate inventory documentation.

Manage and Verify Inventory

You can’t secure what you don’t know you have. Ensure records are current and complete. Accurate inventory helps you assess risk, allocate resources, and track performance over time.

Maintenance & Upgrades

Evaluate and Upgrade Equipment

Identify systems that are outdated, unsupported, or approaching end-of-life. These systems are vulnerable to security risks. Upgrading boosts reliability, performance, and safety.

Repair and Replace

Address equipment that needs repairing. Rewire ports, replace damaged faceplates, and update faulty peripherals like mice and keyboards.

Patch and Update Software

Ensure all software is up to date. Many updates contain critical security patches. Staying current reduces vulnerabilities and improves performance.

Security & Risk Mitigation

Audit User Permission

Apply the principle of least privilege. Users should have only the access necessary to do their jobs. This minimizes the risk of accidental or intentional data breaches.

Review IT Security Policies

Confirm your security policies are current, compliant with regulations, and aligned with best practices. Regular reviews help you find and fix vulnerabilities and ensure that your security measures are strong.

Test Backups and Recovery Plans

Continue regularly scheduled data backups, but don’t stop there. Confirm that backups are functional and capable of restoring the network after a system failure or ransomware attack. Testing your backup and recovery processes ensures you can quickly recover from data loss or ransomware incidents.

Train for Incidents

Host tabletop exercises and review your incident response plan. Ensure everyone understands their roles. Include your cyber coverage provider and point-of-contact information in the plan.

Monitor and Set Alarms

Set up server and network logs to send notifications to IT staff. Regularly check server logs for critical errors and monitor network logs for suspicious activity that could indicate intrusion attempts. Proactive monitoring helps detect and respond to potential threats quickly.

Environment and Organization

Clean and Maintain Equipment

Just like a vehicle needs routine maintenance, so do tech assets. Dust in server rooms can cause overheating and failure. Schedule regular cleanings for longer-lasting, more reliable performance.

Reorganize Server Rooms and Tech Storage

Remove old equipment and improve layout for accessibility and airflow. Label and bundle cables and use server racks for better organization and maintenance.

Protect Power Sources

Connect critical systems to uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and surge protectors. This helps prevent damage to data and hardware from power surges and provides backup during short outages.

Dispose of E-Waste Responsibly

Partner with a certified recycling service to safely discard outdated or broken equipment. This clears space and ensures compliance with environmental standards.

Plan Ahead and Stay Organized

Download our Summer Tech Prep Checklist to guide your team through each of these essential steps. With proactive planning, your department will be ready to support a secure, stable, and efficient learning environment when students return.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in July 2024. It has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.