"Big vs Small" School Management Systems

There are many behemoths in the school management industry and, while they are generally very good solutions to the data-sharing that is becoming necessary in 21st century educational management, are they in fact advantageous to a smaller, more personal approach? We don't think so.

We see ourselves in much the same light that small, often private, schools see themselves in reference to the large, typically public, schools. The ability to deliver quality education, and quality educational services, is not dictated by size.

Here is why we feel the way we do, focusing on the key components of what schools need in terms of educational data management:

Security

Web site security has at least two important facets:

• The ability to protect the web site from malicious attacks through the web interface itself (hackers), and
• The ability to protect the data from database attacks, primarily through a technique known in the industry as "sql injection".

There is no advantage between small and large systems where security is concerned. Malicious individuals will always attempt to disrupt web services and their techniques are constantly changing. However, industry standards that prevent these types of vulnerabilities are available to big and small systems alike, as long as they are diligent in keeping abreast of these techniques.

Stability

All school management systems, big and small alike, have the same ability to deliver the infrastructure needed to ensure that data and files are delivered as schools need them to be.

Reliability

The system size does not dictate whether or not a service is available to it's clients 24-7. Un-interrupted power supplies, off-site co-location, and RAID servers are available to all systems.

Functionality

Smaller school management systems have a greater opportunity to deliver the functionality that their customers request due to the fact that they have a less procedural overhead to fight through to deliver the changes requested by their clientele.

"Personability"

Okay so we invented that word but this concept is tied directly to functionality. A larger system is often a faceless, impersonal institution with the mentality that "Here is what we have. Use it or not." Smaller systems are more likely to adjust "on the fly" with changes and upgrades based on the input from their clientele.

Privacy

Any system of this type has the same responsibility, and ability to deliver to their users, data privacy both individually and collectively to ensure that no unauthorized third party can glean personal and financial information for malicious purposes. Again, size does not impact this responsibility or capability.

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