Everything You Need to Know About ICT Audits

In the modern era, the efficiency of schools is often shaped by their digital approach. Of course, this is often felt most strongly when things go wrong. But it shouldn’t require connectivity issues and cyber attacks for schools to take their ICT strategies seriously. 

An ICT audit can help schools and MATs understand, evaluate and improve their digital infrastructure and practices, ensuring that they meet regulatory requirements while future-proofing for changes that lie ahead.

Read on to discover everything you need to know about ICT audits and how they can benefit your school or MAT.

What is an ICT audit?

An ICT audit involves reviewing a company or institution’s technological systems, infrastructure, policies, and procedures.

A typical process may go something like this:

• Planning - the specific systems, applications, networks and processes to be reviewed will be determined, alongside the audit goals - whether that’s risk assessment or operational efficiency.
• Risk analysis - this is the chance to identify potential risks that could impact the digital environment, such as data breaches, compliance failures, operational inefficiencies and system downtimes.
• Run the audit - from examining network and system security to assessing data management and privacy controls, your entire ICT system will be reviewed and evaluated.
• Evaluation - results will be analysed and the impact of the findings to the organisation will be measured (low-high level priority, etc.)
• Reporting and follow-up - a report will be prepared summarising objectives, findings, risks and recommendations. Areas of non-compliance, vulnerabilities and control weaknesses will also be identified. If needed, a follow-up audit will be conducted to reevaluate any areas of concern.

Who should carry out an ICT audit for my school or MAT?

When running an audit for your school or MAT, it can be tempting to rely on in-house support. 

However, if you’d like to transform your ICT strategy effectively and future-proof against any potential risks further down the line then this is usually not the best route to take. Your internal department may lack the specific expertise and finding objectivity is difficult when considering the numerous biases that may exist. 

So what should you do instead?

For specialist and impartial reports, you should collaborate with experienced experts who can bridge the worlds of tech and education - and that’s where we come in... 

What exactly do ICT audits cover in educational settings? 

When it comes to schools and MATs, an effective ICT audit should cover all aspects of education and the digital world - from infrastructure to pedagogical approach.

At Novatia, we work closely with you across your school estate. Our ICT Audit and Strategy service offers an independent assessment of your technical, operational and educational ICT systems, followed by targeted recommendations in the form of a comprehensive ICT strategy. 

As always, learning and development comes first - you need an ICT approach that meets your educational aims. That’s why our experts will learn everything we can about the relationship between education and tech in your school, including:

• Staff confidence in the use of ICT
• How ICT is used in the classroom
• Teacher capability, attitude, and competence
• Pupil access and use of ICT in and out of school
  
  

We’ll assess the readiness and capabilities of your school’s tech. This includes:

• Condition of network infrastructure
• Environmental conditions of ICT server and hub rooms
• Quality, age, and suitability of user devices
• Usability of classroom audio-visual technologies
  
  

Our consultants will also delve into how effectively things are run, covering operational aspects such as:

• Structure of the IT support provision
• Knowledge, skills, and capacity of the technical support team
• Effectiveness of management and leadership
• Support desk use
• Contract management and performance of third-party providers

Novatia will work in partnership with you and through meetings, site visits, staff and student interviews, focus groups and surveys we’ll gain an understanding of your unique needs and requirements. Our experts, through their knowledge of the IT industry and first-hand experience of ICT within education, will work with you to determine what’s broken and how to fix it.

What are the benefits of running an ICT audit for a school or MAT?

Here are just a few benefits an ICT audit can bring to your school or MAT:

Cybersecurity and data protection

Schools are notoriously common targets of cybercrime, from phishing and ransomware attacks to insider threats. Figures from the Information Commissioner's Office, external (ICO) show 347 cyber incidents were reported in the education and childcare sector in 2023 - an increase of 55% on 2022. This means ensuring data security in education is not just a technical challenge but also a critical responsibility.

An ICT audit can assess a school’s current cybersecurity measures, identifying vulnerabilities in the network, software or device usage. Regular audits help identify vulnerabilities in your systems before they can be exploited - they should assess all aspects of your institution's IT infrastructure, including servers, networks, databases and end-user devices. By conducting thorough security audits, you can stay ahead of potential threats and ensure that your security measures are up-to-date.

Data security is another factor to keep in mind. All educational institutions handle a vast amount of personal data, including student records, financial information and research data. Protecting this data from breaches and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations such as the Data Protection Act 2018 can be a significant challenge, especially across MATs that manage multiple schools. 

Here at Novatia, we offer comprehensive data audits for schools and MATs and support their development of clear and effective data strategies. Using your own records and effective stakeholder engagement, our experts ensure you have the full picture of how data is being used and stored in your organisation so you can develop a strong data strategy, helping you to achieve wider ambitions with a high-level roadmap that prioritises your action plan.

Cost efficiency

Many schools are wasting thousands of pounds on unnecessary or outdated tech. ICT audits help schools identify unnecessary software, hardware or subscriptions, saving you money in the long run.

Insights from an audit can also guide schools in re-allocating funds from underused technology to essential upgrades, making sure that you get the most out of IT spending. This in turn can reduce energy consumption, supporting sustainability goals and lowering utility costs - something we’ll discuss further below.

Improved learning

Ultimately, the goal of audits should be to improve the learning experience. 

By reviewing the technology and systems in place, an ICT audit helps ensure that students and teachers have access to up-to-date, reliable technology that supports modern teaching and learning. For example, an audit may find you could benefit from switching to a cloud-based LMS so students can access all course materials anytime, anywhere. Or if students at the back of the class aren’t able to easily read a 20pt font, you may discover your outdated LFDs need upgrading.

The audit can also assess the use of educational software and platforms, ensuring they’re utilised to their full potential and are meeting learning objectives. This may entail working with your ICT department to select AI software that offers compatibility with your school’s existing systems, or exploring ways of improving learning for SEND students through immersive VR experiences.

From procuring new tech to utilising new AI-enabled technologies, an ICT audit will provide the solutions you need to make the most out of teaching and tech.

Future-proofing and sustainability

ICT audits are helpful for uncovering issues that not only exist today but also those that may arise in the future. 

Insights from an audit can aid long-term planning, helping school leaders understand where to invest in future-proof technologies that will continue to serve them as needs evolve. This could involve reviewing data cabling and networking infrastructure to accommodate future changes - factors such as network capacity, bandwidth requirements and coverage areas will need to be considered, as well as wireless connectivity.

Another facet of future-proofing is the need for schools to incorporate sustainability into their ICT strategy. DfE’s “Let’s Go Zero” initiative aims to eliminate inefficient buildings and outdated technology, which currently results in schools spending approximately £630 million annually on energy expenses. Audits can identify factors that prevent schools from achieving zero carbon status by 2030 and issue guidance on forming a more sustainable ICT strategy. This could include identifying outdated/inefficient devices that can be responsibly recycled or upgraded, minimising electronic waste, as well as assessing power usage across devices and systems. An audit can pinpoint high-energy equipment, leading to the adoption of energy-efficient alternatives and reducing the overall carbon footprint of your school or MAT.

Scalability for MATs

For MATs managing multiple schools, an ICT audit can also identify scalable solutions that can be applied across schools, ensuring resources are deployed efficiently and with consistency. This typically involves designing a strategy that grows with your MAT, adapting to the specific needs of each school while supporting overall trust objectives. 

At Novatia, we have a proven track record of delivering reliable solutions to help MATs scale successfully. Our recent work with Academy Transformation Trust (ATT) is a perfect example of this. After being recommended by peers at another large Trust, Ormiston Academy Trust (OAT), we were asked to carry out a full ICT audit across all 22 academies to have a comprehensive picture of the current state of their ICT. Following Novatia's recommended approach of Vision -> Audit -> Gap Analysis and Strategy, the Trust had an immediate, prioritised Improvement Plan to work on and was able to build their 3-year plan to deliver their ideal ICT Vision.

With over 30 MAT partnerships, including supporting the growth journey of the likes of TKAT, OAT and ATT, we understand exactly what it takes to elevate your trust to the next level.

At Novatia, we have extensive experience providing schools and MATs with ICT audits and successful strategies. With nearly 20 years of ICT experience and 250 clients within the education sector, we can help you achieve your educational aims - get in touch with us today to discover how we can help your school achieve excellence.