Hitachi Vantara boosts Manor Lodge's IT infrastructure

Hitachi Vantara has announced its collaboration with Manor Lodge School in Hertfordshire, UK, to modernise the school's IT infrastructure using the Virtual Storage Platform (VSP), aiming to eliminate downtime and enhance educational delivery.

The initiative follows a detailed evaluation process, in which Manor Lodge selected the VSP system, implemented by Qual and TD SYNNEX, to address the persistent IT outages that had been disrupting school operations. 

Matthew Clackett, IT and Digital Services Manager at Manor Lodge School, highlighted the previous challenges, stating, "Our previous outdated IT system at Manor Lodge caused bi-weekly outages, disrupting lessons for more than one hour at a time and impacting our teachers, students, and administrators alike." 

With the VSP installed, these disruptions have been eliminated, ensuring 100% data availability and a seamless learning experience, according to a statement from the school.

Clackett further elaborated on the impact of the new infrastructure, "With the new infrastructure from Hitachi Vantara, our IT system just works. Our teachers are now excited to integrate technology into lessons, confident that it will perform flawlessly. This transformation empowers us to be more ambitious in enhancing learning outcomes." This infrastructure not only supports daily operations but also enables the integration of advanced technologies such as AI, robotics, and 3D modelling into the school's curriculum.

The collaboration with Hitachi Vantara also addresses broader issues faced by educational institutions. A report by Jisc noted that 62 further education institutions in the UK are facing IT service delivery challenges, mirroring the problems Manor Lodge previously experienced. Hitachi Vantara's systems are designed to meet these challenges, offering features like automated self-monitoring to prevent hardware failures and scalable architecture to accommodate future data growth without interruption.

Octavian Tanase, Chief Product Officer at Hitachi Vantara, commented on the successful implementation at Manor Lodge, stating, "Manor Lodge's concerns reflect a larger issue affecting schools and organisations striving to meet evolving educational and technological demands. Manor Lodge School's success highlights how reliable, modern solutions like VSP can empower institutions to eliminate downtime, improve security, and focus on delivering exceptional learning outcomes. By investing in resilient IT infrastructure, schools can confidently embrace digital transformation and future-proof their operations."

The implementation of VSP at Manor Lodge has not only addressed the immediate concern of frequent outages but has also enhanced IT efficiency, allowing the school's IT team to focus on strategic projects rather than constant maintenance. This shift enables the incorporation of new technologies like coding, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) into the learning process, thus enriching the educational experience for students.

Complementing these developments is an emphasis on improved cybersecurity measures. Modern security features integrated into the VSP ensure that sensitive information, including student records, is protected against potential cyber threats, complying with evolving data protection regulations.

This collaboration illustrates a growing trend in education towards robust, scalable IT solutions that not only support current academic needs but also provide a foundation for future technological integration. As educational institutions increasingly rely on digital tools, the need for reliable IT systems becomes ever more critical, as seen in the example set by Manor Lodge School.