Core Services
Schools manage student records, run 1:1 device programs, support remote learning, and protect children’s data — all on tightly constrained budgets with small IT teams. Fairway IT gives Chicago K-12 and independent schools a reliable, affordable IT partner that understands education’s unique demands and treats student data with the care it deserves. K-12 Education Is the Most Targeted Sector for Ransomware Attacks Publicly Disclosed K-12 Cyber Incidents Since 2016 (K12 SIX) Average Cost of a K-12 Ransomware Incident Including Downtime Fairway IT Average Help Desk Response Time From student data privacy to ransomware protection to keeping 500 devices working on the first day of school, education IT is genuinely complex. K-12 schools are now the most frequently targeted sector for ransomware attacks, ahead of healthcare and finance. Limited IT resources, valuable student data, and pressure to restore operations quickly make schools highly attractive targets. FERPA requires schools to protect student education records and control their disclosure. COPPA restricts data collection on children under 13. Both require documented policies, vendor agreements, and technical controls that many schools lack. Managing hundreds of student devices — Chromebooks, iPads, or Windows laptops — requires a mobile device management platform, standardized imaging, and support workflows that small IT teams struggle to maintain alone. School IT budgets are tight and compete with academics, facilities, and staffing. Technology investments need to be justified, sustainable, and right-sized — not over-engineered for enterprise environments you don’t need. Modern teaching depends on reliable Wi-Fi. Bandwidth bottlenecks, aging access points, and unmanaged networks create friction for every classroom — and become a parent and board issue quickly. Faculty need IT support that’s fast, patient, and available during the school day. When a teacher’s projector stops working before a class or a staff member can’t access grades, delays have immediate consequences. From student data protection to campus network management, Fairway IT covers the full technology needs of K-12 and independent schools. Data inventory, vendor DPA review, access controls, and documented policies to demonstrate FERPA compliance and protect student privacy under COPPA. EDR on all staff and admin devices, email security, network segmentation, and tested backup and recovery procedures specifically designed to protect schools from ransomware. Advanced email filtering, impersonation protection, and staff phishing awareness training — stopping the attacks that target school administrators and finance staff. Automated, encrypted backups of student records, administrative data, and operational systems — with recovery procedures tested before a crisis, not during one. Centralized management of student and staff devices — Chromebooks via Google Admin, iPads via MDM, and Windows laptops via Intune — with imaging, policy enforcement, and remote wipe. Reliable, high-density Wi-Fi infrastructure designed for classroom use — with bandwidth management, content filtering for student safety, and network segmentation between student and staff traffic. Fast, friendly help desk support during school hours — so teachers, administrators, and support staff get back to work quickly without waiting hours for a response. Administration, security configuration, and support for Google Workspace for Education or Microsoft 365 Education — including email, collaboration tools, and classroom platforms. Most schools run a mixed fleet — Chromebooks for students, iPads in early grades, Windows laptops for staff and administration. Each platform has its own management console, its own security model, and its own gaps if left unmanaged. Fairway IT unifies management across all three platforms — so every device in your building is enrolled, configured, and secured to the same standard, without your staff needing to become an expert in three separate systems. ✓ Chromebooks managed via Google Admin Console ✓ iPads managed via Apple School Manager & MDM ✓ Windows devices managed via Microsoft Intune ✓ Standardized imaging & policy enforcement ✓ Content filtering for student safety ✓ Remote wipe for lost or stolen devices We review your current infrastructure, device inventory, security posture, and compliance status — and identify the highest-priority gaps to address first. You receive a flat-rate proposal built for your school’s size and budget — covering all the services you need without paying for things you don’t. Whenever possible, we schedule major infrastructure work and device deployments over summer break — so the school year starts with everything working. Ongoing managed IT, help desk, security monitoring, and proactive technology planning — a consistent IT partner that knows your school and your people. FERPA requires schools to protect student education records from unauthorized access and to control their disclosure. From an IT perspective, this means access controls limiting who can view student data, secure storage and transmission of records, vendor agreements (Data Processing Agreements) with any third-party software that handles student data, and documented policies for data retention and breach response. Fairway IT helps schools establish and document all of these controls. Schools are attractive targets for several reasons: they hold sensitive student and family data that can be monetized or leveraged for ransom, they typically have limited IT resources and security maturity, they face intense pressure to restore operations quickly (disrupting education affects families and creates political pressure), and many rely on older infrastructure that hasn’t been modernized. These factors combine to make schools a high-value, lower-resistance target. Yes. We manage Google Workspace for Education and Chromebooks via Google Admin Console, iPads via Apple School Manager and MDM, and Windows devices via Microsoft Intune. This includes device enrollment, policy configuration, app deployment, content filtering, and remote management — so your devices are consistently configured, secure, and ready for the classroom. Yes, we work with both independent/private schools and public school districts. Independent schools often have more flexibility in IT vendor selection and can move faster on modernization projects. We’ve found independent schools particularly benefit from having a dedicated external IT partner rather than relying on a single internal IT person, especially for security and compliance work that requires specialist expertise. Absolutely. We understand that school budgets are approved annually, often on a fiscal year that runs July to June, and that major IT investments require board approval and sometimes E-rate funding. We provide multi-year technology roadmaps that help administrators plan and budget for IT improvements, and we structure our proposals to align with how schools actually spend money — including support for E-rate eligible services where applicable. Reliable IT, protected student data, and a responsive support team shouldn’t be luxuries for well-funded schools. Fairway IT makes professional IT services accessible for Chicago K-12 and independent schools — at pricing built for education budgets. No long-term contracts required.
Education — K-12 & Independent Schools — Chicago, IL
Technology That Keeps Your School Running and Students Safe
✓ FERPA & COPPA compliant
✓ Budget-conscious flat-rate pricing
✓ Chicago-based support team
#1
1,600+
$2.7M
3.5 min
Key Challenges
Schools Face Serious IT Challenges on Tight Budgets
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Schools Are a Top Ransomware Target
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Student Data Privacy (FERPA & COPPA)
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Device Management at Scale
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Budget Constraints
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Campus Network Reliability
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Teacher & Staff IT Support
Our Services
Everything Your School Needs From IT
SECURITY & COMPLIANCE
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FERPA & COPPA Compliance Support
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Ransomware Protection
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Email Security & Phishing Protection
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Backup & Disaster Recovery
IT OPERATIONS & INFRASTRUCTURE
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Device Management (MDM)
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Campus Network & Wi-Fi
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Help Desk for Staff & Faculty
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Google Workspace & Microsoft 365
Device Management, Simplified
One IT Partner for Every Device in Your Building
How We Work
Getting Your School Set Up With Fairway IT
1
STEP
School IT Assessment
2
STEP
Right-Sized Proposal
3
STEP
Summer Onboarding
4
STEP
Year-Round Support
Common Questions
School IT FAQ
Your Students and Staff Deserve Technology That Works