Moving to the Cloud

In recent years, the use of cloud-based solutions has become increasingly popular across a range of industries, including education and transportation. Cloud-based technology allows users to access data and software applications over the internet, rather than through locally installed programs or servers. For schools and school bus operators, moving to the cloud can offer a range of benefits, from real-time mapping and improved navigation, to mobile apps and enhancements in cybersecurity.

According to a report, Rob Clyde, an executive chair of White Cloud Security and ISACA board director, cloud computing adoption in K–12 schools is on the rise as IT teams see the advantage of outsourcing specific functions or workloads. “Rather than running and owning their own servers, schools use cloud computing as a utility,” says Clyde. “All resources are available on demand.”

What is Cloud Computing?

According to the industry leader in cloud computing, Amazon Web Services (AWS), “Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of compute power, database, storage, applications, and other IT resources through a cloud services platform via the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing. Whether you are running applications that share photos to millions of mobile users or you’re supporting the critical operations of your business, a cloud services platform provides rapid access to flexible and low-cost IT resources.”

Moving to the cloud can offer many benefits for schools and school bus operators, by accessing cloud-based solutions. In this blog we are going to dive deeper into how schools and bus operators can optimize their routes, reduce transportation costs, and improve the safety and efficiency of their transportation operations by utilizing the cloud.

When it comes to school transportation operations, web-based mapping software is essential for efficiency and safety. Cloud-based solutions offer many benefits, such as providing real-time mapping data that helps dispatch teams provide drivers with the safest and most reliable routes. Real-time data is crucial to ensure that road closures, accidents, or other emergency-related alerts are accounted for when transporting students. Web-based mapping solutions provide more accurate information pertaining to these issues, improving efficiency and reducing the time that students spend on the bus. By optimizing routes, schools and bus operators can also reduce fuel consumption and lower transportation costs. Cloud-based solutions can also provide greater visibility and transparency through real-time data and analytics, allowing school districts and transportation providers to make data-driven decisions to improve their operations and reduce costs.

In addition to ensuring the safety of students and optimizing routes, cloud based solutions also provide greater flexibility and scalability. Unlike traditional software, cloud-based solutions don't require any hardware or software installations when upgrading or onboarding users, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Instead, all the software and data are stored in the cloud and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud-based mapping solutions can be integrated with other systems, such as GPS tracking, attendance tracking, and student information systems which allows for more efficient data analytics and automation. What allows Routr to provide software solutions is our web based architecture and we leverage this technology to improve efficiencies and communication through mobile apps to school bus drivers and parents with real-time notifications. This can provide a more complete picture of student transportation and make it easier for schools and school bus operators to manage their operations and communicate with the greater community.

As mentioned in our previous blog, there are many benefits for security and compliance when moving to the cloud. Providers, such as AWS, have dedicated security teams and resources that can help ensure their platforms and services are secure. For example, cloud providers often offer data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and disaster recovery capabilities, which can help protect against unauthorized access and data loss. According to Amazon Web Services’ CJ Moses in his Security Predictions for 2023 and Beyond, “We are just scratching the surface of AI/ML in cloud security.” CJ goes on to write “Over the next several years, we anticipate machine learning will play a major role in augmenting security engineers’ capabilities, helping them to create more secure architectures and applications in the cloud.” This can reduce the workload on security teams and help them to identify and respond to threats more quickly and effectively. As cloud providers continue to develop and refine these technologies, they will become even more powerful tools for enhancing security and compliance in the cloud.

The transportation landscape in education is undergoing a significant shift, thanks to cloud-based solutions offering a range of benefits for schools and bus operators. It is exciting to see what improvements will be made with the adoption of such innovations.