State testing day.
Firewall dies at 7am.
True story: we built a PFSense firewall on a spare desktop and kept 2,000 students testing. That's not in any vendor playbook—that's 35 years of refusing to let schools fail.
The Desktop Firewall
It was 6:47am on state testing day. The school's main firewall—a $15,000 enterprise appliance—decided it had worked enough. Just stopped. 2,000 students arriving in two hours. Testing window non-negotiable.
Dell's response time? 48 hours. The school's IT director was panicking. We grabbed a spare desktop from the storage closet, installed PFSense, configured the VLANs, and had internet filtering operational by 8:15am.
Every student tested that day. Zero issues reported.
That's the difference between a vendor and a partner. Vendors follow playbooks. We solve problems.
School IT isn't like
any other IT.
Your users can't troubleshoot. Your busiest days are non-negotiable. Your budget cycle doesn't align with when things break. And everyone has an opinion about the wifi password.
We've worked with schools for 35 years. We know the rhythm: summer projects, back-to-school chaos, testing season stress, and the miracle that is keeping 1,000 Chromebooks working.
The school IT calendar we know by heart:
We handle the alphabet soup.
CIPA, FERPA, COPPA, E-Rate—we speak fluent education compliance so you can focus on education.
Children's Internet Protection Act content filtering
Student education records protection
Children's online privacy for students under 13
California student data privacy requirements
FCC program for school connectivity funding
Everything your school depends on.
Content Filtering
CIPA-compliant filtering that actually works. Blocks what it should, allows what it shouldn't block.
1:1 Device Management
Chromebooks, iPads, Windows—we manage the fleet. Enrollment, imaging, repairs, and replacement.
Network Infrastructure
Wi-Fi that handles 2,000 simultaneous devices. Wired networks that don't fail during testing.
LMS Integration
Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology—we make sure they work together seamlessly.
Student Safety
AI-powered threat detection, social media monitoring tools, and anonymous tip lines.
SIS Integration
PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, Aeries—we keep your data flowing where it needs to go.
What school IT directors ask us
What compliance requirements do schools need for IT?
Schools must comply with CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act) for content filtering, FERPA for student data protection, and COPPA for students under 13. California schools also need to meet AB 1584 requirements for student data privacy. Eaton & Associates ensures all school IT systems meet these requirements.
Can you help with E-Rate applications?
Yes. We've helped dozens of schools navigate the E-Rate program, from Form 470 postings through implementation. We understand the Category 1 and Category 2 requirements and can help maximize your funding for eligible services like internet access, networking equipment, and managed Wi-Fi.
How do you handle summer technology projects?
We plan major infrastructure upgrades, device refreshes, and system migrations for the summer break window. Our team is experienced with the compressed timeline schools face and ensures everything is tested and ready before students return.
What happens if systems fail during state testing?
We've maintained zero testing day failures across all our school clients. Our proactive monitoring catches issues before they become problems. And yes—we once built a PFSense firewall on a spare desktop at 7am to keep 2,000 students testing when the main firewall died. We don't let schools fail.
Your students deserve IT that just works.
Let's talk about your technology challenges, E-Rate opportunities, and how we can help your school succeed.