Taking back control: a sovereign and secure alternative to GAFAM for education

Educational institutions, be they schools, universities or training centres, are increasingly dependent on the services offered by digital giants such as Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft (GAFAM). 

While these platforms offer powerful tools, they raise major challenges in terms of digital sovereignty, data security and regulatory compliance.

In this article we will consider the following points: 

Why is it important for educational institutions to detach from GAFAM? How can the virtualization of the workplace protect itself from GAFAM in the educational environment?

The importance of digital sovereignty and independence from GAFAM

Educational institutions face several major challenges ragarding digital sovereignty. The centralization of services and data on foreign infrastructures limits their autonomy and their ability to fully control their resources. 

Furthermore, GAFAM uses user data for commercial purposes, which compromises the confidentiality of the institutions' information. 

Finally, the hosting of these data on servers located outside Europe raises risks in terms of regulation and protection of sensitive information.

To meet these challenges, W360 offers a 100% French workstation virtualization solution, guaranteeing total independence. As a sovereign publisher, Wisper ensures complete control of the infrastructure and information flows, thus avoiding any dependence on foreign actors. 

Contrairement aux GAFAM, W360 ne monétise pas les données des établissements et ne les stocke pas, à l’exception des Masters, garantissant ainsi leur protection et leur confidentialité. 

In addition, Wisper offers the possibility of relying on French infrastructures, ensuring a secure storage of Masters data on national territory, without risk of transfer outside Europe.

With this approach, educational institutions can take back control of their data while benefiting from a strong and secure infrastructure.

Comment W360 facilite la sécurité et la confidentialité des données face aux GAFAM ?

Educational institutions face major data security and control risks when using GAFAM solutions. The interconnection of these platforms exposes them to a increased vulnerability to cyber attacks, such as ransomware and malware, endangering the confidentiality of sensitive information. 

Reliance on proprietary licenses of Microsoft and Google tools limits their technological autonomy and increases IT costs.

Pour répondre à ces enjeux, W360 propose une alternative sécurisée et souveraine. Proprietary and sealed operating system prevents unauthorized modification, thus significantly reducing the risk of cyber-attacks. 

In terms of technological autonomy, Wisper allows you to use workstations without the need for purchase or renewal of Microsoft licenses. 

Finally, Wisper encourages the use of open source solutions, such as Linux and LibreOffice, offering a powerful and cost-effective alternative to proprietary software.

The values of the company Wisper, an ethical and respectful of personal data

En choisissant W360, the institutions ensure a system that complies with applicable regulations while respecting ethical and responsible values.

– No customer data stored : Wisper guarantees that institutional data is not stored on US infrastructures.

- Ethical and responsible approach : Wisper is distinguished by a total absence of dominant, abusive or predatory practices, thus ensuring respectful collaboration with its customers.

- Financial independence : Wisper does not depend on US funds, thus ensuring an autonomous development strategy aligned with the European values of digital sovereignty.

Local virtualization: cost optimization and IT budget for education

Beyond the issues of sovereignty and security, GAFAM solutions generate hidden costs that accumulate over time, making their adoption more expensive than it seems. 

Forced hardware obsolescence is a striking example: Windows 11, for example, requires the use of up-to-date TPM 2.0 compatible equipment, requiring institutions to renew their computer fleet. Conversely, Wisper extends the life of existing equipment by optimizing resources already in place, thus avoiding unnecessary investments.

Subscription costs are another critical issue. GAFAM offers such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, reposent sur des modèles évolutifs dont les tarifs peuvent rapidement s’alourdir. W360 propose, quant à lui, une tarification transparente et maîtrisée, permettant aux établissements de mieux anticiper leur budget IT.

Finally, technological independence is a key factor. Where GAFAM impose a dependence on their proprietary ecosystems, Wisper allows a totally autonomous management of the workstations, freeing institutions from the constraints of Microsoft and Google solutions.

Faced with the challenges of relying on GAFAM, it is essential for educational institutions to adopt a sovereign, secure and economically viable solution. 

W360 représente une alternative robuste et évolutive permettant de garantir la protection des données, de se conformer aux exigences réglementaires et de préserver l’indépendance numérique des institutions.

Opter pour W360, is to choose a secure, autonomous and resilient infrastructure, aligned with ethical values and a sustainable vision of digital in education.

Article written by Valeri Venda