The difference between lab management software and lab monitoring software
Computer lab management and monitoring software are both essential tools for higher education IT staff. Computer lab management software performs tasks and security measures remotely. Computer lab monitoring software collects usage data and serves it to the administrator in reports. LabStats is the market-leading tool for monitoring and reporting on computer lab usage in higher education.
What is computer lab management software?
Computer Lab Management Software enables an administrator to perform tasks and security measures remotely, and combines manual and automated processes to track operations.
What is computer lab monitoring software?
Computer Lab Monitoring Software automatically tracks what is happening in a computer lab, and reports back to the administrator.
Connects computers through a single command machine
Make direct changes on any computer
Install or remove software
Reset machine to default settings
Start up or shut down computers
Control user access
Hardware usage reports
Software usage reports
User activity data
Live computer availability
Software inventory
Hardware specs
Real-time usage data
Hardware Usage Report
Monitor hardware usage
See when, where and how long computers on campus are used with LabStats computer lab monitoring software. The data is accurate, secure and delivered in real time, so you can:
Identify where there are too many or too few computers
See when labs are used the most and least during the semester
Schedule computer lab hours and staff around lab activity
See average daily utilization and predict lab traffic
Software Usage Report
Monitor software usage
Monitor software usage to see when, where and how long applications are used. LabStats tracks locally installed and web-based applications. Review high level data and application-specific usage so you can:
Computer lab monitoring software is the most reliable way for colleges and universities to understand when, where and how long computers on campus are being used. LabStats data and reports empowers CIOs and IT teams to:
Optimize software budget around actual student use
Streamline staff hours and hardware refresh schedules
Arrive at data-informed decisions quickly, support robust data analysis
Load-balance campus technology resources
Support deep-dive analysis into accessibility investments
Mitigate risks from student data privacy laws and GDPR
Share data insights with leadership and department heads
How to use lab management and monitoring software together
Computer lab management software should be used to inform IT decisions, while management software can be used to implement changes to your environment.
In this scenario, think of computer lab monitoring software as a map, and management software as a car. The map shows you where you need to go, and the car actually gets you there.
Monitoring software can tell you the percent of software licenses that are used, which labs students access the software from, and the peak hours in which the licenses are used concurrently. Once you have all that data in hand, you can decide if you need more or less licenses, where to deploy them, and how to schedule computer lab hours to meet student demand.
Once you have your plan in place, use computer lab management software to actually deploy the licenses where needed.
How to choose monitoring software
Follow these steps to choose the best computer lab monitoring software:
Beyond accurate and secure usage data, computer lab monitoring software can provide live computer availability maps and remote access to available computers on campus.
LabStats Computer Lab Monitoring Software
What is LabStats
Designed to help university IT professionals understand how their computer labs are used, and trusted by over a thousand colleges and universities worldwide, LabStats is the leading computer lab monitoring software in higher education.
LabStats provides insights into hardware and software usage on campus with easy-to-read reports, live computer lab maps, and remote access to computers on campus. With LabStats’ API, you can build your own solution with accurate and secure data.
Both computer lab management software and monitoring software are essential tools for university IT departments. With monitoring software, lab managers can track usage and spot trends to make informed decisions, and then implement changes with management software.
