Learning Center moves ahead with tech upgrades
through Sandia small business program

The Learning Center, with funding and technical assistance from Sandia National Laboratories of Albuquerque, is in the initial stages of long-overdue upgrades to its computer systems, with a focus on the 27 computers in its computer lab.

The work began in the spring, when the center received $10,000 for systems analysis and upgrades from Sandia as part of its Small Business Assistance program. Jerome Wright, a senior technologist at Sandia, was at the center Sept. 13-16, finishing up the third of four weeks’ work, primarily on security upgrades for the Learning Center’s computer systems.

“The server is very old,” Wright said. “It’s a 200-megahertz machine. The operating system is Windows NT, which is no longer supported by Microsoft. You can get updates, but it’s not one of the server operating systems they’re going to (keep making) updates available for.”

Of the center’s 27 lab computers, only 11 contained up-to-date hardware when Wright began his investigation, and none had been given crucial security updates that protect systems from viruses and outside attacks.

“To have these computers as vulnerable as they were, my systems analysis had to stop, and we had to get these machines up to date,” Wright said.

Wright will perform numerous other enhancements, once security upgrades are in place. Because of the time necessary to accomplish these upgrades, much of the rest of the work may have to wait until next year, when Wright will submit a request for up to $40,000 in additional funding through the Sandia program.

During his next visit to the center, Wright will put together a document that outlines his work and analysis thus far and lists recommendations for further enhancements to the network.

The partnership between Sandia and the Learning Center came about with the help of Raton attorney Paul Kastler, who acted as the necessary “qualifying partner” between the two entities. To be considered for funding in the Sandia program, a small business, in this case Kastler Law Offices, LTD, must validate the importance of the receiving organization or business to the local community.

In a letter Kastler wrote to the Small Business Assistance program, he stated, “The North Eastern [sic] New Mexico Educational Foundation Inc. Learning Center is the only viable facilitator of post secondary education and related services located in Colfax, Harding and Union Counties. The assistance that Sandia National Laboratories is capable of providing to the Learning Center is not available locally.”

Kastler went on to explain how the center’s training programs were crucial to the professional development of staff at his own company and called a partnership between Sandia and the Learning Center a “win-win” scenario for all parties. It would, Kastler said, provide NENMEF with the systems analysis it so crucially needs while supplying local businesses with technically trained individuals and giving Sandia the opportunity to assist a rural New Mexico community in need.

Learning Center President Joe Rodman echoed Kastler’s feelings.

“I believe the computer lab at the Learning Center enables us to effectively serve the computer-education needs of our community,” Rodman said. “But to be able to deliver, we need an upgraded, secure system. We don’t have the resources to purchase these services on the open market. Sandia is making it possible for us to do that.”

Sandia’s Small Business Assistance program also assists businesses and organizations involved in manufacturing, retail, oil and gas, agriculture, water, energy and other pursuits.

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