Challenge

When COVID-19 shut classrooms and clinics, a sovereign nation faced a painful reality: many families lacked reliable internet access and modern, manageable devices. The reservation’s geography and limited last-mile options made connectivity uneven; students risked falling behind, and elders were forced to choose between care and safety.

Leadership needed a plan that upheld sovereignty, protected privacy, and worked everywhere—not just near fiber lines.

Core issues we addressed:

• Digital Divide: Sparse or nonexistent broadband left students unable to join class or submit work consistently.
• Device Fragmentation: Mixed, unmanaged devices created security risks, support headaches, and inequity.
• Health Access: Elders needed safe, reliable telehealth without exposing sensitive health data or requiring long travel.
• Sustainability: Solutions had to be tribally controlled, maintainable by internal IT, and resilient beyond the pandemic.

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Approach

DeSoto partnered with tribal leadership, education, and health teams to design a sovereignty-first program across four tracks:

1) Connectivity Backbone (Starlink Coordination)

• Conducted site surveys and coverage planning across housing clusters and remote homesteads.
• Deployed Starlink at priority locations, with redundant power (UPS/solar where appropriate) and weather-aware mounting.
• Implemented traffic shaping/QoS to prioritize classroom sessions and telehealth over non-critical traffic.
• Segmented networks to keep school and health traffic separate from general household use.

2) Apple Ecosystem & Management

• Leveraged our Apple consultant relationship to provision standardized iPads/Macs/iPhones configured for learning and care.
• Implemented mobile device management (MDM) for zero-touch setup, app deployment, remote support, content controls, and rapid replacement.
• Established role-based profiles (student, teacher, health worker, elder support) to ensure the right tools, privacy settings, and ease of use.

3) Security & Privacy by Design

• Enforced encryption, strong identity, and least-privilege access across devices and services.
• Built privacy-preserving workflows for telehealth sessions and health communications, aligned with industry best practices.
• Created a simple “red-yellow-green” security handbook so families understood safe use without technical jargon.

4) Support, Training & Sustainability

• Launched a community help line staffed with tribal IT and DeSoto advisors for first-call resolution.
• Delivered short, multilingual guides and “two-minute” video lessons for students, caregivers, and elders.
• Transitioned day-to-day operations to internal IT with documentation, spares management, and a lightweight NOC dashboard for uptime and device health.

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Results

• Learning Continuity Restored: Students across the reservation attended classes, submitted work, and met with teachers from home.
• Telehealth Access for Elders: Secure, reliable sessions reduced exposure risk and travel burden, improving continuity of care.
• Sovereign Control: The Nation retained ownership of equipment, configurations, and policies—no vendor dependency.
• Operational Resilience: Managed devices and Starlink coverage delivered reliable performance despite remote geography.
• Capacity Built for the Future: Internal IT now operates a repeatable model for future emergencies, storms, or service interruptions.

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