Security for Open, Connected Environments
Schools and universities need to give large numbers of people access to systems, applications, and information. Students, faculty, staff, contractors, and guests connect from classrooms, offices, residence halls, and homes, using both institution-owned and personal devices. That makes security more complicated than locking down a traditional corporate network.
Education organizations also depend on learning platforms, cloud applications, administrative systems, shared networks, and outside technology providers. A compromised account or unavailable system can disrupt classes, payroll, communications, enrollment, and other essential functions.
Cybersecurity for education means protecting an open, constantly changing environment without getting in the way of learning. CISO Global helps education organizations reduce risk and keep critical systems available.
Cybersecurity Challenges in Education
Student and
Employee Data
Large, Changing
User Populations
Ransomware and
Service Disruption
Limited Internal
Security Resources
Personal and Institution-
Owned Devices
Cloud Applications
and Education Technology
Phishing and
Account Compromise
How CISO Global Helps
Education Organizations
CISO Global helps education organizations strengthen security across their systems and infrastructure without making technology harder for students, faculty, and staff to use.
Assess Your
Security Gaps
Risk and Gap Assessments, penetration testing, and vulnerability management can uncover weaknesses across networks, applications, cloud environments, endpoints, and externally exposed systems.
Monitor and Respond
to Threats
CISO Global’s AI-Powered SOC provides 24/7/365 US-based SOC monitoring, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Analysts investigate suspicious activity and support response through Managed Detection and Response, Managed SIEM, and Managed XDR, based on your service scope.
Secure IT and
Cloud Environments
Schools depend on reliable networks, devices, cloud services, and infrastructure to support instruction and everyday operations. CISO Global’s Secured Managed Services can help manage networks, firewalls, endpoints, and cloud environments, along with patching, backups, and other critical IT needs.
Manage Privacy,
Risk, and Compliance
Education organizations must protect student and employee information while meeting privacy, contractual, regulatory, and institutional requirements. Managed GRC can help establish security policies, manage third-party risk, document controls, and track privacy and security requirements.
Prepare for
Cyber Incidents
Knowing what to do during an incident can reduce confusion when systems or data are at risk. Incident response planning and tabletop exercises help teams work through responsibilities, communications, decision-making, and recovery so they are not sorting those issues out for the first time during a real incident.
Help Faculty and Staff Recognize Cyber Threats
Technical controls cannot stop every phishing email, fake login page, or social engineering attempt from reaching users.
CISO Global’s Security Awareness Training gives faculty and staff regular practice spotting and reporting suspicious activity. The program can include curated training, phishing simulations, role-based instruction, and follow-up training based on where users need more help.
CISO Global can also manage scheduling, campaigns, participation tracking, and reporting, so internal IT teams do not have to manage the program day-to-day.
Why Education Organizations
Work With CISO Global
Extend Your Internal Team
Connect Security with Day-to-Day IT
Security Across Schools and Campuses
Security That Supports Learning
Let’s Talk About Your Security Priorities
Speak with a CISO Global cybersecurity expert about the data, users, systems, and services your organization needs to protect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FERPA require specific cybersecurity controls?
FERPA does not prescribe specific cybersecurity controls, but schools and institutions still need to safeguard student education records. Cybersecurity incidents involving student information can create privacy issues and other consequences, and additional requirements may apply depending on the institution and the data involved. The U.S. Department of Education specifically notes that FERPA does not mandate particular controls while encouraging institutions to take appropriate steps to safeguard student records.
Do colleges and universities have cybersecurity requirements beyond FERPA?
Yes. Colleges and universities that participate in Title IV federal student aid programs are subject to Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) data-security requirements. Other obligations depend on the institution, the information it handles, and its contracts. Risk and Gap Assessments can help identify applicable requirements and gaps in existing controls.
How can schools strengthen cybersecurity with limited internal resources?
Schools do not need to build every cybersecurity capability internally. Managed security, vulnerability management, security testing, secure IT services, and outside risk expertise can supplement an existing IT team while allowing internal staff to remain focused on the systems and users they support.
How should schools prepare for ransomware and other cyber incidents?
Start with a documented incident response plan that defines responsibilities, communications, decision-making, and recovery procedures. Tabletop exercises can help teams practice how they would respond before an actual incident disrupts learning or administrative systems. CISA also recommends that K–12 organizations develop and regularly exercise a written incident response plan.
How should education organizations manage cybersecurity risk from third-party technology providers?
Schools and institutions should understand which vendors have access to student information or institutional systems, what information they handle, and what security expectations apply to the relationship. Schools and institutions should also review access and permissions as services, contracts, and users change.