Overview
A mid-sized public school district serving over 20,000 students sought to strengthen its cybersecurity posture in response to rising threats and evolving compliance requirements. The district needed expert guidance to assess existing vulnerabilities, align with industry standards, and create a sustainable cybersecurity roadmap—without disrupting daily operations.
Challenge
The district faced multiple challenges:
- Fragmented IT security policies across schools and departments
- Limited visibility into risks across infrastructure and cloud platforms
- An outdated incident response plan lacking defined roles and procedures
- Compliance gaps with cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST CSF
They needed a partner capable of delivering a comprehensive security assessment and a practical, district-wide improvement strategy.
Solution
Apex Consultants led a phased engagement focused on governance, risk, and compliance. Our approach included:
- Risk & Vulnerability Assessment: Conducted interviews, policy reviews, and vulnerability scans to evaluate controls and identify high-priority risks
- Framework Alignment: Mapped findings to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and developed a prioritized action plan
- Incident Response Planning: Redesigned the IR plan with clear escalation paths, communication protocols, and tabletop exercises
- Security Awareness Training: Developed a customized training program for staff and administrators to foster a security-first culture
Results
- Achieved clear alignment with NIST CSF across all five core functions
- Reduced response time for simulated phishing incidents by 60%
- Established a governance framework that clarified roles and responsibilities
- Increased user security awareness, with over 85% staff completion rate in new training modules
- Positioned the district to pursue additional state and federal funding tied to cybersecurity maturity
Conclusion
This engagement enabled the school district to shift from a reactive to a proactive cybersecurity posture. With Apex Consultants’ support, the district now has the tools, policies, and knowledge to protect its digital assets and foster a safe learning environment.
