A major university responsible for more than 60,000 student records sought to reduce phishing risk and improve cybersecurity maturity across a decentralized campus environment. Our security consultants performed a NIST Cybersecurity Framework assessment, modernized identity controls, expanded endpoint protection, and launched an institution-wide awareness program. The engagement reduced phishing success rates by 81%, improved security visibility, and aligned cybersecurity operations with NIST CSF best practices.
Higher Education
Reduced Phishing Success Rates by 81% Across Campus Operations
NIST Cybersecurity Framework alignment, identity modernization, endpoint protection, and awareness training strengthened security across campus.
Executive Summary
The Engagement at a Glance
Challenge
Where the Organization Stood
A large university managing student, faculty, and research systems faced increasing ransomware concerns and inconsistent cybersecurity practices across departments.
Phishing Exposure
Faculty and staff remained vulnerable to credential theft and phishing campaigns.
Decentralized Security
Departments operated independently with inconsistent security controls.
Limited Visibility
Leadership lacked a unified view of institutional cyber risk.
Solution
What We Did
NIST CSF Assessment
Comprehensive cybersecurity maturity assessment aligned to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
Identity Modernization
MFA deployment and access control improvements across campus systems.
Endpoint Protection
Expanded endpoint visibility and security controls across devices.
Security Awareness
Institution-wide phishing simulations and awareness training program.
Results & Outcomes
What Changed
81%
Phishing Reduction
User susceptibility to phishing campaigns dropped significantly.
60K+
Records Protected
Student, faculty, and research data received stronger protection.
NIST CSF
Aligned
Security program aligned to recognized cybersecurity standards.
92%
Maturity Score
Institutional cybersecurity maturity improved substantially.
Key Takeaways
What Made This Engagement Work
Users Remain A Primary Target
Awareness training proved essential to reducing phishing risk.
Visibility Drives Improvement
Leadership gained measurable insights into institutional cyber risk.
Frameworks Create Consistency
NIST CSF provided a common structure across decentralized departments.
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