Penfield Central School District Cybersecurity Strategy

This case study outlines the cybersecurity strategy implemented by Penfield Central School District, a K-12 public school system located in Monroe County, NY. The district faced significant challenges due to its limited IT resources and the increasing threat of ransomware attacks, particularly from groups like Vice Society targeting K-12 institutions. To enhance their security posture, the district deployed the Stamus Security Platform (SSP), which improved network visibility and threat detection capabilities. The SSP allows the IT team to identify previously unknown threats and minimize alert fatigue by filtering out non-critical alerts. The case study details how the district's IT staff, led by senior network technician Mike DiLalla, effectively manages over 5000 endpoints with the SSP, enabling them to focus on serious threats while maintaining operational efficiency. The implementation of SSP has provided the district with greater confidence in their ability to protect students and staff from cyber threats, ensuring a safer educational environment.