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Education solutions: Overview · AI · Security Systems · IT Services · Cybersecurity & Compliance · Communications

Cybersecurity and FERPA Compliance for Schools and Colleges

Schools hold some of the most sensitive data in any community: student records, health and special education information, family contacts and staff payroll. They also have thousands of users, many shared devices and small security teams. That combination makes education a frequent target for ransomware and data theft, and CISA has published dedicated guidance on protecting K-12 organizations from cyber threats. AI adds a new exposure: staff pasting student information into public AI tools and AI features switched on inside apps that already hold student data. BTI protects school and campus systems around the clock, governs AI risk and helps you prove it.

This page is part of BTI's connected technology solutions and advisory services for education. We support a number of education clients.

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Top Cyber Risks in Education

  • Ransomware timed for testing windows, payroll or the start of the school year
  • Phishing aimed at staff, often impersonating administrators or vendors
  • Student account compromise and misuse of shared devices
  • Third-party apps and learning platforms with access to student data
  • Flat networks where students, staff, cameras, HVAC and guests share one segment
  • Unmanaged devices brought onto campus by students, staff and visitors
  • Ungoverned AI use: student records entered into public AI tools, and AI features enabled in existing apps without a privacy review

Compliance and Guidance We Map To

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects student education records. FERPA doesn't prescribe technical controls, so schools need a documented way to show records are protected. BTI maps access controls, encryption, logging, retention and vendor reviews, including AI vendors, to your FERPA obligations and your board policies.

CIPA and Content Filtering

Under the Children's Internet Protection Act, schools and libraries that receive E-Rate support must certify that they have adopted and are enforcing an internet safety policy with technology protection measures such as filtering. BTI designs and enforces content filtering across campus Wi-Fi and devices and provides reporting to support your certification. → E-Rate program (USAC)

CISA K-12 Guidance

Controls prioritized using CISA's K-12 recommendations, such as multi-factor authentication, patching known vulnerabilities, backups and a tested incident response plan, plus the CISA Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals.

NIST Frameworks

Assessments and roadmaps aligned to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, with AI risk mapped to the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, which gives boards and administrators a common language for risk.

Cyber Insurance Requirements

Evidence for MFA, endpoint protection, backups and training that insurers and risk pools ask for at renewal.

Our Education Cybersecurity Services

24/7 Managed Detection and Response

BTI's 24/7 NOC/SOC, delivered with a SOC 2 audited NOC/SOC partner, monitors endpoints, identity, email and network traffic, including nights, weekends and summer break when attackers count on nobody watching. Automation triages noise so analysts focus on real threats: 10,000+ alerts handled, zero missed.

Risk Assessments and vCISO

A clear, ranked picture of your risk with costs attached, and a virtual CISO who presents findings to the superintendent, cabinet or board. → Cybersecurity assessment · vCISO

Student Data Protection

Role-based access to student information systems, data loss prevention, encryption, and reviews of the apps and vendors that touch student records.

Ransomware Readiness and Recovery

Immutable backups, tested restores, and an incident response plan aligned to CISA #StopRansomware guidance, with tabletop exercises for leadership.

Network Segmentation

Separate student, staff, guest, camera and building system networks so one compromised device can't reach everything. → Network security · IoT security

Policies, Training and Audit Evidence

Acceptable use and security policies, phishing training for staff, and evidence packages for audits, insurers and grant requirements. Our clients pass 94% of audits on the first attempt. → Governance, risk & compliance

AI Governance Risk for Schools

States are moving quickly: Education Commission of the States counts at least 35 states with published state agency guidance on AI, with data privacy a common theme (ECS, April 2026). Vendor risk is real too: in 2024 Los Angeles Unified switched off a new student AI chatbot less than three months after launch when the startup behind it ran into financial trouble (GovTech). BTI is your Guided Automation Partner for the security side of AI:

  • Inventory AI in use, including AI features vendors have switched on inside apps you already pay for
  • Keep FERPA data out of public AI tools with district-controlled AI workspaces, DLP and a staff AI use policy aligned to the NIST AI RMF
  • Vendor reviews that cover data location, retention, model training on your data and what happens if the vendor shuts down
  • AI-assisted detection in BTI's NOC/SOC across endpoints, identity and email
  • Continuity planning for AI-dependent workflows

Guided Automation advisory services are included in every managed IT plan at no extra cost. → AI security, governance & risk · Education AI

Where Are You on Security?

Just getting started

Begin with a risk assessment and the essentials that stop most attacks: MFA, endpoint detection and response, immutable backups, email security and staff training.

Mature program, new AI exposure

Add AI governance, DLP and vendor reviews, map AI risk to the NIST AI RMF, and extend tabletop exercises to AI-dependent workflows.

Want an outsourced partner

BTI can run 24/7 detection and response and vCISO leadership for you, or support your technology staff under a co-managed model.

K-12 and Higher Education Needs

K-12 districts and private schools

Focus on the essentials that stop most attacks, protect student records and satisfy insurers, delivered at a predictable cost.

Colleges and universities

Decentralized departments, research data and open networks call for stronger identity controls, segmentation and 24/7 monitoring across a larger attack surface.

Cyber and Physical Security, Together

Campus cameras, door controllers and intercoms are network devices. Because BTI also designs school and campus security systems, those devices are segmented, patched and monitored inside the same program. → Converged security

How Schools Buy from BTI

  • California public schools, districts and colleges: CMAS and TESMA contracts (California only). → Contract details
  • Outside California: we work with your procurement process, including RFPs, quotes and board-approved purchases, and piggyback purchasing where your rules allow it.
  • GSA: BTI holds GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract 47QTCA21D00BA (all states). Contact us to confirm what's available on our GSA contract.

Cybersecurity or Managed IT?

This page covers threat protection and compliance. For helpdesk, Wi-Fi, networks, device fleets and managed or co-managed IT, see Education IT Services. Most schools use both under one agreement.

Why Schools Choose BTI

Over 40 years in business98% client retentionSOC 2 audited NOC/SOC partnerISO 27001 compliant10,000+ alerts, zero missed94% first-attempt auditsadvisor reply within one business day100% financing covers hardware, licensing and labor

Who We Work With

BTI's education clients include Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, where BTI has installed and serviced intrusion and panic alarm systems and has supported the campus under a managed physical security services agreement since 2017. The same team delivers the services on this page, so one partner covers campus security, IT and communications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does FERPA require for IT security?

FERPA requires schools to protect the privacy of student education records but doesn't list specific technical controls. Schools typically show protection through access controls, encryption, logging, vendor reviews and written policies.

Why are schools targeted by ransomware?

Schools hold valuable personal data, have many users and devices, often run small security teams, and face pressure to restore services quickly, which attackers try to exploit.

What cybersecurity controls should a school district start with?

Multi-factor authentication, endpoint detection and response, immutable backups, email security, staff phishing training and network segmentation.

How do you keep student data out of AI tools?

With district-controlled AI workspaces, data loss prevention rules, vendor reviews and a staff AI use policy that prohibits entering student records into public tools.

How should we review AI vendors that touch student data?

Check where data is stored and for how long, whether it is used to train models, who can access it, how it supports your FERPA obligations and what happens to your data if the vendor shuts down.

Do you monitor over summer break and weekends?

Yes. BTI's NOC/SOC, delivered with a SOC 2 audited NOC/SOC partner, monitors around the clock, every day of the year.

Can you help with cyber insurance questionnaires?

Yes. We document MFA, endpoint protection, backups and training so you can answer insurer and risk pool questions with evidence.

Talk to a BTI Security Engineer

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