K-12 Endpoint

The Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is expanding their grant funded initiative aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity posture of local units of government to include K-12 public school districts. DoIT is now able to provide CrowdStrike licenses at no cost to eligible districts through the State’s funds received from the federal State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. This program, managed by DoIT's Security Office, is designed to help you secure and protect your most critical infrastructure and services, with a particular focus on ransomware protection. While the long-term availability of funds is subject to the federal government’s continuation of this grant program, there is little downside to districts in taking advantage of this program in the short term.

Why is this program important? In today's evolving threat landscape, safeguarding your district's vital systems is a priority. While the number of licenses is currently limited, this program prioritizes the security of your most critical servers and essential services, ensuring a defense against sophisticated cyber threats. It will not cover all endpoints within a District's network at this time.

How to Participate: Districts interested in leveraging this resource should contact the DoIT Security Office’s Cyber Navigators team at DoIT.SLCGPinfo@illinois.gov. Your Cyber Navigator will guide you through the eligibility process and work with your staff to determine the number of licenses available to your district.

What Your District Receives:

• Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR):  EDR software will be deployed on your most critical systems, providing real-time threat detection and response capabilities.
• Exposure Management Support: Gain insights into existing security issues in your existing environment, helping you proactively address vulnerabilities.
• 24x7x365 Threat Monitoring: Continuous oversight by a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP).
• Live Support from DoIT Security Office’s Security Operations Center (SOC): Direct access to expert assistance when you need it.
• Proactive Threat Alerts: Receive timely notifications about threats targeting education environments.
• No Cost to the District: Subject to grant funding, this program is offered entirely free of charge to eligible districts.

What does DoIT Monitor vs Doesn't Monitor:

DoIT Security is committed to protecting your privacy. They collect only the system data necessary to detect and respond to threats. They do not access student records, personal communications, or instructional content.

DoIT specifically looks for:

• Malware and ransomware activity
• Unusual system behavior
• Threats targeting school networks and infrastructure
• Known vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in your environment

What to Expect:

• Easy Setup: DoIT Cyber Navigator teams will assist with deployment and help you prioritize which systems require the most protection.
• Low Noise: You will only be contacted when there is a genuine security concern.
• Rapid Response: Receive immediate support if a threat is detected.
• Real People: DoIT Security provides active assistance, not just automated alerts, to help you respond effectively.

Districts interested in leveraging this resource should contact the DoIT Security Office’s Cyber Navigators team at DoIT.SLCGPinfo@illinois.gov.