Threat actors are increasingly targeting the education sector and if they were to attack Paterson Public Schools, teaching would come to a halt, grading systems would be impacted and the children's data would be compromised. As a lot of the student information is for those under 18 with little to no credit history, Associate Chief Technology and Management Information System Officer, Mohammed Saleh underscores that the “databases are goldmines for the threat actors trying to exfiltrate the data." It is critical that the district's technological infrastructure is secure to prevent cyber incidents from disrupting this core educational purpose.
The collaboration with Unit 42 offered a powerful solution by providing third-party validation and expert cybersecurity guidance. By using Unit 42 Retainer credits toward an external penetration test and first responder training, the district gained invaluable insights and skills. Saleh described the training as "eye-opening" for his team and noted that the annual pentest shed a light on the “skeletons in the closet,” providing the buy-in needed for new multiyear security plans due to clear evidence of vulnerabilities. In addition, Saleh notes that having Cortex XDR® for endpoint protection alongside Unit 42 has allowed his team to amplify the tools they have and allow for a much quicker response to any issues.
Unit 42’s partnership has led to a significant increase in the district's confidence and cyber resilience. Saleh's trust in its ability to handle future incidents has more than doubled, and he now considers having Unit 42's Incident Response experts available 24/7 as "the most impactful thing" for his team. The proactive approach and the clear direction provided by Unit 42 allows Paterson Public Schools to focus on its primary mission: educating the next generation of leaders.
Securing Pre-K–12: A Tech Leader's Perspective
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