Case Study

K12 SIEM Solution

Overcoming Barriers to Success

The Challenge

A K12 school needed better visibility into its network through a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solution but wanted to avoid the high costs of hiring internal security analysts or outsourcing to expensive third-party providers. The school also aimed to avoid the licensing fees that often come with traditional SIEM tools, while still ensuring the system could be customized and maintained easily.

The school’s primary goals were to protect its infrastructure, safeguard sensitive student and staff data, and maintain uninterrupted educational operations—all without going over budget. Ultimately, they wanted to enhance security and improve network transparency to benefit the school’s community and support its educational mission.

Action Plan for Success

Goals

  • Improve network visibility and security.
  • Protect student and staff data from potential threats.
  • Avoid high licensing fees for SIEM solutions.
  • Ensure the solution is easy to customize and maintain.

Identifying Key Dependencies

Needs

  • A user-friendly interface that existing IT staff can manage.
  • Seamless integration with current systems and infrastructure.
  • Regular maintenance and updates to keep the system secure.
  • A cost-effective solution that doesn’t require additional staff or expensive outsourcing.

The Solution

After auditing the school’s internal network and servers, we gained a clear understanding of their monitoring and logging needs. We made strategic recommendations to improve logging and security monitoring, focusing on better alerting and tailored threat detection for malicious activity.

We also conducted a detailed threat analysis audit, identifying the most common attack methods and risks to the school’s network. Using these insights, our team recommended an open-source SIEM solution. This solution offered easy customization, no licensing fees, and room for future growth. It met all the school’s needs and allowed them to enhance security and network visibility without increasing costs.

Step-by-Step Execution

Actions We Took

  1. External Setup:
    • Installed an open-source SIEM with network nodes between segments to capture traffic.
    • Configured the system to log and store data for a set time with precise rules to boost performance.
    • Provided a tool for the IT department that eliminated licensing fees and included free or low-cost training sessions.
  2. Internal Setup:
    • Set up the system so the IT team could monitor and respond to suspicious activity efficiently.
    • Delivered tailored training and support to help the team manage the system independently.
    • Ensured the system was easy to use and customize to fit the school’s needs.
    • Created a roadmap for future system expansions as the school’s needs grow.
  3. Community and Support:
    • Established channels for the IT team to connect with other users, share best practices, and troubleshoot collaboratively.
    • Provided access to documentation and community resources to support ongoing learning and system improvement.
  4. Cost-Effectiveness:
    • Delivered a solution with no licensing fees to reduce costs.
    • Provided access to affordable training to help the IT team manage the system efficiently.
    • Built a sustainable model for long-term network security without significant additional expenses.

The Results

We successfully gave the school better visibility into its network while staying within the budget limits of the K12 public sector. With this solution, the school can now monitor its systems continuously and proactively address potential threats.

The K12 client was able to shift its focus from worrying about network security to supporting its core educational mission. With a secure and well-monitored network, the IT team can use their resources more effectively, ensuring a safe and productive environment for students and staff. This proactive solution not only met the school’s immediate needs but also created a strong foundation for long-term network security and stability.