School districts across the country are working with cloud service providers like Microsoft to bring their operations into the digital age. As a matter of fact, 9 in 10 schools are using either Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or a combination of the two.
However, with this transformation also comes substantial cybersecurity risk. Read on to find out why your district needs to protect Microsoft 365, the power of a cloud access security broker (CASB), and what to look for in the right solution.
Long gone are the days when classrooms were filled with chalkboards and filing cabinets. Now, as K-12 school systems evolve into the digital age, the modern learning environment is littered with smartboards, personal devices, and digital information systems. And, with the advent of cloud computing, you may not even need a classroom at all.
That was exactly the case — at least temporarily — during the COVID-19 pandemic. By no surprise, most schools adopted cloud services at a rapid pace to accommodate remote learning. But, even after students returned to the classroom, cloud applications remained a staple of the modern education system. From learning tools to data centers and everything in between, districts were working with more cloud service providers than ever before.
The only problem? With a sprawling cloud app catalog to account for, a swarm of threat vectors emerged out of the woodwork. To make matters worse, few schools were prepared to mitigate cloud threats with adequate data protection. In fact, fewer than 20% of cybersecurity budgets allocated any resources to cloud security — a daunting and significant vulnerability.
The bottom line: Without cloud application security policies, it’s only a matter of time before hackers get ahold of your sensitive data. Threat protection is no longer optional, especially given the volume and complexity of school-related cyber attacks. In truth, there’s an ever-growing list of threat vectors targeting student information, but here’s a peak at the most prominent:
For more information, check out our guide to the top data security risks impacting K-12.
CASB stands for cloud access security broker. According to Gartner, CASBs are essentially enforcement points for facilitating on-premises or cloud-based security policies.
In other words, they’re checkpoints that users must pass through before accessing cloud application resources. CASBs may enforce a wide array of threat protection strategies, including multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, encryption, malware detection, data loss prevention, and more.
As cloud threats become more common and sophisticated, many schools are looking for new application security tools to level the playing field. That’s where a cloud access security broker can pay dividends. Broadly speaking, CASBs support threat detection by enhancing visibility and simplifying risk management from start to finish.
This normally works using a three-part process:
CASBs are built on four cornerstones. Each pillar represents a foundational capability that all CASB solutions should provide. These include:
When we say “Microsoft CASB,” we’re referring to the cloud access security broker that’s built into Microsoft Office. If your school district uses Microsoft Office 365, you likely already have it installed.
In truth, there are many different Microsoft security tools available to Microsoft Office customers. The company’s CASB solution, however, is known as Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps.
Specifically, Microsoft Defender is a CASB that operates on multiple cloud domains. That means it works for both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 app security.
Generally, this platform provides every capability you need from a Microsoft CASB solution. Not only does it enhance visibility, but it also helps you strengthen data protection for all your Office applications. For instance, you can immediately uncover sensitive data contained in Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Edge, and OneDrive. With additional threat intelligence, you can investigate discovered apps and take measures to remove them from your domain.
However, there are some notable drawbacks for education customers. Most notably, cost is a significant factor for school districts. Users can only leverage the true power of Microsoft Defender by paying for a Microsoft 365 E5 license — the most expensive tier available. At $57 per user every month, this is unrealistic for most districts with tight budgets.
Also, many school IT administrators find the Microsoft Defender console to be too complex. The interface can be difficult to set up, manage, and maintain. If the user experience is too burdensome, schools may not use a CASB at all — meaning cloud security falls by the wayside.
Given the drawbacks listed above, you may be wondering whether there’s a third-party alternative. The good news? There are plenty. Plus, choosing the right third-party solution can even put you at a serious advantage:
We’ve established that a third-party CASB is often a great alternative to Microsoft’s native tools. But how do you start your search?
No two platforms are made the same, so it’s key to keep a few items in mind. Here are the top considerations you should factor in when selecting a CASB vendor:
Fortunately, you don’t have to look far and wide for the right cloud access security broker. At ManagedMethods, we offer a solution that’s natively built into Microsoft 365 using a robust API architecture.
Our Cloud Monitor platform is a CASB solution made specifically for K-12. Not only is it affordable, it’s also made to simplify and streamline cloud security no matter your level of expertise. And the best part? You don’t have to wait and see if it’ll work until after you purchase. We’ll let you test it out and witness the power of its automated capabilities for real.
Ready to get started? Request your free trial today.