K-12 schools across the country have been victims of a rash of ransomware and DDoS attacks over the past several months. Many schools face the daunting challenge of finding the budget to pay for modern cybersecurity protection.
Thanks to a new program through the FCC, there just might be a way to mitigate that challenge.
Schools and libraries that meet E-Rate program eligibility can apply to participate in a recently announced pilot program to fund cybersecurity services and equipment.
The Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program will provide up to $200 million to selected participants over a three-year term to purchase a wide variety of cybersecurity services and equipment.
Modeled after the FCC’s Connected Care Pilot, the new pilot program will evaluate the effectiveness of using Universal Service funding to support cybersecurity services and equipment to protect school and library broadband networks and data in order to determine whether to fund them on a permanent basis.
Selected participants will be able to seek reimbursement for a wide variety of cybersecurity services and equipment, subject to an overall cap. Eligible services and equipment include: Advanced/Next Generation Firewalls; Endpoint Protection; Identity Protection and Authentication; and Monitoring, Detection, and Response. See a complete list of eligible services and equipment.
The FCC expects to open a pilot program application window this fall. Part one of the application will require applicants to provide general information about the institution’s experience with cybersecurity matters; whether it expects to implement best practices; and the school’s current or expected use of free or low-cost federal resources.
Applicants will also be required to provide goals and objectives; the services and equipment to be purchased (with associated costs); and the cybersecurity risks the proposed project will prevent or address.
FirstLight has a long history of helping institutions satisfy E-Rate funding requirements, and offers a portfolio of cybersecurity solutions including SASE, DRaaS, DNS protection, DDoS protection and mitigation, NextGen Firewall, and monitoring services. If interested in learning more, connect with a member of the FirstLight Team.
