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Customer stories

Upgrading Student Data Security at a Major University

Industry

Higher Education

Employees

25,000+

Use Case

Sensitive Student Data in Cloud Environments

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The challenge

A large university, catering to over 25,000 students and 1,100 faculty members, faced escalating cybersecurity threats, a common predicament for institutions in the higher education sector.  

The shift to online and hybrid learning models had significantly extended the university’s IT infrastructure beyond its traditional network, exposing sensitive student data to new vulnerabilities. This data, encompassing everything from student account statements to academic records to financial reports, was also subject to strict regulations under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

In this modern environment, which included the university’s collaboration with external parties and the use of digital platforms for student records and academic activities, the university’s data was more accessible and therefore much more at risk of being compromised. 

 
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The solution

As soon as the university’s security team began engaging with Concentric AI, the solution connected to the university’s data stores, including SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Azure File Server, and conducted a comprehensive scan within a day.

Concentric AI provided a content-centric view of the university’s data, allowing the university’s security team to manage access based on data categories rather than storage locations. 

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Concentric AI’s granular and accurate data discovery and categorization capabilities were a revelation for the IT team.

The solution identified specific data types, such as FERPA-regulated student transcripts and financial aid applications, enabling precise access control.  

Concentric AI also introduced a permission analysis feature, helping the university in managing access in their Office 365 environment, where end-user sharing is pervasive. 

From the customer

"Discovering unused accounts with access to sensitive data was a wake-up call, and Concentric AI was instrumental in addressing these vulnerabilities. Today, we are in a much better place in protecting our students' privacy and maintaining the trust of our academic community."

Security Leader at a Major University

Results

With Concentric AI, the university achieved significant improvements in their data security management: 

 
01
Compliance efficiency:

With the solution’s autonomous categorization and risk identification streamlining the compliance processes, compliance with FERPA regulations improved by over 60%.

02
Operational effectiveness:

Time spent on data categorization and risk assessment was reduced by 75%, leading to a more efficient allocation of resources and allowing the security team to focus on strategic initiatives. 

03
Data management cost savings:

The university estimates they saved at least $2 million annually in potential non-compliance fines and reduced operational costs related to data security management. 

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