Protecting E-Rate Funds with Abnormal Security: A Comprehensive Approach

In today's tech-driven world, schools and libraries are increasingly relying on technology to improve learning and communication. While this shift enhances educational opportunities, it also exposes organizations to greater cybersecurity risks. To address these challenges, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has introduced the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program to fund the addition of cybersecurity solutions.

The E-Rate program has long provided crucial funding to help schools and libraries access affordable telecommunications and internet services. This support has been instrumental in boosting digital learning. However, as K-12 institutions embrace more technology, they also face a rising tide of cyberattacks.

These attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with cybercriminals utilizing advanced tools like generative AI to craft their threats. Social engineering attacks, which exploit human vulnerabilities, are especially dangerous because they can bypass traditional security measures and disrupt essential services critical to faculty and students across the US. Common tactics such as executive impersonation, business email compromise (BEC), and credential phishing are being used to gain access to sensitive information in schools.

To help address these risks, the FCC launched the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, providing up to $200 million over three years. This initiative aims to help schools bolster their cybersecurity measures, safeguard student data, and minimize vulnerabilities across their networks.

Abnormal offers K-12 schools robust protection by utilizing AI to detect and prevent advanced email threats that often target educational institutions. The platform automatically identifies suspicious behavior, such as phishing attempts, impersonation attacks, and business email compromise (BEC), which are common tactics used by cybercriminals to exploit schools. By analyzing email content, patterns, and user behavior, Abnormal can flag unusual activity and prevent malicious emails from reaching staff and students. This proactive approach not only minimizes the risk of a successful cyberattack but also reduces the administrative burden on IT staff, allowing them to focus on maintaining a safe and secure learning environment.

But you don’t have to take our word for it, Virginia Beach City Public Schools has successfully used Abnormal to defend against advanced attacks.

“Prior to turning on Abnormal, attackers would create one Gmail address after another to impersonate familiar people—our superintendent, principals, and teachers. We couldn't do much about those attacks before. We have a Google Workspace instance that we use for students, so we couldn't block Gmail addresses. With Abnormal, it catches those impersonation emails automatically, so we don’t have to spend time responding to those threats manually."
— Shane Snedecor, Information Security Manager, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

By automatically identifying suspicious emails and blocking them, these schools have reduced the time spent on manual threat responses, allowing staff to focus on their educational responsibilities.

As cyber threats evolve, schools must adopt a proactive and multi-layered cybersecurity strategy. Abnormal provides an effective solution for protecting E-Rate-funded institutions, ensuring a secure learning environment for both students and staff. Its AI-powered platform adapts to new threats, offering unmatched protection against socially-engineered attacks, ransomware, phishing, and other advanced email threats.

Abnormal rapidly deploys in three clicks, requiring little to no effort from already overburdened IT teams. This API-focused deployment allows K-12 schools to instantly see value and protect at-risk faculty and students. Using AI, Abnormal makes daily operation and management simple and proactive.

By integrating Abnormal into your school’s cybersecurity framework, you can greatly reduce the risk of cyberattacks while protecting both your E-Rate funding and your students’ data.

For more information or to arrange a demonstration of Abnormal's AI-powered email security service, contact erate@abnormalsecurity.com.

Ready to see Abnormal in action? Schedule a demo today!