Established in 2019, the ECNO Security Solutions (ESS) service was created to assist K-12 School Boards in Ontario by enhancing their internal IT Security teams with agile access to additional cybersecurity knowledge, expertise, and leadership.
The program rapidly expanded as the need to safeguard information, mitigate risks, and stay updated on the latest security data and intelligence became increasingly complex. The unique challenges faced by Boards in supporting both teaching and administrative functions further fueled this growth. The ECNO Regional Information Security Analyst (RISA) quickly became an integral part of the participating Boards’ teams.
ESS services have continued to mature and evolve, a crucial mandate given the ever-growing complexity of the privacy and security landscape. To better meet these changing needs, the service transitioned in September 2024 from a regional support model, which consisted of five regions each with a dedicated RISA, to a more robust model designed to better serve the participating Boards.
Under the new structure, Boards are now connected with one of seven Information Security Officers (ISOs) based on their specific technology and infrastructure. Recognizing the unique expertise each ISO brings, ECNO is transitioning the team into more specialized roles, allowing them to be called upon as subject matter experts for any Board project.
In essence, instead of having access to a single expert under the RISA model, Boards now work with a designated ISO (Primary Contact), have access to leverage the collective expertise of the entire team as needed.
The ESS Team reviewed and updated its red teaming toolset, with a focus on ensuring their Penetration Testing (Pen Test) regime. Our ESS Pen Tests help Boards ensure they are meeting the ongoing requirements of their Auditors, OSBIE, etc.…
Boards can also call on the ESS Team to assist them with cyber incident tabletop exercises (for both IT teams and Administration). They are also available to provide Cybersecurity training and resources.
The ESS Team also continues to support the Ministry of Education’s Cyber Protection Strategy Team by participating in the Cyber Wellness and Cyber Rails Collaborative meetings and workshops. This involvement ensures the team remains fully updated, providing maximum value to ECNO’s participating Boards, while also sharing knowledge and insights with the broader education sector.