Skip to Main Content
Case Study Security & Privacy

Implementing school security tools with a team of one

January 22, 2024 Erin Browner

Clever IDM revolutionizes school security by simplifying password management, reducing IT support tickets, and streamlining operations. This partnership empowers a K-12 leader in Wisconsin to efficiently implement changes, boost security, and confidently embrace broader technology initiatives.

4,000

Students & educators

19,000

Tasks automated

3

Months to implement

Team of one: Revamping security across district faculty

It’s no secret that stagnant password security in school systems creates vulnerability, risking cyber threats and unauthorized data access. Outdated practices, like weak or reused passwords, increase the risk of breaches, compromising student and staff confidentiality. Yet, for administrators like Zaire Thyben in Wisconsin, updating password practices proves daunting, especially when applying changes across the entire faculty of the Mequon-Thiensville School District. Here’s how he successfully revamped security with Clever’s partnership.

Ready to roll out security changes across your schools? Talk to a Clever IDM specialist.

The problem: Decades-old passwords pose security implications

Unaware of the risks, many teachers use the same password for decades, putting schools at a significant security risk. This issue arose with a teacher in the Mequon-Thiensville School District, who kept the same password for over 20 years.

Zaire, the Director of Information Technology, recognized the urgent need for better security practices but faced barriers in making changes. Managing the transition, selecting the right tool, and making sure it fit with the district’s existing Google setup felt overwhelming for Zaire, a mighty tech team of one. And on top of that, anticipating resistance from the faculty added to the project’s complexity.

The solution: Revolutionizing school security with seamless IDM rollout

Choosing Clever IDM (Identity Management) was pivotal for the district, offering a tool that not only improves security but also smoothly fits with their Google setup.

Partnering with Clever eased the transition for Zaire and his team. Clever IDM provided teachers with a single secure password for accessing various apps and their devices, enhancing security and encouraging educators to embrace change.

Implementing Clever IDM before the Back to School season automated over 900 account creations and made over 18,800 updates – streamlining more than 19,000 tasks during the busiest time of year.

Clever’s security solutions and steadfast support bolstered our confidence in district-wide tool rollouts.

Zaire Thyben
Director of Information Technology

The impact: Optimized educational operations

  • Reduced workload: Decrease in IT support tickets and Back to School chaos.
  • Enhanced automation: Exploring the benefits of a streamlined system with minimized room for errors and strengthened security measures.
  • Promoting efficiency: How the implementation positively influences educational operations and student data protection.
  • Long term benefits: Increased confidence for broad change management like new device rollouts.

Ready to roll out security changes across your schools? Talk to a Clever IDM specialist.

More to read

K-12 Administrator guide to evaluating edtech vendor security
Districts

January 12, 2024

K-12 Administrator guide to evaluating edtech vendor security

Discover key steps to select edtech vendors with a cybersecurity focus, bolstering your school's protection of student data. 

Layered security and LMS interoperability advancements announced at Clever CIO event
Districts

November 29, 2023

Layered security and LMS interoperability advancements announced at Clever CIO event

Product updates to Clever to support K-12 education technology leaders in planning, budgeting, and making decisions about educational technology.

Canva for Education partnership: Elevating classroom creativity together
Districts

October 12, 2023

Canva for Education partnership: Elevating classroom creativity together

Canva for Education, the leading classroom design and creation platform, is now integrated with Clever for rostering and single sign-on (SSO).

Subscribe to receive news and updates from Clever.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.