Case Study: Washington County Public Schools strengthens identity management and MFA with Data Networks

Washington County Public Schools - Customer Case Study

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), a public school district in western Maryland, needed to simplify user authentication across 11 applications used by staff and students while also meeting cybersecurity insurance requirements for multi-factor authentication (MFA). With a mix of Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), on-premises Active Directory, and Google authentication in place, WCPS struggled with inconsistent access management, difficult troubleshooting, and prior unsuccessful attempts to roll out cloud-based authentication and MFA. Data Networks helped assess the environment and plan the move to a more centralized identity strategy.

Data Networks implemented a cloud identity and access solution centered on Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), Microsoft Authenticator MFA, and the MyApps portal, while also assisting with migration of thousands of authentication records and improving group assignment automation. The rollout gave WCPS a single set of credentials for users, simplified administration, reduced support issues, and strengthened security. The district completed office migrations over summer break and then rolled out school by school, averaging one to two schools per day, with the result that WCPS now has fewer access problems and better compliance with its MFA policy.

Washington County Public Schools

Joseph Allen

Executive Director of Technology