Case Study: Achievement First achieves phishing-resistant, secure digital learning with Palo Alto Networks Security Operating Platform

Achievement First empowers scholars to learn in peace with intelligence-based network security

Achievement First, a nonprofit charter school network serving 36 schools, relies on Chromebooks and digital learning platforms to personalize student instruction. Facing a surge of phishing attacks and other sophisticated exploits that threatened to disrupt learning and expose private student and staff data, the organization needed greater visibility, precise control, and a scalable security solution beyond its legacy port‑based firewall.

Working with local partner Digital Back Office, Achievement First deployed the Palo Alto Networks Security Operating Platform—including Threat Prevention, URL Filtering (PAN‑DB), WildFire, GlobalProtect, SSL decryption, and PA appliances—to automatically detect and block malicious executables and phishing links, standardize rules across the network, and inspect encrypted traffic. The result: clearer, centralized visibility and consistent protection for on‑site and remote users, resolved bandwidth/traffic issues, and a security foundation that enables a Zero Trust posture while letting scholars and teachers focus on learning in peace.

Achievement First

Marques Stewart

Senior Director of Network/Cloud Infrastructure