Case Study: Harris Federation protects 40,000 students and 5,000 staff with WithSecure Countercept MDR

Protecting 40,000 students and 5,000 staff from cyber attacks

The Harris Federation, a multi-academy trust supporting over 50 schools, faced a significant challenge after a debilitating ransomware attack disrupted its IT systems for weeks. Lacking a dedicated security team, they sought a strategic partner, not just a supplier, to help build their cyber resilience and protect 40,000 students and 5,000 staff. They turned to WithSecure and its Countercept Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service to gain expert support.

WithSecure provided a true partnership, offering more than just tools through its MDR service. This was demonstrated when their experts swiftly validated a critical false positive alert at night, preventing a major operational disruption to schooling. The solution was also made cost-effective for the education sector through a tailored pricing model. WithSecure’s expertise and responsive support have been vital in the Harris Federation’s mission to become resilient against attacks that could impact student outcomes.

Harris Federation

Jack Fowler

Cyber Scurity Specialist