Beyond MFA: Protecting Education with Zero Trust Identity®

by SOFTwarfare Staff
Jul 15, 2025 10:11:50 AM

The bell rings, and students flood the hallways, accessing learning platforms, and collaborating online. In today’s interconnected educational landscape, these constant digital interactions make schools increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyber threats.

The alarming reality is that data breaches are no longer a rare occurrence in the education sector; they are a pervasive and growing threat. A recent report by the Center for Internet Security revealed a startling statistic: 82% of K-12 schools experienced a cyber incident between July 2023 and December 2024.

This highlights the widespread nature of the problem, with over 9,300 confirmed cyber incidents affecting an estimated 5,000 K-12 institutions during those 18 months. Schools are increasingly "prime targets for cybercriminals," not just for the data they hold, but also due to often lacking the dedicated information security teams and funding that corporations possess.

Traditional multi-factor authentication (MFA), once considered sufficient, now fails to prevent nearly half of all cyberattacks, including advanced phishing, Man-in-the-Middle (MITM), and push-based threats. While traditional MFA adds a layer of security, sophisticated attacks like phishing can trick users into revealing their credentials, and MITM attacks can intercept communications even with MFA in place. The fallout from these attacks extends far beyond just stolen data, leading to operational disruption, severe reputational damage, and significant financial repercussions.

For instance, the Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) breach resulted in lost school days and took roughly a year to fully restore networks, costing over $9.6 million to recover. Schools manage a vast amount of sensitive information—from student records and financial details to staff data and intellectual property—making them attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking data for identity theft, fraud, or other malicious purposes.

At SOFTwarfare, we recognize the critical need to protect educational environments across the nation. Our Zero Trust Identity® platform is specifically designed to deliver continuous, risk-based, and policy-driven MFA. Operating on the principle of 'never trust, always verify,' it ensures that every user, device, and application is authenticated and authorized before granting access, regardless of their location. This robust security is adaptable to the diverse needs of K-12 and higher education institutions nationwide.

How Zero Trust Identity® Empowers Schools:

  • Adaptive, Passwordless MFA for Everyone: Our platform provides intuitive, passwordless authentication through biometrics, hardware tokens, or user-friendly on-screen options. It dynamically adjusts security based on real-time context, effectively protecting users—from young students to administrators—without requiring personal devices.
  • Simplified, Seamless Security: Zero Trust Identity® ensures enhanced security doesn’t mean increased friction. With continuous verification embedded throughout each session, schools gain unparalleled identity security without compromising user experience.
  • Robust Integration with Core Systems: Our PangaeAPI™ Identity Integration Platform-as-a-Service (IPaaS) isn't just a technical marvel; it's the engine that securely connects our platform to your essential education systems like Skyward, Clever, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Suite. This seamless integration provides vital protection against supply-chain attacks and significantly reduces the burden on your IT team.
  • Universal Device Compatibility: Whether schools utilize iOS, Chrome OS, or Windows 11 devices, our solution provides consistent, comprehensive security across all operating systems.
  • Automated Identity Threat Response (iDXDR™): Our intelligent system instantly identifies, isolates, and neutralizes identity-related threats, significantly enhancing overall cybersecurity and often reducing response times.

Want to learn more?

Check out our Zero Trust Identity® for Education overview sheet for more details!

Investing in Future Cybersecurity Talent

Beyond providing cutting-edge security, we believe in a holistic approach to securing digital education, which includes fostering the talent that will protect it in the future. At SOFTwarfare, we actively partner with local communities and educational institutions to inspire and train students for careers in cybersecurity.

Recently, we successfully co-hosted a cyber camp in Great Bend, Kansas, alongside EnterpriseKC and Barton Community College. Students experienced hands-on cybersecurity activities—working with cipher disks, solving “Pringles Enigmas,” and practicing Morse code with microbits. These engaging experiences ignite students’ interest in cybersecurity, creating clear pathways into a field experiencing immense demand.

The need for skilled cybersecurity professionals continues to grow rapidly. Through innovative technology and proactive community initiatives, SOFTwarfare is committed to protecting schools nationwide and developing a robust cybersecurity workforce for the future.

SOFTwarfare is an American-owned and operated cybersecurity software manufacturer, delivering high-security authentication and passwordless solutions to commercial, private, and public institutions, including critical infrastructure and branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Ready to transform your school's cybersecurity posture and safeguard your students' digital future? To learn how Zero Trust Identity® can secure your educational institution, visit softwarfare.com/startnow or contact us directly for a personalized consultation.

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October 9, 2025
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SOFTwarfare Names Chris Greco as COO to Accelerate Global Growth

October 9, 2025
SOFTwarfare®, the American-owned cybersecurity innovator, today announced the appointment of Chris Greco as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Greco joins the executive team to scale global operations and dramatically expand the company's delivery of next-generation identity security to both the public and private sectors.  Greco's appointment comes at a pivotal moment, as identity-based attacks now fuel over 80% of all data breaches. Enterprises and national security agencies are urgently moving to replace vulnerable passwords and legacy Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) with solutions that provide superior, phishing-resistant security. SOFTwarfare is aggressively positioned in this market, offering a comprehensive, modern replacement for outdated systems, while enhancing the security and supplementing the capabilities of leading hyper-scalers and enterprise vendors with its patented technology. Scaling Defense-Grade Security from the Boardroom to the Battlefield "This is a defining moment for SOFTwarfare. Our rapid growth is proof that the market is ready to stop patching legacy security and adopt a true Zero Trust Identity framework," said Wyatt Cobb, CEO of SOFTwarfare. "Chris brings the rare mix of operational discipline, strategic foresight, and cultural leadership we need to scale into a global market leader. His enterprise experience is instrumental as we deliver next-generation capabilities to our customers." SOFTwarfare's customer base includes major clients across critical infrastructure and national security, such as leading Defense Primes, innovators in Bioscience and Enterprise Healthcare, and major, non-disclosed contracts with top-tier agencies in the U.S. government. -including both maritime and land-based forces. The company also counts a major, highly-regarded non-profit research institute. -a recognized pioneer in deep-tech and enterprise innovation - among its rapidly growing customer portfolio. "I'm honored to join SOFTwarfare at this critical inflection point. Our mission is clear: deliver effortless, defense-grade security to every organization that needs it, from the private sector to the Pentagon," said Greco. "We are committed to securing every user, device, and application, replacing vulnerable static credentials and ensuring only verified identities have access to critical systems. SOFTwarfare's patented Zero Trust Identity® platform provides the frictionless, phishing-resistant security that is becoming a global requirement for both human and machine access to networks large and small". A Proven Leader to Drive Operational Excellence Greco brings a distinguished track record of leading high-growth transformations across Fortune 500s, venture-backed SaaS, and national security environments. He has a proven talent for architecting dramatic growth, having successfully scaled Location Labs through rapid expansion to a $220 million strategic acquisition and later tripling growth at Storewise, culminating in a 6x multiple exit to private equity. This expertise is built upon a foundation of senior leadership roles driving global expansion at cybersecurity and technology giants like Symantec, Avast, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Beyond his corporate achievements, Greco is a recognized thought leader on organizational resilience, authoring the Maxy Award-winning book 8 Steps to Overcoming Adversity and creating the acclaimed Sigma Operating Model™, a framework for building high-performance teams. Greco's deep enterprise experience and operational rigor will be key in enabling SOFTwarfare to serve its rapidly expanding customer base with next-generation identity and access solutions. About SOFTwarfare®: SOFTwarfare® is the American-owned leader in AI-powered Identity solutions for Zero Trust. Its patented Zero Trust Identity® platform replaces legacy MFA, delivering phishing-resistant, passwordless authentication, enabling humans and machines to access critical systems securely.