A Modern Challenge for Modern Campuses
Within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), universities like Kutztown have built strong, thoughtful security programs over the years. Their teams understand their environments deeply, know the rhythm of the academic calendar, and are committed to protecting students, faculty, and research.
But even well‑run programs face a common constraint: time.
Kutztown’s IT security staff weren’t struggling because their defenses were weak — they were struggling because higher education never sleeps, and cyber threats don’t either. The team managed identity, email, endpoint, MFA, patching, and the entire Microsoft 365 ecosystem. But focusing on alerts, triaging incidents, and maintaining 24/7 coverage while also advancing long‑term strategy simply wasn’t feasible.
As one Kutztown leader noted during their session:
“Most of us in PASSHE have solid programs. What we don’t have is the staff to put all our focus on alerts and incidents — or to provide 24/7 operations.”
This wasn’t a crisis. It was a crossroads — the moment to evolve from “handling everything internally” to embracing a partnership model that would amplify what campuses were already doing well.
Choosing a Partner: Why Forsyte Felt Like the Right Fit
When Kutztown evaluated options for expanding their security capabilities, Forsyte stood out — not because of fear, but because of alignment.
Kutztown was already deeply invested in Microsoft 365. They used the tools every day, understood their value, and wanted to get more out of them. They weren’t looking to replace their tech stack; they were looking for a partner who lived and breathed it.
During conversations with Forsyte, Kutztown heard exactly what they needed:
- A team fluent in Defender, Entra ID, Sentinel, and the entire Microsoft security ecosystem
- An approach focused on increasing secure score and maximizing existing licensing
- A willingness to handle the 24/7 SOC duties, so internal staff could focus on threat hunting and strategic initiatives
- Access to knowledgeable security engineers who could guide, advise, and collaborate
One Kutztown participant summarized it simply:
“We chose Forsyte because they work in the tools we already use. They understand Microsoft, they understand higher ed, and they help us get better with what we have.”
That alignment became the foundation of a strong partnership — one built on trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
Guardian 365 in Action at Kutztown
Forsyte deployed Guardian 365, a Microsoft MXDR‑verified service, to enhance what Kutztown was already doing well.
The experience was not “rip and replace.” It was additive.
Microsoft Defender + Sentinel + Entra, working together
Kutztown’s existing Microsoft stack became more powerful through Forsyte’s architecture:
- Defender signals flowed into Sentinel for richer correlation
- Sentinel analytics provided early detection and automated response
- Identity protections in Entra ID strengthened Zero Trust controls
- Secure score improvements became measurable and guided
This created what one PASSHE leader described as:
“A security program that doesn’t just protect one campus — it scales across the whole system.”
A SOC that amplifies campus expertise
Guardian 365 provided the round‑the‑clock monitoring Kutztown couldn’t staff internally. But Forsyte didn’t just monitor — they partnered.
They worked side‑by‑side with Kutztown’s team, enabling them to focus on deeper threat hunting, long‑term planning, and strategic improvements.
As one Kutztown engineer shared:
“Offloading SOC duties didn’t weaken our program. It strengthened it. We finally had time to focus on what only we can do.”
A portal built for the way PASSHE works
Throughout their sessions, Kutztown emphasized the need for accessible, meaningful reporting:
“We want dashboards that speak to both engineers and executives.”
Forsyte responded by evolving the Guardian portal — improving trend visibility, campus‑level detail, and leadership‑level summaries.
The Power of Statewide Partnership
One of the most forward‑looking outcomes wasn’t about technology at all — it was about community.
Kutztown recognized that PASSHE schools face similar threats, similar user behaviors, similar academic cycles. What affects one campus often affects another.
This sparked a bigger vision:
“What we learn from protecting one university can be used to protect the others.”
With Forsyte positioned across the system, the potential benefits became clear:
- Shared IOCs when new threats emerge
- Shared best practices for raising secure score
- Shared approaches to configuration, identity governance, and incident response
- Faster, more coordinated defense across campuses
- Economies of scale in expertise, knowledge, and operational insight
This statewide partnership is still evolving — but the foundation is strong. Kutztown sees Forsyte not just as a vendor, but as an invested collaborator who understands the unique rhythms and pressures of higher education.
“Forsyte has been invested in our environment. We value that. And at the PASSHE level, the real potential lies in what we can all do together.”
Lessons Learned for Higher Education Leaders
- Strengthdoesn’tmean doing everything alone.
Kutztown’s experience shows that mature security programs can benefit from strategic outsourcing, especially for 24/7 operations.
- Maximize the stack you already own.
The strongest gains came from improving secure score and tightening Microsoft 365 controls — not buying more tools.
- Collaboration is a force multiplier.
PASSHE’s shared environment creates immense value when insights, alerts, and solutions travel across campuses.
- Reporting matters more than anyone admits.
Dashboards that speak to both engineers and executives drive alignment, trust, and funding.
- A partner’s mindset matters.
Kutztown emphasizes that Forsyte didn’t treat them like a client — they treated them like collaborators.
Conclusion
Kutztown’s partnership with Forsyte and Microsoft wasn’t about plugging holes or fixing deficiencies. It was about leveling up — taking an already strong security program and giving it more reach, more expertise, and more potential.
It was about evolving beyond individual campus efforts into a system‑wide cybersecurity community, where what one university learns strengthens the others.
And it was about recognizing that in higher education, where threats evolve daily and resources are finite, the smartest path forward is one built on shared knowledge, shared defense, and shared purpose.
