Before You Buy Another Cybersecurity Tool, Do This

As more K–12 schools and libraries receive access to new cybersecurity funding through FCC grants, a key question arises: How do you make the most of it?
The opportunity is real—and much needed. But despite growing investment in cybersecurity, education remains one of the most targeted and breached sectors. Why? Because the industry, as a whole, continues to buy more tools, but not always build better defenses.

We understand how this happens. Grant programs often prioritize specific solutions—endpoint protection, firewalls, MDR, and more—which can push decision-makers toward checking boxes rather than building long-term resilience. Add to that the urgency of compliance and limited staff capacity, and it’s easy to see why most cybersecurity programs become reactive by default.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you're mid-selection or just starting your Form 470, here are three things you can do to make smarter, more sustainable cybersecurity investments.

Step 1: Define the problem

Before you choose a cybersecurity product, ask: What specific challenge are we solving?

This may sound simple, but in our work with schools and libraries, we often see teams react to a vendor’s pitch or the latest news story instead of anchoring their decision in their unique environment. The result? Solutions purchased in response to symptoms—not causes.

For example, are you trying to reduce incident response times? Get visibility into Shadow IT and third-party apps? Strengthen MFA adoption across staff and students? Or better protect sensitive student and faculty data? Each of these challenges requires a different strategy—and not every tool will get you there.

How UncommonX can help:
We work alongside your team to assess the current state of your environment—from asset visibility to risk prioritization. We provide a clear picture of where gaps actually exist and what’s already working well. That means you can define your problems with clarity, and choose tools (or use the ones you already have) to meet them.

Step 2: Optimize what you already have

In many schools and libraries, security tools are already in place—but underutilized. In fact, we’ve found that most organizations only use 40–60% of their current tools’ capabilities.

Before adding something new, take inventory:

• Are multiple tools doing the same job?
• Are configurations aligned with current threats?
• Are features unused due to lack of training, support, or time?

This isn’t a critique—it’s a reflection of how complex cybersecurity has become. IT and security leaders are juggling many priorities. Our job is to help bring clarity and focus.

How UncommonX can help:
We assess your existing tech stack, identify overlapping tools, and uncover inactive or unnecessary products. Many of our K–12 customers have saved 10–30% just by optimizing what they already had—freeing up budget without compromising protection.

Step 3: Align investment with outcomes—not features

When grant programs outline “eligible services,” it’s natural to start matching solutions to those categories—like firewall and endpoint protection. But focusing only on the product category can unintentionally shift the conversation away from what matters most: reducing risk and protecting your district’s most sensitive data.

But effective cybersecurity isn’t just about having the right tools—it's about using them to achieve real outcomes: fewer incidents, faster response, greater visibility, and ultimately, peace of mind. We encourage schools to shift from thinking, “Do we have this type of tool?” to asking, “Is this tool helping us reduce risk in a measurable way?”

How UncommonX can help:
We help schools align their investments with security outcomes, not acronyms. We work across your entire tech stack, not just brand-specific products, to help you get more from what you have and what you need.

Why more schools are considering exposure management

The three steps we’ve outlined—defining the problem, optimizing existing tools, and aligning purchases with real outcomes—are all about building a smarter, more resilient cybersecurity foundation.

At UncommonX, we help schools and libraries take that next step forward through a proactive approach called Exposure Management. It’s a proactive cybersecurity strategy designed to answer one big question: “Where are we most at risk right now?”

Instead of reacting to every alert or threat, exposure management helps schools understand and prioritize the most critical risks across their entire environment. At UncommonX, we do this through five core building blocks:

1. Priority – Know which assets matter most to your operations and why.
2. Vulnerability – Identify real weaknesses—not just scan results.
3. Profile – Understand how your systems are behaving and spot anomalies early.
4. Telemetry – Detect risky communications or connections in real time.
5. Controls – Verify that protections (like firewalls or access restrictions) are in place and functioning.

Together, these components give schools and libraries complete visibility into their digital environment, so you’re not just managing alerts—you’re actively reducing exposure. It’s a smarter, more sustainable foundation for cybersecurity. And it’s one that makes every dollar you spend go further.

Can MDR provide this long-term resilience?

Many grant programs include Managed Detection and Response (MDR) as an approved cybersecurity service—and with good reason. It provides continuous monitoring, alert triage, and rapid threat detection. But not all MDR is created equal, even though both are eligible for FCC grant funding.

Final thought: build for resilience, not just compliance

FCC grants present an important opportunity to strengthen your school or library’s cybersecurity posture—but how you approach your next investment will make all the difference.

Start by understanding what you need to protect, where your risks are, and how your current tools are performing. From there, you can make smarter, more confident decisions that not only meet today’s requirements—but support long-term resilience.

At UncommonX, we help K–12 schools and libraries:

• Understand and prioritize risk
• Optimize the tools they already have
• Make the most of new funding with solutions that reduce risk, not just add alerts

Before you buy another cybersecurity tool, let’s talk. We’ll help you get the most out of your current tools, your upcoming funding—and your time. Contact us today for more information.