A Simple, Affordable Layer of Defense for Missouri Schools and Public Sector Organizations
The Challenge: Cybersecurity for Lean Teams
As Missouri’s academic and public sector organizations adopt more cloud-based services, protecting data against advanced targeted threats has become exponentially more difficult. For K-12 school districts and libraries, this challenge is often compounded by limited IT staff and tight budgets — yet the need for robust, reliable cybersecurity has never been greater.
MOREnet members have access to a proven, cost-effective solution that addresses these exact challenges: Akamai Secure Internet Access (SIA), a cloud-based secure web gateway enabling users and devices to securely connect to the Internet wherever they happen to be, without the intricacy and management overheads associated with other legacy security solutions.
What is Akamai Secure Internet Access?
Akamai SIA is a cloud-based secure web gateway powered by real-time threat intelligence drawn from global insights into Internet and Domain Name System (DNS) traffic. Because DNS is the last layer of protection before traffic leaves your network and reaches the Internet, securing it is a uniquely high-value move — blocking threats before they ever establish a connection.
Akamai handles approximately 30% of global Internet traffic, giving it unmatched visibility into emerging threats. That scale translates directly into protection for MOREnet members, who benefit from:
- Up-to-the-minute threat intelligence
- Content filtering options to enforce acceptable use policies (AUPs)
- Protection for devices used off your network — including staff and student devices, regardless of where they connect
- Control over guest wi-fi and IoT devices
- Real-time dashboards for monitoring, reporting and logging
- End-to-end security for DNS traffic
A Missouri School District’s Experience with Akamai
A large Missouri school district integrated Akamai SIA into its security defense strategy and has realized firsthand how effective the right tool can be. The experience of Brad Jones, a school district employee, speaks directly to what many MOREnet members face.
For many organizations, the concern of a complex rollout keeps them from adopting stronger security tools. Akamai SIA through MOREnet removes that barrier entirely. According to Jones, the process is just three easy steps:
- Consultation: Contact MOREnet to review and approve member-exclusive pricing
- Enable Monitoring: Gain instant visibility into traffic and network threats
- Deploy: Apply security policies to protect users on and off the network
Jones appreciates the minimal setup required. There was no hardware hassle, and he didn’t have to touch the firewall.
“The documentation was superior, which made it easy to get up and running.” -Brad Jones, school district employee
Low Maintenance, High Value
Jones describes Akamai SIA as a set-it-and-monitor-it solution — one that doesn’t demand constant attention. This simplicity matters enormously for organizations that don’t have large IT departments. MOREnet support manages the onboarding process, and, once the system is deployed, it largely takes care of itself.
“The nice thing about this setup is that we don’t have to manage anything.” -Brad Jones, school district employee
For districts with one or two IT staff members covering everything from help desk tickets to infrastructure, that simplicity is a genuine competitive advantage. And for those who want MOREnet to manage it on their behalf, that option is available too.
Proven Protection — Including Against Active Attacks
This district’s adoption of Akamai wasn’t just proactive — it came at a time when they were actively battling distributed denial of service (DDoS) attempts. While Akamai’s ability to block newly registered domains did not solve the DDoS attacks, the district saw the value in the service as it operates similar to a Black Hole DNS Server (BHDNS).
During a demonstration, the district’s administrator showed how a malicious PDF slipped past their content filtering layer — until Akamai’s DNS inspection caught it immediately. That moment illustrated clearly why a layered defense matters.
“In an era where no virus scanner is perfect, Akamai provides an essential extra layer of protection that we needed. Some tools require a lot of manual effort, which is difficult for a ‘small army’. We pay a nominal amount for Akamai, and we’re done.”
Brad Jones, school district employee
Akamai isn’t meant to replace existing security tools — it’s designed to strengthen the overall stack by adding a powerful, cloud-based layer that works even when other controls fall short.
Key Benefits for Missouri Institutions
- Small and Mid-sized K-12 Districts: Easy set up and a MOREnet-managed option make this ideal for lean IT teams.
- Libraries: Affordable content filtering to fulfill E-Rate requirements and protect patron devices.
- Districts with BYOD or Off-Campus Devices: Client software extends protection to devices used anywhere — not just on the school network.
- Organizations Facing DDoS or Volumetric Threats: Block newly registered domains and scrub malicious traffic at the DNS layer before it hits your infrastructure.
- Any Organization Wanting Better Visibility: Real-time dashboards and logging give administrators a clear, unified view of network activity.
The MOREnet Advantage: Scalable Economics
The exclusive MOREnet member price structure is designed to be inclusive rather than restrictive. Unlike traditional “per-device” licensing that penalizes high-traffic environments, Akamai’s pricing model is:
- Based on Full-Time Staff (FTE): A predictable cost model that fits public sector budgets.
- Student and Patron Inclusion: Students and library patrons are protected at no additional charge.
How to Get Started
Getting Akamai Secure Internet Access deployed for your organization is straightforward. As a MOREnet member, you’re already eligible for the deeply-discounted, exclusive member pricing — and setup is handled with MOREnet support every step of the way. You can choose to manage your own instance or rely on the expertise of MOREnet to manage on your behalf.
“At such a low price per FTE you can’t afford not to add Akamai SIA as a layer of protection.” -Steve Oelrichs Cole Camp R-I
Questions? Email security@more.net
For pricing and ordering information, visit the pricing section of MyMOREnet.