Chicago Public Schools Cyber Security Upgrades & Disaster Planning

Level-1 delivered systemwide cybersecurity and disaster recovery upgrades for Chicago Public Schools, safeguarding data, learning, and operational continuity.

A school district the size of a city. With more than 600 sites and hundreds of thousands of students relying on digital tools to learn, communicate, and thrive, Chicago Public Schools operates a digital footprint as large and complex as many enterprise networks. It needed a strategic overhaul of its cybersecurity architecture, one built to defend instructional continuity, protect sensitive data, shield students from malicious online threats and ensure operational resilience at scale. 

Level-1 Global Solutions was selected as a trusted cybersecurity partner alongside IBOSS and Sentinel Technologies to deliver strategic, systemwide upgrades across CPS’s vast infrastructure. Our services included securing every network touchpoint, bolstering operational continuity, and laying the foundation for resilient, future-ready IT systems. 

We approached this challenge with a layered security strategy that blended real-time defense mechanisms, secure access policies, and advanced incident response frameworks. Our scope spanned threat detection, network architecture audits, vulnerability assessments, and disaster recovery planning tailored to CPS’s unique educational mission and IT landscape. 

What We Delivered 

• Managed security services including Firewall, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) 
• End-to-end cybersecurity architecture and secure remote access design 
• Attack simulations, penetration testing, and risk audits to uncover system vulnerabilities 
• Security policy design, wireless network hardening, and secure mobile access for staff devices 
• Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plans tailored to CPS’s operational dependencies 
• Long-term strategic advisory on IT modernization, compliance, and digital trust 

Through this engagement, Level-1 helped CPS evolve from reactive threat response to proactive risk management. Our integrated cybersecurity and continuity planning ensures that learning remains uninterrupted, even in the face of cyberattacks, system outages, or unforeseen disruptions. By aligning infrastructure protection with CPS’s mission, we’ve helped safeguard both student learning environment and public trust.