The work,
in our clients' words.
Notes from the school districts, municipalities, financial services firms, and startups we work with.
The work, in detail.
Full conversations with the leaders who commissioned the work.
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TALAS has done an amazing job helping us organize our cybersecurity program to align our systems and practices with industry standards. Their team brings years of corporate cybersecurity experience that doesn't always trickle down into K-12 education. They've brought a level of professionalism, structure, and accountability to our program that we simply wouldn't have had without them.
One of the biggest benefits for us has been having a partner who can take industry standards and best practices then help us apply them in a way that actually makes sense in a school district. Cybersecurity can become overwhelming very quickly, and TALAS has helped us turn it into an organized, manageable process where we know where we are, what our priorities are, and what we need to work on next.
We have been with TALAS for the past three years, and it has been amazing to watch them grow as a company. Through that growth, they have always put the customer first. They are extremely responsive, easy to communicate with, and willing to jump in when we need them.
It's also clear that the customer experience is one of their guiding principles. A great example is the amount of time and resources they have invested in developing their new customer-facing portal to organize all of the work we're doing together. Having our cybersecurity information, documentation, and progress organized in one place and easy to filter will be incredibly valuable.
I used to dread the email telling me that we were next in line for a state technology audit. I don't anymore. I know we have the documentation, processes, and systems in place to demonstrate the work we've been doing.
Since partnering with TALAS, we've experienced a few close calls with cyberattacks. One that stands out happened when we were one of the first districts in the state to identify an attack involving Calendar-o-matic.
We came in one morning to find six of our workstations quarantined by our EDR solution. We quickly discovered that an executable had been downloaded by several users, flagged, and identified as a threat. Fortunately, there was very little impact to our district because of the systems and protections we already had in place.
What impressed me just as much as the response within our own district was what happened next. TALAS was instrumental in working with our district and the local CNYRIC to share information about the event with other districts in the area and alert them to the threat.
That is where the value of the partnership really shows. TALAS brought experience from dealing with other cybersecurity incidents, helped us respond quickly, and facilitated threat-intelligence sharing that potentially helped other school districts avoid the same attack. Cybersecurity isn't something school districts can do effectively in isolation, and having TALAS as a partner gives us expertise and perspective that extends well beyond our own network.
Do it!
There are plenty of cybersecurity products you can buy, but having the products isn't the same as having a cybersecurity program. TALAS has helped us bring all of those pieces together into a structured program with a plan behind it.
For a K-12 technology leader, that's incredibly valuable. We have a lot of competing priorities and limited resources, and cybersecurity is too important to figure out as you go. TALAS gives us a trusted partner who understands both the technical side of cybersecurity and the realities of working in education.
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It has been a complete transformation for our company. With TALAS's help, we have moved from a basic set of tools that protected us against common vulnerabilities to a comprehensive cybersecurity program, with the processes, procedures, and policies to support it. That matters beyond our own walls: because we now operate to a far higher standard, our subsidiaries and partners are better protected in everything they do with us.
We are a small business, but that has never mattered to them. TALAS has given us a white-glove experience of the kind usually reserved for large enterprise accounts. They put their best talent at our disposal to walk us through the design of our program and to set up and configure all the tools needed to support it. They stay in constant communication and are always willing to help on short notice.
Very early in our relationship, we faced a situation where we needed to document and implement most of our data protection program in a very short time. When we reached out to TALAS for help, they made themselves available immediately and worked with us without pause until the task was complete.
Do not hesitate. If you do not have the in-house knowledge or expertise to build your cybersecurity program, I would recommend partnering with TALAS. They take the time to understand your needs and build you a roadmap that focuses on what matters most.
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The most meaningful impact has been the significant maturation of our cybersecurity program. TALAS has helped us move from a reactive approach to a more strategic and proactive cybersecurity posture. Through their guidance, expertise, and structured approach, we have strengthened our policies, improved our security awareness efforts, enhanced compliance initiatives, and developed a clearer roadmap for cybersecurity across the district. Their support has helped us build a stronger foundation to better protect our staff, students, and systems.
TALAS has been a true partner in every sense of the word. Their team is highly responsive, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Cybersecurity can be complex and overwhelming for K-12 organizations, but TALAS does an excellent job of breaking down challenges into manageable steps and helping us stay focused on what matters most. They keep us organized, accountable, and moving forward, while always remaining available when we need guidance or support.
What stands out most is not a single project, but the consistency of their support and leadership over time. Whether helping us navigate cybersecurity planning, compliance requirements, risk assessments, incident response preparation, or staff awareness initiatives, TALAS has provided a level of expertise that would be difficult for most school districts to maintain internally. Their ability to prioritize efforts and keep long-term initiatives on track has been invaluable.
I would tell any technology leader that TALAS brings tremendous value as an extension of your team. They provide the expertise, structure, and accountability needed to build and maintain an effective cybersecurity program. More importantly, they understand the unique challenges school districts face and tailor their approach accordingly. If you are looking for a trusted partner who will help move your cybersecurity program forward while keeping you organized and focused on the right priorities, I would highly recommend TALAS.
More from clients.
Shorter notes from across our work.
Working with TALAS was an exceptionally enlightening experience for our organization. From the outset, their professionalism and deep knowledge reassured us that we had made the right decision for our cybersecurity needs.
TALAS provided a comprehensive starting point by detailing our existing controls and identifying areas for improvement. Their tactical directives significantly reduced our risks and optimized our resources for future projects.
The timely and relevant assessment and report, coupled with their continuous support, enabled us to enhance our cybersecurity posture without disrupting daily operations. We highly recommend TALAS for their exceptional service and tailored solutions.
We contracted TALAS with the goal of improving our overall network security and with their help we were successful in that endeavor. Their process of discovery and investigation lead to valuable insights into the state of our cyber security infrastructure. As a result of the investigation process, we were provided an easy-to-read overview of our cyber security ecosystem and actionable goals that aligned to common security standards. With the roadmap, recommendations, and information provided by TALAS we had a simple roadmap to improve our cyber security.
Working with TALAS was very easy. Our questions were addressed thoroughly and promptly. Project management and scheduling kept everything moving forward and our deliverables were achieved on schedule. TALAS services were very flexible and able to address the specific needs of our organization. Overall, it was a successful and pleasant experience.
Working with TALAS has been a tremendously enlightening experience. From the beginning of the relationship with TALAS, the team's professionalism and knowledge made it clear we had made the right decision to contract for our cybersecurity needs. The weekly reports kept us informed on their progress without overwhelming our staff with meetings, it became apparent very quickly that TALAS understood our hectic workdays and they thankfully worked independently to secure the information they needed to provide the services of our agreement.
The final reports have proven to be filled with extremely valuable information. It was especially beneficial to find a number of recommendations were of little cost to the city and could be easily implemented. We also found that simply implementing those recommendations allowed the city access to a more favorable cybersecurity insurance plan while reducing our risk for an attack. This is a win win for us!
The cybersecurity risk and threat assessment performed by TALAS was professional, efficient and extremely thorough. I highly recommend TALAS to any company that is thinking about their cybersecurity future.
TALAS Security gave us a place to start by defining the big picture including detailed elements of existing Cybersecurity control. The service focused on learning and understanding our unique capability without affecting day to day obligations. TALAS immediately identified ineffective duplication of Cyber controls along with in-house no-cost tactical directives resulting in risk reduction allowing for an increase in available funds for future projects.
The information in the report along with 4 touch points over a calendar year has given us a much better leg to stand on as we begin to request defined policies and procedures as well as funding for security related assets.
Bottom Line, TALAS delivered a manageable and achievable list of directives tailored for our environment that have helped us measurably increase our cybersecurity posture in a cost effective and efficient way. The assessment and report were timely and relevant to our district and current trends in the cybersecurity threat landscape. Paul and Owahn spent their time researching, organizing, simplifying, and strengthening our Cybersecurity program and controls so we didn't need to shift our focus away from keeping our staff and students connected and learning.
As a former IT director and current superintendent whose school was hit with a cyber-attack that crippled my district for several months, cybersecurity is something I firmly believe is necessary for all schools. It is also something that as superintendent's we need to take an active role in understanding and supporting across our districts.
When a cybersecurity incident occurs, we are the ones dealing with boards, parents and angry community members demanding answers. Having an impartial outside group analyze your IT systems and protocols is a necessary step in ensuring your systems are in good order.
Over the last few months, I have worked with TALAS Security at my districts for a series of cybersecurity assessments and other services they offer. My IT Director and Data Protection Officer worked closely with Paul and Owahn from TALAS throughout this process.
Owahn and Paul made the process simple. They made complex cybersecurity concepts easy to understand which made larger discussions for the purposes of planning and budgeting much easier. Working with TALAS was a positive experience and would recommend them for my fellow educators.
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