In December 2023, GreyCastle Security was acquired by DeepSeas. The experience GreyCastle had with universities and colleges was a natural complement to the integrated portfolio of cyber defense services that DeepSeas brings to its nearly 1,000 clients. In addition to a full suite of advisory, compliance, and testing services tailored to the unique needs of higher education, DeepSeas is recognized as a top 40 MDR provider by Gartner and a top 5 leader in the 2024 Frost Radar™: Global Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Market. DeepSeas is also the highest-ranked overall security services company.

Known for its programmatic approach to continuously transforming cyber defense programs, DeepSeas combines the data, scale, and automation from the DeepSeas Cyber Defense Platform with world-class analysts, engineers, and incident responders to ensure timely, relevant, and validated threat notifications. DeepSeas MDR+ is the first and only MDR solution that covers the entire converged attack surface, including OT, IT, cloud, and mobile environments for both midmarket organizations and enterprises. 

Start transforming your higher education cybersecurity program with DeepSeas.

• Get a quote for DeepSeas Managed Detection &Response: https://engage.deepseas.com/managed-detection-and-response
• Get an offensive security testing quote: https://engage.deepseas.com/deepseas-red
• Get a quote for DeepSeas CISO Advisory: https://engage.deepseas.com/ciso-advisory

Determining the investment needed for Fischer Identity’s Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution involves a thorough assessment of organizational requirements, infrastructure compatibility, and potential security risks. Start by outlining critical IAM needs, such as user access controls, lifecycle management, and scalability, which Fischer Identity is known to streamline. Evaluate factors like user volume, projected growth, and any integration with existing systems. With Fischer Identity’s advanced features, budgeting should also include the cost of ongoing support, training, and maintenance to maximize solution effectiveness. Finally, conducting a cost-benefit analysis and consulting Fischer Identity’s expert team ensures a tailored, efficient, and sustainable IAM investment, allowing organizations to strengthen their security and compliance stance.

First American Education Finance 

Specialty Financing for Higher Education 

The First American team is looking forward to connecting with HESS members this month at the HESS National Conference. Stop by our table to learn more about our capabilities and expertise in financing software and technology projects. 

First American Education Finance is a financial services company dedicated exclusively to serving Higher Education. For over 20 years, we’ve worked to develop custom financing solutions for more than 900 schools nationwide. 

Whether you’re looking to refresh your faculty and staff devices, or finance an ERP implementation, we can help customize a program to meet your needs. 

See you at the conference!

Vendors thrive when they can count on timely payments and clear communication. AP automation makes this possible, giving them the transparency and speed they need to feel valued and supported. With fewer delays and easier tracking, vendors are happier and more willing to strengthen their partnership. Want to know how AP automation can transform your vendor relationships? Read more on the Paymerang blog.

Moran Technology Consulting (Moran) has served as trusted advisors to over 350 higher education institutions, including providing Identity and Access Management (IAM) strategic consulting to over 100 colleges and universities.

IAM is not simply a technology challenge, it is a business opportunity. It is more than just “middleware” (better unseen, like plumbing).  An effective IAM program can be an agent for transformational change and continuous improvement, rather than a blocker or barrier to your most critical initiatives. An IAM program is a complex collection of people, processes, policies, and technology.  And a mature IAM program is critical to the digital transformation of every institution – enabling improved digital experience, greater administrative automation, reduced cybersecurity and compliance risks, and more.  To address these strategic objectives requires an IAM program that acknowledges that it is the people, policies, and business process behind the data that drives automation. To be effective, IAM program roadmaps must be aligned to academic and business priorities. Without business alignment, IAM will fail.

A mature IAM program should include:

• Executive awareness to sustain investment and reduce organizational barriers.
• Strategic alignment with the most critical needs of the institution.
• Cross-campus institutional collaboration.
• Process redesign to supports onboarding, offboarding, and access governance.

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment in rural areas all across America.

Louisiana has commenced accepting applications for their portion of $1.2 Billion broadband funding this program. A total of 33 providers, including major tier 1 carriers such as Charter, Brightspeed, Cox, Att, Comcast, and various smaller internet service providers, have been authorized to participate in this funding round. The deadline for applications is August 29.

Manual invoice processing poses significant challenges, including delays, errors, and increased costs. Our latest blog post explores how automation can streamline these processes, enhancing operational efficiency and financial health. Learn more about overcoming invoice management challenges with automation by reading this blog from Paymerang.

Representatives of HESS Consortium and Moran Technology Consulting (MTC) recently discussed how to effectively assess and improve business processes, in support of institutional system changes. While business process redesign is often seen as an activity to be done during system implementation, doing process work before implementation can yield many benefits.  Benefits to be gained from clear understanding of current state, pain points, short-term opportunities, policy impacts, and future state focus were shared in a recent webinar. 

Unlock the potential for private nonprofit higher education institutions to navigate financial challenges and foster resilience. Learn more about the transformative potential of automating Accounts Payable processes and how it can optimize efficiency, empower personnel, and ensure long-term financial health. Read the Paymerang blog for insights into strategic responses to financial pressures and the role automation plays in securing the future of educational institutions.

Fischer Identity is the leader in providing Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions tailored for higher education. With a proven track record spanning the most academic institutions in the IAM Industry, including numerous HESS members, Fischer Identity offers comprehensive solutions designed to tackle the unique IAM challenges of the higher education sector. What distinguishes Fischer Identity is its deep understanding of educational institutions’ needs and regulatory requirements. From seamless integration with existing systems to robust identity lifecycle management and compliance functionalities, Fischer Identity empowers universities to enhance security, streamline access control, and improve user experience while realizing faster time-to-value. Furthermore, Fischer Identity’s commitment to continuous innovation ensures its solutions remain cutting-edge, ready to meet evolving needs. With unparalleled expertise and unwavering dedication to customer success, Fischer Identity continues to lead in providing IAM solutions that empower and safeguard higher education institutions in the digital age.

Transform your institutional operations with our uniquely structured all-inclusive fixed fee solution, designed to bring modern efficiency to your doorstep.  This offer includes state-of-the-art integrated Oracle Cloud ERP, HCM, and Student applications and years of comprehensive support and implementation services. Enhance your journey with our cohort-based program, where collaborating with other institutions leads to enriched experiences and shared expertise. We understand the importance of financial flexibility, which is why we’ve created financial terms that align the application subscription with professional services.

Recently, in partnership with Drivestream and HESS, Moran Technology Consulting (MTC) invited HESS members to participate in an Organizational Change Readiness self-assessment. The results of the survey and ideas for how institutions can effectively manage the monumental organizational changes associated with transforming Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems were shared at a recent webinar. Check it out and be sure to reach out if you have any questions about managing organizational change while advancing technology transformative projects. 

D2L, a global learning technology company, today shared the ongoing roll out of its Generative AI beta program to help educators and content creators easily and quickly generate practice questions and quiz questions using existing course content – helping to reduce administrative workloads and encourage a greater focus on learner engagement.

D2L Brightspace Creator+ transforms education by providing educators with intuitive tools for streamlined course creation, fostering interactive learning experiences, and simplifying assessment processes. Without the need of 3rd party tools or coding expertise, Creator+ empowers educators to go beyond traditional methods, creating dynamic and engaging content that keeps students motivated. Explore how Maine Virtual Academy focused on building accessible, personalized learning for their diverse student population through Creator+ and how you can get started with building the future of education, teaching and learning.

According to a 2023 AFP Report, finance teams face challenges like lengthy invoice processing times and high exception rates. Automation addresses these issues by providing faster invoice processing, accelerated approvals, and real-time reporting, reducing the time spent on manual tasks. Additionally, digital document management eliminates the need for physical file searches, and quick and accurate reconciliation saves time and enhances accuracy. Embrace AP automation to streamline month-end close, turning your finance team into strategic advisors and eliminating the fear associated with this process. Read more on the Paymerang blog.