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Greenwood Academies Trust
Greenwood Academies Trust partnered with Zensec to independently assess its cyber resilience, strengthen incident response capabilities and enhance organisational continuity planning across its 38-school trust.
Company
Greenwood Academies Trust
Industry
Education / Multi-Academy Trust
Location
United Kingdom
Company Overview
Greenwood Academies Trust is one of the UK's largest multi-academy trusts, supporting 38 schools, approximately 19,000 students and around 3,000 staff across a broad geographical area. The Trust is committed to providing high-quality education while safeguarding sensitive student, operational and financial data through a strong focus on organisational resilience and cyber security.
Project Description
Greenwood Academies Trust partnered with Zensec to independently assess its cyber resilience, validate its existing security controls and identify opportunities to strengthen incident response capabilities. Following a comprehensive Cyber Risk Assessment, Zensec worked alongside the Trust to implement 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) support, enhance cyber incident readiness and provide ongoing strategic guidance through its vCISO service. The partnership has since expanded to include business continuity planning, critical incident management and wider organisational resilience initiatives.
Project
Cyber resilience and strategic security assurance.
Project Specifics
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Cyber Risk Assessment
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24/7 SOC
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Incident response planning
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Virtual CISO (vCISO) support
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Business continuity planning
VIDEO
Watch the full case study
Chief Executive Wayne Norrie and Deputy Chief Executive, Graham Feek, discusses how partnering with Zensec helped Greenwood Academies Trust independently assess its cyber resilience, strengthen incident response capabilities and build greater confidence in its organisational continuity planning.
CHALLENGE
Independent assurance in an evolving threat landscape
Greenwood Academies Trust had already adopted a proactive approach to cyber security, operating with a strong focus on protecting sensitive student and organisational data.
However, the Trust wanted an independent perspective on its resilience strategy and assurance that its existing arrangements would withstand a real-world cyber incident. With increasing concerns around data security, particularly relating to student information, the Trust commissioned Zensec to conduct a comprehensive Cyber Risk Assessment alongside its existing managed service provider.
The assessment highlighted several areas requiring attention, including weaknesses within incident response processes and the speed at which the organisation could react to a cyber event.
SOLUTION
Transforming assurance into action
Following the Cyber Risk Assessment, Zensec worked closely with Greenwood Academies Trust to strengthen both technical and operational resilience.
This included the implementation of Zensec's 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) service, providing continuous monitoring, rapid incident response capabilities and direct support during potential cyber events.
Beyond technical security improvements, Zensec's virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) service became an integral part of the Trust's leadership and governance framework. Working alongside senior stakeholders, Zensec helped review and enhance business continuity arrangements, critical incident management plans and wider organisational resilience processes.
What began as a cyber security engagement evolved into a broader strategic partnership focused on improving operational resilience across the Trust.
"We understand with cyber security it's not a question of if it's going to happen, it's a question of when it's going to happen."
Wayne Norrie, Chief Executive, Greenwood Academies Trust
RESULT
Building confidence in cyber resilience
Through its partnership with Zensec, Greenwood Academies Trust gained:
- Independent validation of its cyber security posture
- Improved visibility of cyber risks and resilience gaps
- 24/7 security monitoring and incident response support
- Enhanced cyber incident response planning
- Stronger business continuity and critical incident management processes
- Ongoing strategic guidance through the vCISO function
- Greater confidence in the Trust's ability to respond to cyber events
The Trust now benefits from a more mature resilience framework, supported by a trusted partner that works closely with leadership teams to continually strengthen cyber and organisational resilience.
