After years of inconsistent IT support, Pingree School in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, sought stability.
As a college-preparatory day school serving Grades 9–12, Pingree’s mission is to empower students with courage, imagination, and resilience. But without reliable technology, that mission was at risk.
Referred through a local listserv, Pingree partnered with SecureWon to overcome persistent IT challenges. This resulted in a trusted, long-term relationship that brought resilience, security, and peace of mind to the school community. Let’s explore how.
The Challenge: When IT Support Falls Short
Pingree’s Director of Information Systems, Bob Ogden, knew something had to change. Within just 36 months, the school had already worked with two managed IT providers, neither of which met expectations. The key challenges included:
- Unreliable IT support: Faculty and students faced ongoing frustrations with service gaps and slow responses.
- Lack of cybersecurity focus: Sensitive school data wasn’t adequately protected under critical compliance requirements like FERPA and COPPA.
- No disaster recovery plan: Without a business continuity strategy, Pingree was exposed to the risk of ransomware, data loss, or extended downtime.
As Bob put it:
“Having a relationship with SecureWon and allowing them to monitor our servers is really helpful, and it eases my mind. I’ve got an expert behind us to make sure we are up and running pretty much 24/7!”
These challenges weren’t unique. In 2025, a survey found that fewer than half of schools offered structured AI training for teachers, highlighting a gap in technology preparedness. Pingree’s struggles reflected this wider trend.
The SecureWon Solution: Partnership First
Pingree’s search for a new IT partner ended when Bob connected with SecureWon through a referral from a fellow independent school chief technology officer (CTO).
From the very first conversations, it was clear SecureWon brought comprehensive business solutions alongside a partnership mindset. SecureWon focused on three critical areas of improvement:
- On-Site Helpdesk Support
Pingree needed a reliable presence on campus to handle the day-to-day IT challenges of students, teachers, and staff. SecureWon quickly embedded two expert technicians directly into the school environment.
- Both technicians had prior experience working in independent schools, meaning they understood the academic setting and the specific technology needs of education.
- They worked seamlessly as part of Pingree’s team, wearing the school badge and serving as “Pingree employees” from day one.
Even after the permanent IT hire was made, SecureWon’s technicians remained closely connected to Pingree, continuing to provide backup and expertise when needed.
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR)
Educational institutions cannot afford downtime. Exams, teaching schedules, and student records depend on 24/7 access to systems. SecureWon partnered with Kaseya (and their industry-leading Datto technology) to design a hybrid BCDR system that delivered resilience straight away:
- Hybrid protection: Local backups for fast recovery plus secure cloud backups stored in bi-coastal data centers.
- Ransomware protection: Immutable backups ensure data cannot be encrypted or destroyed by attackers.
- Compliance ready: Designed to align with FERPA and COPPA requirements, giving Pingree confidence in audits.
With this system in place, Pingree gained the assurance that they could recover quickly in the event of a disaster and keep operations running smoothly.
- Cybersecurity & SOC Monitoring
One of Pingree’s biggest frustrations with previous providers was their lack of cybersecurity depth. SecureWon, as a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), brought security to the forefront by:
- Deploying secure SIEM across Pingree’s firewalls, servers, and executive endpoints. This provided real-time visibility into network activity and potential threats.
- Offering a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) to continuously monitor alerts, identify anomalies, and neutralize risks before they escalate.
- SecureWon also delivered CISO-level strategy – advising Pingree’s leadership on long-term cybersecurity planning without the full-time salary costs.
This proactive, security-first approach gave Bob and his team peace of mind that their school’s data and infrastructure were protected at all times.
The Results: From Frustration to Confidence
The results of Pingree’s partnership with SecureWon were immediate and lasting:
- Immediate Support Solutions: Seamless helpdesk support minimized disruption, while expert technicians ensured reliable daily operations.
- Business Continuity & Security: Hybrid BCDR solution now guarantees business continuity, ransomware defense, and compliance with FERPA and COPPA.
- Enhanced Cybersecurity: Around-the-clock SOC monitoring brought proactive protection and regulatory peace of mind.
- Strategic Partnership Value: Beyond technology, SecureWon delivers proactive risk monitoring, consulting, and long-term planning aligned to Pingree’s goals.
Perhaps the most important result was confidence. Pingree’s leadership no longer worried about IT support failures, hidden risks, or compliance gaps. Instead, they gained a trusted partner invested in their long-term success.
Book a Consultation with Us
Pingree School’s case study shows how SecureWon delivers more than just IT services – we deliver business resilience. By embedding skilled support, implementing robust disaster recovery, and enhancing cybersecurity, we gave Pingree the peace of mind that their mission-critical operations were secure.
If your organization is facing similar IT challenges, from inconsistent support to gaps in continuity planning, SecureWon can help – check out the full case study for more.
Book a consultation with us today to discover how SecureWon’s IT support and business solutions can protect and empower your organization.
