At many colleges and universities, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility—but not always a shared language. In decentralized environments, where IT operations span across schools, research centers, and administrative offices, coordinating incident response can feel like herding cats.

Our new guide, Enhancing Incident Response in Decentralized IT Environments, offers a practical roadmap for navigating that complexity. It explores how to build governance models, establish authority during crises, and foster the trust needed to turn distributed IT into a strength rather than a stumbling block.

One key concept explored in the guide is the “firefighter analogy”—a reminder that incident response is not about assigning blame, but about mobilizing specialized help to contain threats and limit damage. Just as calling the fire department isn't an admission of failure, involving the security team early should be viewed as a responsible act of protection. That framing, paired with proactive communication and shared exercises, can change the tone of cybersecurity conversations across campus.

From funding questions to containment authority, and from role-based training to post-incident learning, the guide offers tangible strategies designed for the unique structure of higher education.

You can download the full guide here.