Securing FAFSA Data: Comprehensive Datasets Requires a Comprehensive Cybersecurity-Compliant Solutions

Introduction

Just like FERPA and GLBA, colleges and universities hand-select Zscaler to protect sensitive student Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data. With built-in ZTNA, SWG, CASB, and DLP, Zscaler eliminates unauthorized access, securing student financial data against cyber threats. Zscaler’s real-time threat protection processes 150 billion transactions daily, detecting and neutralizing risks instantly. Aligning with NIST 800-171, Zscaler provides 99.999% availability, ensuring seamless, secure access for students and faculty. 

Instead of trusting users by default, Zscaler verifies every request dynamically based on identity, device posture, and business policies. With built-in Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Zscaler eliminates reliance on traditional VPNs, reducing attack surfaces and securing remote access. As institutions embrace the cloud, Zscaler delivers unmatched security and compliance—because protecting FAFSA data is not an option; it’s a necessity.

Zscaler enforces zero trust security to ensure FAFSA compliance by implementing least-privileged access, continuous authentication, and real-time threat prevention. Through Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), access is granted only after verifying user identity, device security posture, and contextual risk factors—ensuring that unauthorized users are blocked 100% of the time.

Key Zscaler Security Capabilities

Zscaler provides a comprehensive security stack that integrates multiple advanced security measures, including:

• Secure Web Gateway (SWG): Protects against web-based threats with real-time URL filtering, SSL inspection, and AI-driven threat detection.
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): Monitors and controls cloud applications to prevent shadow IT and data exfiltration.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Enforces policies to prevent unauthorized sharing of FAFSA and personally identifiable information (PII).
• Browser Isolation: Ensures web content is executed in a virtual environment, shielding endpoints from malware and phishing attacks.
• Zscaler Cloud Controller: Provides centralized policy management, enabling institutions to enforce granular access controls with 99.999% availability for continuous protection.
• Real-time Threat Protection: Leverages 150 billion daily transactions and 500 trillion daily signals to detect and neutralize malware, ransomware, and phishing attempts instantly.

Compliance and Regulatory Alignment

Zscaler aligns with NIST 800-171, FASFA requirements, and other federal regulations, ensuring that student data is securely managed. The platform’s continuous monitoring and automated policy enforcement provide higher education institutions with auditable security controls to meet compliance requirements seamlessly.

Achieving Scalability and Performance

Zscaler’s cloud-native approach ensures fast, scalable security that meets the growing demands of educational institutions. With 150+ global data centers, it delivers low-latency security enforcement, ensuring a fast and seamless user experience for students, faculty, and staff.

Take Action: Ensure Security and Compliance

As institutions transition to the cloud and remote learning, safeguarding student data is paramount. Secure access service edge (SASE) unifies ZTNA, SWG, CASB, and DLP, delivering comprehensive protection, seamless performance, and FAFSA compliance. Ensure secure access, prevent data breaches, and meet federal regulations with SASE.

Protect student data now. Contact us for a personalized demo and secure your institution’s digital future.