As a result, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is actively reminding schools that the state’s membership in the MS-ISAC is available to them as part of whole-of-state paid dues. This continued access to key cybersecurity services comes after the MS-ISAC nationally shifted to a fee-based model.
Membership covers all state agencies, counties, cities, school districts and additional public entities in Kansas through September 2026. Whole-of-state coverage includes all existing MS-ISAC services, including threat intelligence, advisories, incident response support and security tools. Cybersecurity support is also available on a 24/7 basis.
MS-ISAC previously provided no-cost cyber support through federal funding for more than two decades, but when funding ended in September, the organization shifted to the new model. Membership dues are tiered, based on entity size, and they are also open to state, local, territorial and tribal governments.
Kansas is one state that has signed on to “provide an immediate runway to enhance security and collaboration across communities.” The KSDE website said the decision supports a broader statewide cybersecurity strategy established under the Kansas Cybersecurity Act and SB 291, which requires coordinated, repeatable capabilities and maturity across all state agencies by 2027.
The Kansas Information Security Office, which oversees statewide coordination of cybersecurity incidents, is managing the rollout. Public entities not currently enrolled in MS-ISAC are being encouraged to designate a point of contact and begin using the available services.
While the cost of the statewide membership was not disclosed, Kansas agencies that may have paid for individual MS-ISAC access can request refunds or credits directly from the organization.
