Built Around the People We Serve

At Pine Cove, everything we do starts with people. Schools are more than buildings and networks, they are communities built on trust, relationships, and a shared commitment to doing what is best for students. The technology behind them should support that, not get in the way.

Employee Spotlight: Mike Baldacci. Before working in technology, Mike was a fifth grade teacher. That experience still shapes how he supports districts today. He understands how much educators rely on technology and how quickly things can change when it is not working. As a Technical Account Manager, Mike partners closely with school leaders, helping them navigate both day-to-day challenges and long-term planning.

Phishing Is Getting Smarter. Attackers are now using trusted tools and layered links to make phishing attempts look legitimate even to trained users. Safe links can still redirect to malicious destinations. Multi-step URLs make detection harder for both users and filters. Attacks are increasingly designed to mimic everyday workflows. This is a good reminder that security can't rely on awareness alone, districts need layered protection and visibility into what's actually happening behind the scenes.

Collaboration Tools Are Becoming a New Entry Point. Microsoft Teams is now being used as a pathway for attackers to access user accounts and systems. Threat actors are hijacking accounts to send internal-looking messages, and users are more likely to trust messages inside familiar platforms. Once inside, attackers can move laterally across systems. We're seeing more of this across districts where collaboration tools are central to daily operations.

Support Tools Are Being Used Against Users. Live chat and support platforms are being abused to trick users into giving up access or credentials. Attackers pose as legitimate support representatives, and conversations feel real and often happen in trusted environments. Social engineering continues to be one of the most effective tactics. Technology alone won't stop this, clear processes, staff awareness, and strong identity controls all play a role.

Pathfinder 360 was built because technology strategy shouldn't live in a spreadsheet, it should reflect what's actually happening inside your district day to day. It brings infrastructure, security, budgets, and leadership priorities into one clear, long-term roadmap. Before we take the next step, we want to hear directly from you. Take the Pathfinder 360 survey at pinecc.com/field-survey.