Quad9 and KanREN Partner to Strengthen Cybersecurity in Educational Networks

Protecting Educational Institutions from Rising Cyber Threats with Quad9

Quad9, a leading global DNS security provider, has announced a strategic partnership with KanREN, the pioneering research and education network serving Kansas’s institutions, to enhance cybersecurity protections for students, faculty, and researchers. This collaboration will bring Quad9’s robust threat-blocking DNS service to KanREN’s network, safeguarding educational institutions from cyber threats and malicious attacks.

As cyberattacks on educational institutions continue to rise, it is essential for schools, colleges, and universities to have strong security measures in place. Quad9’s threat intelligence-driven DNS filtering prevents access to known malicious domains, offering an extra layer of security without compromising user privacy. By integrating Quad9 into KanREN’s infrastructure, the partnership will empower educational institutions with state-of-the-art security solutions that proactively protect against phishing, malware, and other cyber threats.

“This partnership underscores our commitment to securing the education sector against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats,” said John Todd, Chief Technology Officer at Quad9. “By working with KanREN, we are expanding our ability to provide cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to schools and universities, ensuring a safer digital learning environment.”

KanREN, which has been serving Kansas’s research and education community for more than 30 years, is dedicated to providing high-quality, innovative network services. The collaboration with Quad9 aligns with KanREN’s mission to enhance network security and resilience for its member institutions.

“KanREN has always sought to enable responsible, secure research networking. Hosting a Quad9 node for the US Great Plains region made sense from the word go. With this partnership, KanREN and our peers enjoy the best possible access to Quad9's security services,” said Chris Crook, Executive Director, KanREN.

Through this partnership, KanREN members will benefit from Quad9’s DNS-based security, which blocks harmful sites before users can reach them. Additionally, Quad9’s privacy-first approach ensures that no personally identifiable information is collected or sold, aligning with KanREN’s commitment to data protection and user trust.

Quad9 and KanREN will continue to collaborate on initiatives aimed at fortifying cybersecurity in educational environments, including awareness programs and best practice sharing for IT professionals in the sector.

About Quad9
Quad9 is a nonprofit foundation based in Switzerland that provides free cybersecurity services to the emerging world via secure and private DNS lookup. Quad9 operates more than 245 locations across more than 115 nations, blocking hundreds of millions of malware, phishing, and spyware events daily for an estimated 100+ million end users. Quad9 reduces harm in vulnerable regions, increases privacy globally against criminal or institutionalised interception of Internet data, and improves performance in under-served areas.

About KanREN
KanREN is the Research and Education Network (R&E) in Kansas. Established in 1992, KanREN is a 501(c)(3) created by the public universities of Kansas. Created as a pioneer in R&E networks nationwide, KanREN shares resources, builds local, state and regional collaboration. Learn more at https://www.kanren.org/.