2009 School Safety Index Finds Security Improvements Aren`t Keeping Pace with Breaches

Third Annual Report Finds Network and Building Protection Improved, but Breaches
Increased
VERNON HILLS, Ill.--(Business Wire)--
CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation and
leading source of Information Technology (IT) solutions to educators and
governments, today announced the results of the 2009 School Safety Index. Based
on a national survey of more than 400 K-12 district IT and security directors,
the index measures 10 indicators and four contraindicators to set a national
benchmark to gauge the current state of school security.

The 2009 School Safety Index finds that while K-12 districts are taking steps to
improve network and building security, increased breaches caused an overall
decline in schools` physical and cyber security scores. Key findings include:

* Both IT and physical breaches are on the rise. In the last 12 months, 55
percent of districts report experiencing an IT breach, such as unauthorized user
access, hacking or viruses; 67 percent experienced a physical breach such as
break-ins, unauthorized persons in school buildings or vandalism
* Despite increased numbers of security breaches, three-quarters of respondents
rated their cyber and physical security as adequate
* Most IT breaches originate internally - 41 percent from students and 22
percent from staff or employees. Physical security breaches are most often
caused by unidentified persons (42 percent) and students (37 percent)
* Districts` top IT and physical security barriers - lack of budget, too few
staff resources and the need for more security tools - remain unchanged for the
third year

"With the 2009 School Safety Index, CDW-G took a deeper look at school security
to understand not just what tools schools are using, but how they are
implementing those tools and how they perceive the state of school security
today," said Bob Kirby, vice president K-12 education, CDW-G. "Districts
reported gains in important areas such as securing buildings and networks, but
many are missing the opportunity to counter increased breaches by sharing best
practices with other districts and engaging district administrators regularly on
security priorities and investments."

Cyber Security

Measured on a scale of zero to 100, the 2009 national cyber security average is
22.2. The School Safety Index found that 88 percent of districts are utilizing
wireless networks to give students increased access to the Internet and other
learning resources, and 92 percent of districts are using some type of
encryption to protect data. This is good news, as 65 percent of schools that do
not currently have a wireless network are considering or implementing one within
the next year.

While nearly all districts have acceptable use policies (AUP) governing how
school networks are used, only 40 percent of districts said they actively
enforce the policies, and 40 percent said they spend just four hours or less per
month reviewing questionable Internet activity - revealing a gap in monitoring
that could expose networks to security risks.

Physical Security

Measured on a scale of zero to 100, the 2009 national physical security average
is 32.2. The 2009 School Safety Index found a slight increase in security camera
use, with 79 percent of districts reporting that they use cameras versus 70
percent in 2008. Yet half of districts use cameras to monitor outside areas only
- missing a key opportunity to deter incidents inside school buildings.

The School Safety Index also found that districts are actively taking steps to
disseminate emergency information. Thirty-six percent of districts enable local
emergency response personnel to view camera footage in real time, and 24 percent
report that they are planning or implementing this capability in the next 12
months. In addition, 70 percent of districts report that they are using a mass
notification system to strengthen real-time safety communications, an increase
from just 45 percent in 2008; 46 percent of districts that do not currently have
one are considering a mass notification system in the next year.

Calls to Action

Given the evolving nature of school safety, it is important that districts
establish a formal process to continually assess their security policies and
procedures. The online School Safety Index Self-Assessment Tool, updated in
conjunction with the School Safety Index report, allows K-12 districts to
measure their cyber and physical security against the national benchmark.

"School safety is top of mind for administrators, teachers and parents - as well
as students," Kirby said. "Schools are actively taking steps to better protect
their campuses, but must be ever-vigilant in the face of increasing threats.
That`s why it`s important for schools to know exactly where they stand with
security. The 2009 School Safety Index Self-Assessment Tool helps districts
evaluate their plans and policies and leverage the findings to make meaningful
changes."

In addition to self-assessment, CDW-G recommends that districts cover the
security basics by ensuring that every computer accessing the network has the
latest security updates, increasing the number of cameras in interior common
areas and bolstering security education for both students and staff.

Finally, there is an opportunity for districts to support each other with
real-world advice and security best practices. Utilizing collective knowledge
can help districts prioritize investments and maximize limited budgets.

For more information on the School Safety Index, please visit
www.cdwg.com/schoolsafetyindex. The self-assessment tool is available at
www.schoolsafetyindex.com.

About CDW-G

A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation, ranked No. 34 on Forbes` list of
America`s Largest Private Companies, CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G) is a leading
provider of technology solutions for federal, state and local government
agencies, as well as educational institutions at all levels. The company
features dedicated account managers who help customers choose the right
technology products and services to meet their needs. The company`s technology
specialists and engineers offer expertise in designing customized solutions,
while its advanced technology engineers can assist customers with the
implementation and long-term management of those solutions. Areas of focus
include notebooks, desktops, printers, servers and storage, unified
communications, security, wireless, power and cooling, networking, software
licensing and mobility solutions.

For more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement options, service
and solutions, call 1.800.808.4239, email cdwgsales@cdwg.com or visit the CDW-G
Web site at CDWG.com.

CDW Government, Inc.
Kelly Caraher, 847-968-0729
kellyc@cdw.com
or
O`Keeffe & Company
Meredith Braselman, 703-883-9000 ext. 107
mbraselman@okco.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009