Cybersecurity at the Clearinghouse: A Look Back at 2025

Office of Cybersecurity Named a Top 50 Information Security Team for Second Consecutive Year

At the National Student Clearinghouse, we are honored to be entrusted by our participating institutions with the stewardship of education records — a responsibility we take very seriously. For the second straight year, our Office of Cybersecurity was named a Top 50 Information Security Team as part of the annual OnCon Icon Awards. This recognition highlights the cybersecurity team’s and the Clearinghouse’s dedication to maintaining the highest cybersecurity standards.

“I am proud of all the challenging work that the Office of Cybersecurity and the Cybersecurity Ambassadors accomplish protecting and defending the Clearinghouse. This ranges from detecting security issues, knowing the threat landscape, and understanding how to counter attacks with minimal impact to the lines of business,” said John Ramsey, Chief Information Security Officer. “We prepare to secure our future state now, which allows us to be ready for malicious threats rather than reacting to what might be coming at us.”

A Team Effort

This recognition is a testament to how hard the cybersecurity team works to keep the data maintained by the Clearinghouse safe and secure. When asked about the attributes of his team that make them successful, Ramsey had plenty to share. He noted that they are relentless but tempered with reality, strive to be forward-thinking, and aim for continuous self-improvement — among other things.

Another part of what makes cybersecurity efforts successful at the Clearinghouse is the cooperation of its staff. The Cybersecurity Ambassador program, made up of staff members across multiple departments, helps build and foster a security-first culture. In addition to supporting the Clearinghouse’s cybersecurity initiatives, this team drives the awareness program. This includes supporting employee training as well as several key cybersecurity events and presentations throughout the year.

“I am also proud of the way our staff at the Clearinghouse takes ownership of protecting our customers’ information. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of all our employees, the cybersecurity team, and the entire organization,” said Ramsey.

Key Cybersecurity Wins in 2025

Ramsey shared three standout achievements in 2025 that helped our Office of Cybersecurity earn and maintain its recognition as a Top 50 Information Security Team.

• Deploying tools to help the Clearinghouse further protect its data and applications. These technologies enhance and strengthen the organization’s security posture as well as its companywide cybersecurity awareness and anti-phishing programs.
• Attaining the highest security scores for the Clearinghouse website that it’s achieved to date. The secure score is an independent measure of a website’s capability to protect and defend against external threats. This reflects a multi-year effort by the Clearinghouse to continuously improve our overall security posture.
• Implementing advanced security practices throughout the Clearinghouse, including going passwordless – a more secure authentication protocol – and deploying a security control to keep customer data safe from any unauthorized network access.

“Given the nature of our work, security is a main priority at the Clearinghouse. Our Office of Cybersecurity leads the charge on the digital front by staying informed and vigilant across the cybersecurity landscape. Their expertise enables us to continually strengthen the security of our infrastructure,” said Melba Amissi, Chief Customer and Operations Officer. “I am proud of the work that John and his team continuously do to safeguard the Clearinghouse and secure the data entrusted to us.”

With a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and vigilance, the Clearinghouse’s cybersecurity team continues to take proactive measures to protect sensitive data and support the organization’s mission. As threats evolve, so too does their dedication.

“I am proud of all the challenging work that the Office of Cybersecurity and the Cybersecurity Ambassadors accomplish protecting and defending the Clearinghouse.”

John Ramsey
Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, National Student Clearinghouse