Texas Schools Selected PDQ for Cybersecurity Upgrades

Participating K-12 districts will gain access to premium software tools to simplify device management and network security.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Administration

Texas Schools Selected PDQ for Cybersecurity Upgrades

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Do you support using state-level initiatives to provide cybersecurity tools to your local school district?

The Technology Alliance for Statewide Initiatives has tapped Salt Lake City-based firm PDQ to provide software deployment tools for Texas school districts. This initiative aims to bolster network security and automate software updates across local school systems.

Why it matters

Many school districts face limited internal IT resources, making it difficult to maintain secure and updated hardware. By centralizing deployment tools, this initiative helps districts improve device security and operational efficiency for both Windows and macOS devices.

The program covers 20 Education Service Centres across Texas, with onboarding for interested districts starting in October 2026. This adds to the 186 Texas K-12 customers already utilizing PDQ services.

The players

PDQ

A Salt Lake City-based software developer that provides systems administration and deployment tools for IT professionals.

Technology Alliance for Statewide Initiatives

The organizing body responsible for managing and coordinating large-scale technology deployments for Texas school districts.

ESC Region 13

The administrative hub coordinating the initiative on behalf of the 20 regional Education Service Centres across Texas.

The details

The initiative leverages the regional support structure of 20 Education Service Centres to roll out PDQ's Premium tier to school districts. By automating software deployment, these tools allow IT staff to manage updates and security patches across large numbers of Windows and macOS devices simultaneously. This reduces the burden on school IT teams that often struggle with manual management across diverse campus networks.

October 1, 2026: The initial phase of district onboarding begins.
2027 and beyond: Onboarding will continue across the state.

The Home Front

This program aligns with the broader Texas K-12 Cybersecurity Initiative designed to standardize network protections for schools. It reflects a growing trend of states consolidating enterprise-level software procurement to bridge IT resource gaps in public education.

Parents and families should look for updates from their local school district regarding how these network security enhancements may affect student device management. If your child uses a school-issued laptop, reach out to the school's technology department to understand if your student's device will be receiving these new management updates.

The takeaway

This partnership provides schools with professional-grade tools to keep student devices secure and updated. Families can support this effort by ensuring any school-issued devices are connected to district networks regularly, allowing for seamless security updates as the rollout progresses.