Colleges are consolidating operations and centralizing cybersecurity to confront budget pressures, enrollment declines and rising tech risks. BDO’s survey of campus leaders found institutions pursuing strategic partnerships, technology upgrades and operational consolidation to improve efficiency and sustain program delivery. Security experts advise centralizing cybersecurity to gain visibility, reduce duplication and strengthen incident response. Practical steps include unified identity management, prioritized asset inventories, and standardized monitoring—moves that enable compliance and protect research and student data. Leaders said they are investing selectively in tech that supports mission priorities while exploring public‑private partnerships and service consolidations to reduce overhead and improve resilience.