Understanding the importance of cybersecurity in K12 education is a no-brainer. As districts tread onward through the school year, however, it’s becoming increasingly important that they have a strong knowledge of the weaknesses and vulnerabilities in their network.
The education sector is now the number-one target for cyberattacks, according to an August report from Atlas VPN, a leading VPN provider. But districts shouldn’t be surprised considering the spike in technology use during the pandemic. “The reality is we had moved to more online learning as we were forced to by the pandemic, and we have created a lot more access points for these bad actors,” said Superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools Scott Elder in a recent interview with District Administration.
In August, the Federal Bureau of Investigation also released a joint cybersecurity advisory preparing district leaders for an uptick in cybersecurity threats against K12 schools this year, particularly from a criminal organization known as Vice Society. “The FBI, CISA, and the MS-ISAC anticipate attacks may increase as the 2022/2023 school year begins and criminal ransomware groups perceive opportunities for successful attacks,” the advisory reads. “School districts with limited cybersecurity capabilities and constrained resources are often the most vulnerable; however, the opportunistic targeting often seen with cybercriminals can still put districts with robust cybersecurity programs at risk.”
If you’re a leader in your district, ask yourself, “Is my students’ data protected?” Have your schools properly assessed your security network? If this is news to you, it’s possible you haven’t sought proper guidance on the issue.
Next year’s Future of Education Technology Conference® (FETC®) will feature sessions led by information technology experts to help you and your district build a safe and reliable network as cybersecurity threats continue to plague the nation’s education systems.
Omar Valerio, chief information officer, chief technology officer and IT director of Westminster Christian School, will be hosting a panel titled “Best Practices for Building Network Sustainability and Security Protocols.” Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the necessities for implementing safe and secure technologies in any environment, in addition to reviewing a sample checklist that can be used for cybersecurity, information security policy, security controls and vulnerability assessment.
There will also be classroom cybersecurity training for teachers and administrators in grades 9-12 and training for teachers in K-8 hosted by Tommy Gober, curriculum development specialist at CYBER.ORG.
Register for FETC© 2023 or view the full program agenda here to take your the next step toward creating a safer learning environment for your school.
