Some K-12 public schools are racing to improve protection against the threat of online attacks, but lax cybersecurity means thousands of others are vulnerable to ransomware gangs that can steal confidential data and disrupt operations. Since a White House conference in August on ransomware threats, dozens of school districts have signed up for free cybersecurity services, and federal officials […]
"2023 has been a tough year for K12 cybersecurity, and some states and local education entities are not taking it as seriously as they should," says Tim Chadwick, chief information security officer at LINQ.
Education has become the fifth most targeted industry for data breaches, according to a recent report from Nord Security, with U.S. schools experiencing a sharp increase in hacks in recent years.
"We need to address K12 cybersecurity issues at its foundation by ensuring schools and administrators have access to technology and software that is safe and secure right out of the box," CISA Director Jen Easterly in a statement.
"We don't negotiate with terrorists," Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho told audience members at the first-ever cybersecurity summit hosted by the White House on Tuesday.
"Paper records, stored in one location, in a non-environmentally controlled warehouse, for instance, are much more at risk than digital records secured by digital passwords," K12 technology leader Beverly Miller says.
Secondary education saw a "staggering" 466% spike in malware attacks in the first half of 2023, according to a recent analysis. What can leaders to do prepare?
After a troubling year filled with high-profile ransomware attacks, education leaders are leveraging opportunities this summer to raise awareness and enhance prevention tactics.
"Data breaches have become all too common for public agencies and private businesses alike, and we recognize the impact they can have on individuals," said Matt Smith, interim superintendent of DMPS.
