Cybersecurity for Schools

According to k12cybersecure.com, in 2018 a new cybersecurity incident struck K-12 schools nearly every three days.

Gone are the days when student information is kept on paper in a file and in a filing cabinet. Student and staff Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is kept online. Security systems, including cameras and doors, rely on technology. Business operations, such as payroll, bill payment, phone systems and email communication, are connected to the school's network - all of which is susceptible to cyber attacks if not secured. 

Beyond keeping everyone in the school building safe with technology, like video surveillance and building access, leaders have a duty to provide an education - which means ensuring a productive environment for learning to happen. In a modern school system, districts must maintain curriculum resources, point-of-sale software, and telecommunications systems - all of which are increasingly moving online. In the classroom, educators need access to the internet or the school’s network for everything, from the content of their lessons to keeping attendance. Disruption to any of these systems or no access to the internet means loss of valuable teaching and learning time. 

The K-12 school community is especially vulnerable because the PII kept on students and staff can be sold on the black markets. Buyers can use that information to apply for credit, open bank accounts, or transact other types of identity fraud. Exposing this information also puts children in harm's way if the information gets into the hands of a child predator.

Actual Accounts of Cybersecurity Attacks on Schools