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In The News | Flat Networks And Small Cyber Budgets Left Schools Vulnerable, But Analysts Say There’s Help

This article was originally published in StateScoop on 10/23/24 by Keely Quinlan.

Schools are among the most targeted and least equipped to manage cyberattacks, but analysts say there are free resources that can help.

To respond to the increase in cyberattacks over the last several years, experts say there are steps schools should take to better safeguard student data.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced most school districts to shift into virtual learning environments by expanding their networks and digital offerings, the risk of ransomware and phishing schemes targeting student data have steadily increased.

“There are a lot of good organizations out there, like MS-ISAC, CoSN, ISTE that will all publish best practices and guides for how to vet and properly look into it. But sometimes it boils down to common sense…Are they a known brand? Does somebody know them? Do you have other peers, other school districts in your state or community that have used them? Is there trustworthiness?”

David Waugh,
CRO, ManagedMethods

Public schools, which are often under-resourced, also often lack the capacity, funds and personnel to bolster their cybersecurity defenses alone. As a result, cyber experts say bad actors have found great success in targeting schools for banks of sensitive data, leading to the theft of students’ personal data, or even their identities.

Cybersecurity analysts told StateScoop that to prevent successful attacks, schools should avoid flat network infrastructures, keep back-ups safeguarded and thoroughly vet their cybersecurity vendors. And even for districts where more funding for additional IT personnel or cyber tools may not be available, there are resources out there to help…

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