In today's world, where technology is everywhere, it is important to keep yourself safe on the internet. The importance of cybersecurity is rising every day, especially for schools. From having learning, grade books, and school staff and student information all online, it is a priority to keep this information secure. With threats like phishing attacks, data breaches, and other forms of cyberattacks, cybersecurity will help keep your information safe. Below, we’ll describe each type of cyberattack and the safeguards against each threat. These are an overview of recommendations, so be sure to contact your IT department or internet security provider for professional advice on how to protect your data and users.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are emails from someone you do not know pretending to be someone or something else. These attacks often happen through a click on a link or visiting a page to steal your personal information. This could come in the form of text, emails, or websites that seem legitimate, but will result in harm to the responder. These attacks often use the sense of urgency or threats to pressure victims into giving them the information they need. Once these attackers get access, they can collect personal information, credit cards, and sensitive information such as account passwords.
This type of threat will require your users to closely examine the emails or texts they receive and what they do with them. It is important to urge all your students and staff not to use links provided in a message unless they are from a trusted source or organization. Some signs to look for would be the sender’s email address or phone number, properly including logos and branding, and the email’s grammar and tone. When unsure of a message’s validity, check with your IT department or the person or organization trying to send the message, and then mark the email as a phishing email in your email client’s settings.
Data Breaches
Data breaches can be a nightmare for anyone. They bring stress and uncertainty to those whose information is compromised. For schools, this can mean losing student and staff information, losing trust and reputation, facing legal consequences, and losing funds. According to IBM, the global average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million, which is the highest total the organization has recorded.
While a cyberattack from a hacking group is always possible, human error often can cause data breaches, similar to what we discussed in the phishing attacks section. In either case, investing in preventative measures is worth your time. Multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and limiting access to sensitive data are all steps to prevent a cyberattack. An internet security company can assist with setting these defenses, but continue to keep everyone at your school informed on how to protect the school and its data.
Creating a Culture of Cyber Awareness
Creating a culture of cyber awareness brings safety and control to your school. Knowing you are safe from data breaches and other cyber threats brings peace of mind to your school. Regular training to keep students and staff aware of threats, such as phishing attacks, is important to keep your information safe and secure.
Various vendors offer specialized training to students and educators to increase their awareness of cyber threats and how to use the internet. Trainings usually teach email management, sender address verification, URL inspection, and best practices for downloading attachments. They also teach network security, such as ensuring you connect only to secure Wi-Fi networks, especially when working remotely, and using VPNs to protect data transmissions over public networks. Other training sessions will help students and staff know what to look for and foster awareness of responsible behavior when online.
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How Vendors Can Help
The Vendor Partners are some of the best in cybersecurity, helping businesses and schools stay safe online. Many of our Vendor Partners offer 24-hour monitoring, early detection, training to stay safe, and so much more. Whether you want more security online or want to know if you are at risk of a cyberattack, check out the vendors below!
Check Out Our Vendor Partners!
actzero
ActZero puts defense at the center of what we do, continuously finding ways to improve with precision and purpose. As a Gartner-recognized MDR service and recent winner of the 2022 SC Awards Best MDR Service with more than 100 worldwide employees, we strive to become your accountability partner.
Bluebird
Nationwide installation services and product sales for physical security and networking infrastructure needs. We love partnering with other integrators to help expand their install reach.
Caetra.io
Caetra.io’s products are designed to streamline the process of building, deploying, updating and assessing your compliance programs. What sets Caetra’s products apart from other compliance tools is our ability to translate regulations into common elements and controls that are part of recognized standards. Caetra automatically integrates the law into your controls and policies so you do not have to.
CDW-G
When you buy from CDW-G, you get expert advice, superior customer support and extensive product and service offerings. And with AEPA Consortium contract pricing, we make purchase decisions easy for you. For classroom technology solutions, turn to The People Who Get IT — CDW-G.
ResoluteGuard
ResoluteGuard was formed with a vision to provide a Proactive approach to cyber resilience. Our founders were inspired by recognizing the ever-increasing threats by Cyber Criminals holding organizations for ransom, stealing employee and customer personal data and creating network downtime.
Powered by automation, our core service “Cybersecurity Risk Management Solution” is purpose-built to create a defensible cybersecurity risk management platform that bolsters the organization’s Cyber resilience.
SAS Halo
Experience the future of school connectivity
and security with SAS HALO. Our innovative
solution, in collaboration with Winegard and
Starlink, ensures your educational institution
stays connected and secure.
SHI
With the right solutions, services, and support, anything is possible. From seamless hardware and software procurement solutions to licensing advisory, data center configuration, ITAM, and AI services, SHI has all your IT needs covered.
TwoTrees
Twotrees has been proudly operating under consistent management since 1984 and the same ownership since 1990. We specialize in serving K-12 schools, government agencies, and enterprise-level corporations, offering expertise in internet security, network management, E-Rate services, and purchasing contract fulfillment.
Xpel//ForwardEdge
The security professionals at Xpel by Forward Edge understand the critical importance of cybersecurity in the education sector, especially in K-12 districts where young learners and sensitive data are involved. Our strategy isn’t just proactive; it’s a step ahead —meticulously engineered to align with the industry’s gold standards, the NIST and CIS cybersecurity frameworks.