Educating for the Future: Data Security for K

K12 I

Cyberattack Targets of Choice

K–12 institutions are attractive targets for cybercriminals because they provide a threefold advantage: Government-funded schools are perceived as more likely to pay the ransom, breaches are well-publicized and elicit strong emotional reactions from parents and the community, and districts frequently use outdated technology that increases their susceptibility to attacks.

Hernan London, Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist for Education at Dell Technologies, stated, “they conducted a survey of K12 IT decision makers with their partners and found that 90% of respondents said modernizing IT is vital to their institution’s future, but just 15% gave their current efforts a ‘A’ grade.” “Improving cybersecurity is a major factor in modernization.”

According to the same survey, four out of five IT decision-makers believe that their organizations are at danger because of outdated technologies.

K-12 cybersecurity

Cyber audits and cyber threat hunting can be used to safeguard K–12 data and systems.
The education sector has the highest rate of ransomware assaults, yet no field is immune to cybercriminals and ransomware attacks. In the last five years, there have been over 380 recorded ransomware attacks on educational institutions, resulting in an estimated $53 billion in lost productivity and the compromise of 6.7 million personal records. After a ransomware attack, the outage typically lasts 11.6 days. For school districts, that is more than two weeks of lost instructional time.

In a recent webinar on modernizing technology in K–12 schools, Chris Woehl, Executive Director of Technology and Information Services for the Lake Travis Independent School District (ISD) in Texas, stated.

CISA K–12 Cybersecurity

Federal Assistance

Additionally, K–12 educational software providers have been requested by CISA to make a “voluntary pledge” to concentrate on developing products that priorities cybersecurity in their design. The agreement has been made by six of the biggest tech giants in the education space. An initiative of $200 million will be initiated by the Federal Communications Commission to strengthen the defense of K–12 infrastructure against online attacks.

“We must survey, manage, detect, and respond to cyber threats,” according to Woehl, of Lake Travis ISD. Thus, they are gathering and logging their telemetry data, whether it comes from an appliance, a piece of software, or software-as-a-service. In order to safeguard our systems and the school community, we must do internal threat hunting and cyber audits.

Cybersecurity Balance in a World of Learn From Anywhere

K12 IT decision-makers in the Dell Technologies poll identified threat detection and response as well as employee, student, and community data protection as their top cybersecurity objectives. Nonetheless, as staff members and students connect and learn remotely from any device, the security landscape has become increasingly complex. Schools are forced to strike a compromise between enhancing cybersecurity and accessibility due to the evolving threat landscape.

London stated, “This includes enabling Zero-Trust security techniques like multifactor authentication that permit access to trusted individuals but preventing adversaries from doing the same.

In the case of an assault, modern infrastructures also facilitate disaster recovery efforts, enabling schools to bounce back fast with little disruption to daily operations and student learning.

Putting Money Into K–12 Cybersecurity

According to a Dell Technologies survey, K12 IT leaders’ biggest obstacle to updating their infrastructure is a lack of funds. Another major problem is finding technicians with cybersecurity expertise.

According to Woehl, “school districts are competing with the private sector for cybersecurity talent.” “A district’s capacity to identify and neutralize threats is significantly impacted by inadequate staffing.”

Spending money on training is beneficial. Districts have concentrated on educating staff members to identify typical cybersecurity attack techniques, such phishing, in order to thwart attacks at the point of access.

The upcoming generation of technologists is being trained via other initiatives, such the Dell Student Tech Crew. Students in high school can receive training from the programmed to become help desk technicians, who can assist school technology teams with requests for district technology.

High school students who receive actual computer training benefit from it, and district IT personnel may focus more on cybersecurity than tech assistance.

IIJA funds infrastructure modernization. A poll of school K12 IT leaders found that 74% planned to enhance their IT infrastructure with IIJA funds.

London stated, “Risk hasn’t been a deciding factor in K12 IT investments up until now.” However, it is now. Investment is being driven by outside forces. For instance, K–12 districts are subject to an outside force and must obtain cybersecurity insurance to safeguard themselves in the event of an attack. If their security posture and risk are sufficient, the cyber insurance providers want to know. They are not eligible for insurance if it isn’t.

London points out that in order to make up for shortages in expertise or modernization funding, districts can collaborate with tech firms. Even in a context with limited resources, cash-strapped districts can boost cybersecurity by outsourcing skills or switching to managed services, the speaker added.

Visit their K12 IT Solutions page to find out more about how Dell Technologies can assist K–12 districts with bolstering contemporary security measures and updating their infrastructure to promote safe learning environments.

K–12 Teaching Resources

Recognize your route to student-centered transformation in grades K–12.
Students now have the opportunity to learn in highly personalized ways thanks to the digital world. The learning experiences can motivate all kids when educators and students collaborate to create K–12 curriculum and use technology in meaningful ways. With a committed group of former teachers with deep experience using technology successfully, Dell Technologies is in a unique position to assist districts in creating student-centric learning models that will increase students’ preparedness for the future.

Ensure that access is always available.
Modern computers intended for educational use.
Techniques for mobility in distant education.
Accessories for learning to keep learning efficiently.

Create engaging learning environments

A range of activities, group sizes, locations, and instructional objectives are made possible by flexible rooms, equipment, and IT.

Every classroom should have educational technology.
Furniture that is modular to support modern education.
Desktop applications for shared spaces and specialized classes.
Modify instruction to provide students greater autonomy.

Professional learning assists

Professional learning assists in altering culture, mindset, and teaching strategies to support particular K–12 learning outcomes.

Professional educational services to meet district goals.
Using a teacher’s qualification to showcase achievements.
Virtual courses provide flexible delivery options.

Safeguard students and data

Find the perfect balance between data security and digital access with the help of Dell security solutions.

Protect student data.
Prevent hazards from disrupting schooling.
Update the K–12 data infrastructure and take precautions to secure data wherever it goes.
In order to increase organizational agility, predictability, and efficiency, upgrade your data infrastructure.

K12 How Does It Work

K–12 Education Strategists

K12 IT made easy by the management, protection, and defense of a unified infrastructure for data.

Options for networking in the modern data centre.
Get to know their experts in educational approach.
Their K–12 Education Strategists work with school districts to create creative models that support student-centered learning.
Develop instructional strategies that will get kids ready for the future.
Make preparations for professional development to help teachers.

Financing for Tech-Friendly K–12 Organizations

Find and secure financing to bring your ideas to life. Using COVID-19 relief and recovery money and annual technology grants for public sector organizations is explained in their finance guide.
K–12 districts across the country are updating their classrooms to enhance learning for all children.