Making The Case For Cyber Security
The need for Cyber Security is quickly moving to the top of our priority list. With recent breaches into school systems across the United States, this must be prioritized. Recently, a school district in Texas lost around $2.3 million in a phishing email scam. Something that could have easily been avoided. In 2019, several Louisiana school districts were attacked, causing all to shut down their systems including phone lines and emails at central offices, schools and registration centers. Some of these schools are still rebuilding and picking up the pieces.
So how can you protect?
Multiple ways parents, children and students can stay protected against cyber attacks:
Parents help your children password protect any devices and online accounts they have. Teach them the importance of creating strong passwords and how to save them in a secure place.
Ensure your home’s has wifi which includes encryption and a strong password to restrict outside access. This can prevent many hackers from hoping onto your network.
Students, avoid sharing personal information such as email addresses, passwords, home addresses, and telephone numbers.
Ensure you get virus protection on any tablet, laptop, desktops, etc. This will help scan your devices for virus’.
Three different ways schools districts can be protected against cyber attacks:
1. A voluntary employee benefit that protects things such as identity theft and social media monitoring for your family. (This can be offered to both employees and student’s parents).
2. Domain and IP Address Monitoring System that identifies breaches outside of the school district’s firewall.
3. Employee education on what the risks are and how data is being compromised within the school district (maybe the most important of all).
By your school district including these three legs of protection, you have a better chance of side stepping a cyber-attack.