Lawmakers increasingly target cybersecurity threats in schools, report shows

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) unveiled its 2023 report on K-12 cybersecurity policy developments on Jan. 18, detailing the boom in state and federal education cybersecurity bills and laws that emerged last year. The comprehensive resource highlights notable policy ideas and trends, and offers […]

New K-12 cybersecurity and AI resources available

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has recently made available new resources to support local educational agencies’ cybersecurity efforts and policies surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). Tailored specifically to meet the needs of K-12 institutions, CoSN’s new NIST [National Institute of Standards and Technology] Cybersecurity Framework […]

New resource calls on state support for small and rural LEA cybersecurity

The State Educational Technology Directors Association’s (SETDA) Cybersecurity & Privacy Collaborative — a network that includes Microsoft and the K12 Security Information eXchange (K12 SIX) — published guidance on Oct. 17 detailing how state agencies and other support organizations are empowering their smallest school districts […]

K-12 ed tech providers pledge to improve software security to reduce cyberattacks

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced on Sept. 5 a voluntary pledge for K-12 education technology software manufacturers to commit to designing products with greater security built in as part of the continued effort to thwart threats to local educational agencies. “We need […]

Federal leaders announce K-12 cybersecurity guidance, resources and more

White House officials and the departments of Education and Homeland Security announced on Aug. 6 public and private initiatives to strengthen K-12 cyber defenses, as well as new guidance documents highlighting cybersecurity recommendations and promising practices from states and districts across the country. Jointly released […]

CSBA press conference calls for support for AB 1023 to boost schools’ cybersecurity resources

“Schools have access to more sensitive information and fulfill a more essential purpose than virtually any other local government agency and deserve robust, focused support to prepare for ransomware attacks,” said CSBA President Susan Markarian during a June 26 press conference held in support of […]

Panel says LEAs need emergency plans in place as cyberattacks increase in public schools

Cybersecurity is in flux across the public sector, with traditional processes and tools proving inadequate for today’s global threats. Some school districts and county offices of education are at particular risk since they currently lack the internal resources, capacity or expertise to mount an effective […]

Cybersecurity recommendations for K-12 schools

Current threats and recommendations on how schools can prevent or mitigate cyberattacks are outlined in the report Protecting Our Future: Partnering to Safeguard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats, released in January by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Schools […]

New California cybersecurity laws impacting education

California was among 18 states to adopt laws related to cybersecurity that directly or indirectly apply to the education sector in 2022, according to the report “State and Federal Education Cybersecurity Policy Developments 2022,” published by Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) in January. “Cyberattacks are […]