Cyberattacks on schools in the U.S. have been on the rise in recent years. In fact, the number of impacted K-12 school districts more than doubled from 2022 to 2023, with at least 108 districts having reported ransomware attacks in 2023.

From student records to financial and medical information, schools contain a lot of sensitive data that makes them prime targets for cybercriminals. This guide will walk you through all aspects of school cybersecurity, including how schools can build a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and what you can do as a parent to make sure your child’s information is protected in the event of a cyberattack.

What Is School Cybersecurity?

Implementing cybersecurity in schools involves relying on various practices, policies, and technologies designed to protect educational institutions from cyber threats and ensure the safety of student and staff data within the school systems. It includes safeguarding digital assets, networks, and information systems against various types of cyberattacks, such as:

• Malware
• Phishing
• Ransomware
• Data breaches

Top School Cybersecurity Threats

K-12 school districts face a unique set of cybersecurity challenges due to their reliance on technology for conducting lessons and maintaining student records and the sensitive nature of the data they handle. Here are some of the top cybersecurity challenges for K-12 schools:

1. Vulnerable networks and devices
2. Phishing and malware
3. Unsecured cloud platforms

Vulnerable Networks and Devices

Schools have hundreds or thousands of devices like laptops, tablets, smart boards, and security cameras connected to their networks. If these aren’t secured with appropriate methods like strong firewalls and monitored regularly, they can provide easy access points for cybercriminals. Once hackers gain entry to the school system through any vulnerabilities in these devices, they can potentially access and exploit sensitive data stored by the school.

Phishing and Malware

Because of the valuable data schools possess, they’re among the prime targets for phishing emails and malware designed to steal information. Phishing is a type of cybercrime that involves cybercriminals posing as legitimate institutions to trick the victim into giving out sensitive information, putting the school network at risk. Meanwhile, malware is software used to gain unauthorized access to computer systems that untrained students or staff could unwittingly download.

Unsecured Cloud Platforms

Many schools use cloud services like Google’s G-Suite and Microsoft 365. While convenient, these cloud platforms often need to be accessed by a large number of users, which can lead to poor access management. If cloud platform access isn’t properly monitored, school networks become more vulnerable to potential threats and data losses.

Challenges of Implementing Cybersecurity in School Districts

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Implementing effective cybersecurity measures in schools comes with many challenges, including:

1. Lack of awareness and expertise
2. Privacy concerns
3. Budget constraints

Lack of Awareness and Expertise

Many schools lack personnel with expertise in cybersecurity. IT staff is usually more focused on keeping technology infrastructure functioning and may not have specialized knowledge about cyber risks. What’s more, students, educators, and administrators often don’t receive training on cyber risks and best practices. This makes schools an easy target for cybercriminals looking to access sensitive data or deploy ransomware.

Privacy Concerns

Some cybersecurity controls, such as monitoring network activity, can raise privacy concerns for students, parents, and educators, especially if the school isn’t transparent about such measures. Without clearly outlined data privacy procedures that would foster the trust of all stakeholders, schools can’t effectively implement security controls that would properly protect the school system from attacks.

Budget Constraints

Many schools are faced with inflexible budgets—in fact, studies show that the U.S. underfunds K-12 public schools by nearly $150 billion a year. For this reason, schools often have limited funding for cybersecurity, so purchasing advanced software and hardware and hiring dedicated IT staff to reduce cyber threats may not be feasible.

Practical Steps To Increase Cybersecurity in Schools

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As schools handle sensitive data and systems that need protection, cybersecurity should be a top priority. Here are some steps schools can take to strengthen their security:

1. Conducting a risk assessment
2. Developing security policies and procedures
3. Providing regular cybersecurity training
4. Implementing appropriate security measures
5. Monitoring and testing systems regularly

Conducting a Risk Assessment

A risk assessment will identify vulnerabilities in the school’s network, systems, and data. It evaluates threats like malware and data breaches to determine the likelihood and potential impact of an attack. The assessment provides a roadmap for improving security and prioritizing risks. For the best results, schools should conduct risk assessments annually or any time there are major changes to technology infrastructure.

Developing Security Policies and Procedures

Security policies establish rules around technology usage, data access, remote access, passwords, and more. Meanwhile, procedures outline the specific steps for implementing these policies. Schools need to tailor specific policies and procedures for students, teachers, administrators, and other users to help ensure compliance with security regulations like FERPA and COPPA.

Providing Regular Cybersecurity Training

Ongoing training makes students, teachers, and staff aware of risks like phishing, social engineering, and weak passwords. Phishing simulations and online courses can help educate the staff and students about cyberattack methods like phishing emails and ransomware, as well as the process of reporting potential security incidents to the appropriate technical teams. Annual or biannual cybersecurity training is critical, especially for new students and employees.

Implementing Appropriate Security Measures

Passwords are the first line of defense for any account or network. Schools should require students and staff to use complex passwords that are at least 12 characters long and contain a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Users should also be warned against reusing the same password across accounts.

Schools can implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) as an additional low-cost security method. For example, a security code can be sent to phones before granting access to the network to provide an extra layer of protection for accounts with sensitive data. If a password is compromised, MFA can still block unauthorized access. Enabling MFA for student and staff accounts, Wi-Fi networks, and any cloud services used by the school will help prevent possible data breaches.

Monitoring and Testing Systems Regularly

Schools should continuously monitor networks and systems for abnormal activity and conduct regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests to identify security gaps. Monitoring and testing allow schools to detect threats early and make improvements to prevent future attacks.

Helping schools achieve cybersecurity and ward off malicious individuals from accessing their networks is crucial for keeping your child’s private data safe. However, as a parent, you have a critical role in securing your child’s personal information. A child’s identity is stolen every 30 seconds, and investing in an identity protection service like FreeKick will give you peace of mind that your child’s identity is protected around the clock, even in the event of a school data breach.

FreeKick—Comprehensive Identity Protection for Your Whole Family

Offered by Austin Capital Bank, FreeKick combines a deposit account backed by FDIC insurance with identity monitoring and credit-building services. With FreeKick, your whole family is protected since the identity protection services cover up to two parents and six children between the ages of 0 and 25. You also get access to credit-building services for your children aged 13 to 25.

Identity Protection Services

When you sign up for a FreeKick account, you can take advantage of all the services that FreeKick has to offer, including: 

Identity Protection Services for Adult Children and Parents	Identity Protection Services for Minor Children
Credit profile monitoring Social Security number monitoring Dark web monitoring for personal information Up to $1 million identity theft insurance Full-service white-glove concierge credit restoration Lost wallet protection Court records monitoring Change of address monitoring Non-credit (Payday) loan monitoring Free FICO® Score monthly FICO® Score factors Experian credit report monthly	Credit profile monitoring Social Security number monitoring Dark web monitoring for children’s personal information Up to $1 million identity theft insurance Full-service white-glove concierge credit restoration Sex offender monitoring—based on sponsor parent’s address

Parent-Sponsored Credit Building and Monitoring

FreeKick not only provides ID monitoring for parents and children but also offers another important service for minors and young adults—automated credit building. Building a credit history for your child early in life can bring them numerous benefits, including:

• Building and improving their credit score over time
• Enabling them to enjoy the advantages of having good credit in the future
• Potentially saving them more than $200,000 over their lifetime

To get started, follow these simple steps:

1. Create an Account—Go to FreeKick.bank and choose a plan that suits your deposit requirements. You can then activate credit building for your child from the account dashboard
2. Set It and Forget It—After activating the account, FreeKick creates a 12-month credit history for your child through a no-interest credit builder loan that gets repaid using the deposit. Once your child is of legal age, they can activate credit reporting
3.  Keep Growing—When the 12-month period comes to an end, you can either renew the account for another term or close it and receive a 100% refund of your initial deposit

FreeKick Pricing

FreeKick deposits are FDIC-insured for up to $250,000. With any plan you choose, you’ll get top-notch identity protection for up to two parents and six children, as well as credit building for up to six children aged 13–25.

The pricing is flexible to meet different budgets, as indicated below:

FDIC-Insured Deposit	Annual Fee
$3,000	$0 (Free)
No deposit	$149

If you’re looking to protect your children’s identity while establishing a strong credit profile for them, sign up for FreeKick today.