Best practices for strengthening cybersecurity for schools

Listen to an audio version of this post:

Summary:

Schools are facing more cyber threats than ever, making strengthening cybersecurity for schools a top priority. This guide breaks down simple, budget-friendly steps to protect your school’s data and networks. Learn how to tackle risks with regular software updates, tools like advanced web filters and user education. Plus, get tips on building a safer digital environment for students and school staff.

As educators, staff, and administrators prepare for the first day of classes at one of the approximately 130,000 K-12 schools in the USA, they are guaranteed that 2025-26 will be unique and unforgettable. Teachers and other professionals who work directly with students can expect a mix of shared triumphs and challenges. Teams in charge of IT and school networks can expect issues, some easier than others to troubleshoot. 

Exactly how the school year will play out is anyone’s guess. However one given is the importance of strengthening cybersecurity for schools. At any school and district that employs advanced technology systems to handle any part of academic operations and instruction, cybercrime, in its varied forms, is a harsh reality.

To address an issue as complex and constantly shifting as cyber attacks, cybersecurity best practices must also be strategic and evolving. This blog presents actions school and district leaders can take to strengthen cybersecurity in the jurisdictions they serve. It also discusses how to work around budget constraints and provides resources for building a more mature cybersecurity program over time. 

Why cybersecurity for schools is so critical

School systems are prime targets for damaging cybercrime, largely due to the vast amount of personal information and data they maintain along with the way they patch together different technologies to deliver instruction. Often budgets cap the level of protection schools can afford.

Consequences of cyber incidents for schools

Fallout from cyber incidents goes well beyond the loss of data. Far-reaching and costly, cyberattacks can prevent daily functions by denying access to critical systems and disrupting academic operations. Data breaches that expose sensitive personal information and confidential documents can affect whole school systems and surrounding communities.

Most common cybersecurity risks in schools

An average of one cyber incident occurs per school day in the nation’s K-12 schools, according to a 2023 report by CISA. It also shows that the vast majority of cyber incidents are designed to take advantage of human error, often by misleading users into acting on false information such as phoney ads or emails. 

On the operations side, the report points to software which is outdated and/or end-of-life as a key vulnerability for schools and their networks. 

How schools can protect against cyberattacks

The variance and ever-evolving nature of cybercrime make protecting school communities and infrastructures a complex set of tasks. Successfully preventing incidents and mitigating damage from those that occur, requires focused attention to technology and infrastructure as well as user support and school community education.

Get started with high-impact cybersecurity solutions

Funding gaps in the education sector make a robust security infrastructure prohibitive for many schools and districts. Most districts do not have a dedicated budget for cybersecurity, according to findings from a 2025 report by CoSN. Instead they often pull from general funds. 

In face of this situation, the US Department of Education urges school leaders to provide protection through inexpensive prevention strategies by prioritizing high-impact solutions.

High-priority protective actions include:

• Regularly updating software
• Utilizing strong passwords
• Implementing multi-factor authentication
• Joining MS-ISAC to access free and affordable resources
• Educating users how to recognize social engineering red flags

Move toward a comprehensive cybersecurity program

Once the basic foundational practices are well integrated into the school environment, the DOE encourages schools and districts to build towards a more comprehensive and mature cybersecurity program if it becomes economically feasible. This includes establishing and exercising a cyber incident response plan that spells out specific procedures for before, during and after a cyber incident. 

Focus on the technology basics of cybersecurity

Consistently high on the list of cost-efficient cybersecurity recommendations is keeping software updated. To protect systems from attackers who take advantage of vulnerabilities in outdated software, updates should be installed as soon as vendors make them available. Generally, vendors provide downloadable updates from their website. Increasingly, the norm is automatic software updates that users opt in on. CISA recommends taking advantage of such automatic updates. Regular updates not only provide greater security but also help maintain more efficient networks. 

End-of-life or EOL software refers to software that a vendor has discontinued to support or has stopped issuing software updates. Unsupported or discontinued software is susceptible to attackers who know how to exploit security vulnerabilities. To protect schools and keep networks healthy, CISA advises administrators to retire any EOL products that may still be in use.

Integrate classroom and school operations for added security

Streamlined academic operations, like regular software updates, offer the dual benefit of time savings and greater security. For example, integrating a school’s LMS, classroom management system and SIS helps reduce redundant workload for staff and instructors. This can address work overload and human error. 

In the learning environment, students and teachers enjoy the added layer of protection that automated web filtering provides. Comprehensive and affordable protection for digital learning is accessible through the integration of the Hāpara suite of classroom management tools with the dynamic Gaggle Web Filter that features real-time machine learning technology. The duo integrates easily with Google and Microsoft 365, as well as other learning management systems K-12 schools commonly use.  

Schools can check the box on CIPA compliance and be assured that Gaggle automatically updates its software regularly to keep it effective against current cyber threats. This cloud-based web filter is simple to install and configure. It also works across operating systems which means protection accompanies students where they study, as long as they are logged into their school account.

Address the human element of preventing cyber attacks

With 83 percent of recent cyber incidents directed toward the people using education networks, the need for everyone to be on board with cyber safety and internet hygiene is urgent. Investing in regular training on cybersecurity and safe internet practices for every member of the school team is time and money well spent. 

Personnel with proper training are more self-sufficient. Along with safety, this can help reduce cost and stress for IT staff, allowing them to focus on critical tasks instead of basic support for functions that users could handle themselves.

Provide comprehensive education on cybersafe practices  

Education, like many student safety recommendations, applies to adults. Provide clear guidelines and review the basics with everyone who uses the network. Review safe browsing practices, including guidelines about secure websites and how to identify and avoid potentially dangerous ones.  

Enact a password policy

Set a password policy that encourages teachers, students and staff to use strong passwords that don’t include any personal or easy-to-guess information. To support more complex passwords, schools can take advantage of password managers and use two-factor authorization.

Recognize and report suspicious activity

Support users in learning to recognize suspicious activity emails, messages and websites that are deceptive or too-good-to-be-true. Never trust email messages with attachments or links to software updates. Users can be directed to websites hosting malicious files disguised as legitimate updates or sent attachments containing malware.

Cybersecurity resources and collaboration for a more secure school

Collaborate with other K-12 partners for peer support and to undertake cost-efficient cybersecurity actions. Stay informed on the current developments within the cyber risk landscape by connecting with NGOs and government organizations like CoSN, your FBI regional cybersecurity personnel and CISA. 

CISA offers tools, information and resources including an online toolkit to raise awareness and support the K-12 sector in and becoming more cyber secure. Its most recent report serves as a comprehensive resource and guide with insight into today’s cyber threat landscape and steps to help schools and districts confront systemic cybersecurity risk. 

Remember, even tactics that worked successfully a mere week ago may no longer suffice when dealing with a problem as pervasive as cybercrime.