In a continued effort to address rising cyber threats, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Department of Education jointly released a cybersecurity resource guide aimed at helping schools and libraries bolster their network security. The guide focuses on budget-friendly and impactful solutions in light of the increasing number of cyberattacks on K-12 institutions.
Why it matters: The guide comes at a time when ransomware attacks on schools are on the rise, with 121 incidents in 2023, up from 71 in 2022. Over the past five years, K-12 institutions have faced more than $53 billion in downtime costs and had over 6.7 million personal records breached. [K-12 Dive]
- A recent survey of district technology leaders by Clever found that one-third of districts report a lack of dedicated cybersecurity personnel as their biggest challenge.
- Furthermore, 80% of respondents are concerned about phishing attacks and half of the surveyed districts recently updated their security protocols for vendors, reflecting the pressing need for robust cybersecurity measures.
The details: The guide outlines several key recommendations to enhance cybersecurity, including the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA), enforcing strong password protocols, recognizing and reporting phishing attempts, and regularly updating software. The FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program will provide financial support, offering $200 million over the next three years to help schools and libraries deploy these security measures and improve their defenses against cyber threats.
What’s next: Schools and libraries can apply for funding through the FCC’s Cybersecurity Pilot Program to defray the costs of implementing these cybersecurity measures, ensuring that even budget-constrained institutions have access to essential protections.
