Cybersecurity

Subtopics

Data Breaches

Phishing

Ransomware

Defend against cybersecurity threats to your school.

All educational institutions are at risk of falling victim to a cyberattack, and in recent years, K-12 schools have been an increasingly frequent target. These attacks can impact a school’s ability to carry out its educational obligations, protect sensitive student and staff data, and provide a safe and secure learning environment for our nation’s youth.

Our Nation’s students are also spending more time online than ever before, using technology to complete homework, communicate with peers, and engage with teachers and school staff. Our growing dependence on technology systems - coupled with emerging, evolving, and increasingly deceptive cyber threats – demands enhanced awareness and vigilance when it comes to our online world. It is important for schools, parents, and students to stay safe online by taking proactive steps to defend against risks and strengthen cyber safety and security both at home and within schools.

Use the filter below to sort resources available based upon stages of preparedness and subtopic.

Featured Resources

These resources are a starting point for learning about cybersecurity. Use these resources to help implement cybersecurity best practices. Members of the school community can also download this SchoolSafety.gov infographic to learn more about simple steps they can take to reduce their cybersecurity risk posture, this SchoolSafety.gov infographic to access a sampling of cybersecurity resources, and this SchoolSafety.gov infographic to learn more about online safety and related resources.

Report

Partnering to Safeguard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, January 2023

This report provides recommendations and resources to help K-12 schools and school districts address systemic cybersecurity risk. It also provides insight into the current threat landscape specific to the K-12 community and offers simple steps school leaders can take to strengthen their cybersecurity efforts.

Report

#StopRansomware Guide

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Department of Justice, 2023

This guide serves as a one-stop resource to help organizations, including schools, reduce the risk of ransomware incidents through best practices to detect, prevent, respond, and recover, including step-by-step approaches to address potential attacks.

Report

K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief: Defensible & Resilient

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Department of Education, 2023

This brief highlights cybersecurity recommendations and promising practices from states and districts across the country. It is designed to help schools build solutions for their own contexts, and offers examples from the field of those who faced challenges to connectivity, accessibility, cybersecurity, data privacy, and other infrastructure issues and designed solutions for their challenges.

Filter Resources

All Cybersecurity Resources

The federal government identified additional resources that highlight strategies for school safety. Use these resources to learn more about cybersecurity.

Webpage

Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

Department of Education

This webpage provides education stakeholders with information on data privacy, confidentiality, and security practices related to student-level data systems and other uses of student data.

Webpage

Cybersecurity Awareness Program Parent and Educator Resources

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

This webpage offers a variety of resources and materials for educators and parents on cybersecurity awareness and online safety for children and adolescents.

Guidance

Cyber Resources Hub

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

This webpage offers a range of cybersecurity assessments that evaluate operational resilience, cybersecurity practices, organizational management of external dependencies, and other key elements of a robust and resilient cyber framework.