Security & Privacy


$5 Million School Cybersecurity Grant Program Now Open

In response to increases in ransomware attacks in the education sector, IBM is expanding its Education Security Preparedness Grants program, offering $5 million in in-kind grants "to help address cybersecurity resiliency in schools."

CISA Releases Toolkit for Bystander Reporting Programs for K–12 Admins

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center have published a new guide to help K–12 schools strengthen their school safety reporting programs with actionable advice for encouraging students and school stakeholders to report potentially unsafe situations.

Education Impacted by Ransomware More Than Any Other Sector

In its new State of Ransomware 2023 report, data security provider Sophos found that the education sector had been impacted by ransomware significantly more than any other sector.

Applications Open for Women in Cybersecurity Certified Training Camp

The nonprofit organization Women in Cybersecurity has partnered with the Information System Security Certification Consortium, aka (ISC)², to launch their new Certified in Cybersecurity Certification Summer Camp.

Raptor Tech Partners with Foundation on Integrated Response and Reunification Training for Schools

School safety provider Raptor Technologies and The “I Love U Guys” Foundation will integrate the nonprofit’s practical methodologies with Raptor’s software to offer a joint training program to teach schools how to standardize safety procedures and reunifications following emergencies, according to a news release.

Image reads Proofpoint 2023 Voice of the CISO

Two-Thirds of U.S. Education CISOs See Material Cyber Attack as Likely in Next 12 Months

Nearly two-thirds of chief information security officers in the U.S. education sector believe they’re likely to experience a material cyber attack in the next 12 months, and 62% have dealt with a material loss of sensitive information in the past 12 months, according to the newest Voice of the CISO report published this week by cybersecurity company Proofpoint.

K–12 IT Pros See Careless Insiders and Foreign Governments as Top Security Threats

A new survey of public sector IT professionals finds that the biggest data security threats come from a wide range of sources, from simple carelessness to intentional hacking from foreign governments.

Why Educational Institutions are Prone to Ransomware Attacks (and What They Can Do to Protect Themselves)

Ransomware is the most significant cyber threat in the education sector, and K–12 schools and colleges and universities are both targets.

text reads Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot next to CISA logo

CISA Offers Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Notifications to Help Avoid Cyber Incidents

The federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is encouraging public sector and critical infrastructure organizations to enroll in its new Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot program to receive notifications anytime a new relevant vulnerability being exploited by threat actors is identified.

Image shows scales of justice, Aeries SIS logo and Illuminate Education logo

Aeries Settles Data Breach Lawsuit for $1.75M; Illuminate Suit is Dismissed – For Now

Two ed tech providers that suffered data breaches that compromised private student information have seen civil lawsuits reach vastly different results — yet both should serve as a stark warning for ed tech companies collecting student data, a data privacy attorney told THE Journal.