Are There Cybersecurity Standards for the Public Education Sector?

Public schools in the U.S. are often becoming the target of cybercriminals. There is growing concern for network security for schools. Cyberattacks on schools can impact their data security or privacy.

A school may lose the trust of the public and have compliance issues. They can also have problems raising funds. Therefore, schools need to adopt strict cybersecurity standards to protect their information.

What Makes Public Education a Prime Target for Cyber Threats?

Hackers target public schools to collect valuable personal information. The school often lacks a robust cybersecurity system to safeguard its data.

Several reasons make the public education sector more vulnerable to cyberattacks:

Large Volumes of Sensitive Data

Public schools can collect much sensitive information from staff and students. They can collect the Social Security Numbers of students and their parents. They can keep the student's health and immunization records. Cybercriminals often target this data to ask for ransom. They threaten to make this public if they don't get it.

Limited IT Budgets and Outdated Infrastructure

Many schools in the public education sector have budget problems. So they can’t follow strong IT security standards even if they want to. They also operate on outdated network security or IT infrastructure. These resource limitations make them an easy target for cybercriminals.

Rise of Remote Learning and Unsecure Endpoints

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have turned to remote and hybrid learning as popular alternatives to traditional classroom settings. Students connect virtually to a classroom from their homes in this type of learning.

They use tablets, smartphones, or laptops to participate in online classes. Students and educators use a shared network in remote or hybrid settings. The devices connected to the shared network often lack adequate endpoint protection. Hackers can exploit this opportunity to steal data from the unsecured devices.

Real-World Cases of Cyber Attacks

Cyberattacks on schools not only disrupt learning, but they also put the privacy of students and their families at risk.

• In 2020, Baltimore County Public Schools was hit by ransomware. Classes were shut down for almost a week, affecting more than 115,000 students.
• In 2022, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second-largest school system in the U.S., suffered a ransomware attack. It exposed sensitive data and disrupted operations for months.
• There is a nonprofit organization that works to protect U.S. schools from cyber threats. This organization also researches cyberattack incidents. It reported that in 2021, 166 schools disclosed that they had a cyberattack.

Core Cybersecurity Standards for Schools and Colleges

Cybersecurity standards can secure remote learning and protect sensitive data in schools. They also provide clear steps to reduce safety risk and ensure compliance.

A. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)

This framework is built around five key functions, which are the following:

• Identify: Determine the resources to protect, which may include devices, applications, and data.
• Protect: Secure systems with access controls, encryption, and training.
• Detect: Use monitoring tools to spot unusual activity early
• Respond: Have a plan to contain and handle cyber incidents.
  Recover: Restore systems quickly and continue school operations.

B. Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls

It outlines 18 essential practices against common cyber threats. They focus on areas like device management, secure system configuration, and continuous monitoring.
Schools can get custom guidance on implementing CIS controls through K12 SIX. This guidance makes it easier for district schools to protect their IT system.

C. FERPA, CIPA, and COPPA

In the U.S., there are several federal laws for protecting student records. These laws form the foundation of data privacy. They set rules for collecting, storing, and protecting student data from unauthorized access.

Some of these major laws are the following.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

This act was passed in 1974, and it protects the privacy of student education records. It gives parents and students the right to access and request corrections to records. School must have written consent to share personally identifiable information (PII). Violation of this act can lead to loss of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act)

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) became law in 2000. It ties federal funding, such as E-rate internet discounts, to school internet safety rules. Schools must use filters and monitoring tools to block harmful content like pornography. They must also teach students how to stay safe online against cyberbullying and when using social media. If schools fail to follow these rules, they can lose E-rate funding that helps keep internet access affordable.

COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing COPA. This law controls how websites, apps, and online services collect data from children under 13. According to this act, parental consent must be taken to collect specific information from students. 
It is necessary to have parental consent to collect some personal information from students. This information can include names, addresses, or location data. Schools need to be careful when using education apps or online tools to ensure compliance with these regulations.

The Consequences of Non-Compliance

Violating privacy regulations can lead to consequences such as fines and loss of government funding. More importantly, such violations can break the trust between schools and parents. 

Best Practices for Cybersecurity in Public Education

Public educational institutions must protect the sensitive personal information they store from cyberattacks. They must follow some effective cybersecurity practices to protect their IT systems.

Some of those practices can be the following:

1. Perform annual risk assessments

Schools should conduct a risk assessment every year on their IT security standards. This assessment can help them identify weaknesses in security systems. Some of these weaknesses can be outdated software, weak passwords, or poorly secured networks. It will provide them with a roadmap to improve their digital security.

2. Implement multi-factor authentication and secure access policies

Using a strong password may not be enough to keep a network secure. So, schools should take measures to protect accounts even if their passwords get stolen. They can use multi-factor authentication for logging in to their systems. For example, they may need to provide a code after trying to log in with their password. The authentication system usually sends this code to their device or email. So the hackers often struggle to manage this code.

3. Keep systems patched and up to date

Hackers often look for known vulnerabilities in software and hardware. Schools must install updates and security patches as soon as they are released. A clear patch management process prevents delays and ensures all devices are up-to-date.

4. Educate staff and students on cybersecurity hygiene

An organization can have a cyberattack even with the strongest IT security measures. So it is also important for their stakeholders to be aware of cybersecurity best practices. Public schools can hold training programs to create cyber awareness. These programs should cover topics such as spotting phishing emails and responsible use of devices.

5. Plan for backup, recovery, and incident response

A school or organization can have a cyberattack even after following all the best practices. Therefore, it is important to have a plan to respond to an attack. This plan should include having a data backup, clear recovery procedures, and an incident response team. Having a plan in advance reduces network downtime and facilitates a quick recovery.

Challenges Schools Face in Meeting These Standards

Cybersecurity for schools depends a lot on following several standards and regulations. However, schools often can’t comply with those because of several limitations, including the following:

1. Lack of dedicated IT personnel

Many schools don’t have their own IT or cybersecurity experts. They manage their networks and IT security with teachers, administrators, or part-time technicians. Sometimes, schools need to depend on third-party IT experts. This limitation can slow down their response to cyber threats and create gaps in protection.

2. Budget constraints and legacy systems

Public education institutions often have limited budgets. They need to prioritize other needs over upgrading firewalls, replacing outdated servers, or buying software for network protection. Many schools use outdated IT or network security systems, which can’t block the latest cybersecurity threats.

3. Compliance fatigue and evolving standards

There are several regulations schools need to follow, such as FERPA in the U.S. and GDPR in Europe. There are also cybersecurity frameworks like Cyber Essentials or NIST. These standards often change over time, which creates compliance fatigue. IT staff can have difficulties staying up-to-date with the new requirements.

How Usherwood Helps Schools Stay Compliant and Protected

It can be difficult for schools to comply with cybersecurity standards without having a team of IT experts. Usherwood has managed IT and cybersecurity services designed to protect educational institutions from the latest cyber threats.

Our team gives custom support for K-12 and higher education institutions. We can help secure your school network and data. 

We have IT experts who can guide you through compliance frameworks like NIST, CIS, and FERPA. With long experience as an IT solution provider, we can help you with network monitoring, staff training, and incident response support.

Final Thoughts: Why Standards Aren’t Optional Anymore

Schools must follow cybersecurity standards to protect their data and IT systems. Data breach incidents or cyberattacks can have a serious impact on a school. It can lead to losing the trust of parents, ineligibility for funding, and serious legal consequences. 
The students, staff, and their families can be at risk when their personal information gets leaked. So it is no longer just a choice for them to comply with the cybersecurity standards.

Usherwood helps K–12 and high schools stay safe from cyberattacks and data breaches. We identify weak spots, address security gaps, and offer ongoing protection to reduce risks.

Need help securing your school’s records, IT systems, or network? Contact us today for a free assessment of your IT system.