District leaders have a lot to think about when it comes to implementing and navigating remote learning during school closures. But they must not forget about how crucial it is to have cybersecurity measures in place before rolling out their e-learning plans.

Schools are already increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Since 2016, there have been more than 800 cybersecurity-related incidents affecting U.S. K–12 public schools and districts, according to the K–12 Cyber Incident Map.

Those threats are even more apparent when students, educators and other school staff have to learn and work from home — especially in times of crisis.

Earlier this month, the FBI released a public service announcement noting they anticipated that “cyber actors will exploit increased use of virtual environments” as a result of COVID-19.

The FBI advised academic institutions using digital tools for remote learning and teaching to consider the risks associated with them. They also indicated that schools should closely monitor students’ online activity as the “rapid incorporation of education technology (edtech) and online learning could have privacy and safety implications.”

“With more teachers and students online, particularly if they’re doing it from less controlled environments outside of the school, the attack surface of the school community is increased,” Doug Levin, founder and president of the K–12 Cybersecurity Resource Center, tells Education Week. “In many cases, all it takes is for one person to make a mistake in a school community for a school district network to get infected, or a data breach to happen.”