Whether schools choose to continue remote education, use a hybrid education model or return full-time to campus, some form of virtual teaching system will figure into every school’s plan, even if only as a contingency. With every jurisdiction constructing their own approach to virtual education — then adjusting it in response to a rapidly evolving pandemic — cybersecurity risks abound.

Schools are particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks right now because they have been forced to completely re-envision and restructure the way they teach students. More likely than not, the IT department — charged with distributing tens of thousands of devices to students and keeping those devices and the network secure — suddenly seems understaffed.

The combination of minimal preparation time, changing protocols and tight budgets can create a breeding ground for cybersecurity risks. Still, there are low-cost tactics schools can employ to protect their systems from cybercrime.