K–12 environments are prime targets for hackers due to the sensitive information they hold and historically underdeveloped security measures. As a former K–12 CTO in Indiana and Georgia for more than 25 years, I saw many school districts dealt a devastating blow by cybersecurity breaches and attacks, many of which happened as the result of an overall lack of funding, awareness, support and staff expertise.
The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the situation, as many schools leapt quickly into virtual learning environments, exposing more staff and students to vulnerabilities. Educators and IT…