Among the initiatives were the establishment of a pivotal Government Coordinating Council and the release of three K-12 Digital Infrastructure briefs, including the collaborative publication “K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief: Defensible and Resilient,” co-authored with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The United States Department of Education has announced its key efforts to bolster cybersecurity resilience within K-12 education in preparation for the upcoming back-to-school season.
Among the initiatives were the establishment of a pivotal Government Coordinating Council and the release of three K-12 Digital Infrastructure briefs, including the collaborative publication “K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief: Defensible and Resilient,” co-authored with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
According to a press release, these strategic moves, coupled with the convening of the “Back to School Safely: Cybersecurity Summit for K-12 Schools” at the White House, are set to unite leaders from various sectors to address the critical issue of cybersecurity resilience within K-12 educational institutions.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized the increasing reliance on technology within classrooms and the necessity to manage associated risks effectively.
“Just as we expect everyone in a school system to plan and prepare for physical risks, we must now also ensure everyone helps plan and prepare for digital risks in our schools and classrooms,” he said.
Given the escalating importance of cybersecurity in the digital age, educational infrastructure’s vulnerability has become glaringly apparent.
In line with the efforts to create safe, supportive physical environments, there’s a growing urgency to develop a digital infrastructure that is secure, accessible, resilient, sustainable, and forward-looking.
The Government Coordinating Council will serve as a hub for collaboration and communication across federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as the education sector. Its primary objective is to enhance cyber defenses and resilience within K-12 schools, with a strong focus on coordinating responses to cyber threats and attacks. The initiative aligns with the Department’s overarching strategy to safeguard educational institutions against cybersecurity risks.
CISA Director Jen Easterly underscored the significance of safeguarding digital networks and systems within K-12 districts.
She urged administrators, school districts, and teachers to engage with the recently released publication to better understand the importance of securing digital infrastructure and to implement recommended actions to mitigate risks.
The “Back to School Safely: Cybersecurity Summit for K-12 Schools” hosted by the White House stands as a pivotal platform for addressing the complex challenges faced by educators, students, and families in the digital realm.
The summit will delve into key considerations outlined in the recently published joint effort between the Department’s Office of Educational Technology and CISA, titled “K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief: Defensible and Resilient.”
These considerations encompass proactive risk management, analogies from the physical world to comprehend cybersecurity challenges, prioritizing mitigation strategies, building resilience for cyber incidents, and advocating for enhanced security through vendor engagement.
The department is also set to release two more K-12 Digital Infrastructure briefs titled “Adequate and Future-Proof” and “Privacy-Enhancing, Interoperable and Useful.”
