K12 SIX Updates Cybersecurity Guidance for School Districts
In observance of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, K12 SIX is pleased to publicly release the 2023 – 2024 school year updates to its Essential Cybersecurity Protections series.
Developed by K-12 IT practitioners, for K-12 IT practitioners—and aligned to cybersecurity risk management best practices—the K12 SIX Essential Cybersecurity Protections series establishes baseline cybersecurity standards for U.S. school districts and provides guidance and tools to support their implementation. The series includes:
K12 SIX Essential Cybersecurity Protections for the 2023-2024 School Year: What K-12 Leaders Need to Know- communicates a short list of actionable cybersecurity protections that all school districts should prioritize for implementation
K12 SIX Essential Cybersecurity Protections for the 2023-2024 School Year: Implementation Standards- defines implementation standards for each of the K12 SIX recommended protections
K12 SIX Cybersecurity District Self-Assessment Tool for the 2023-2024 School Year- helps K-12 leaders prioritize time and resources in addressing the cybersecurity risks facing their school community
While there is no shortage of general cybersecurity guidance available from government and private organizations, K-12 education leaders face unique context and constraints when implementing cybersecurity defenses in a school setting.
“What may be essential to a Fortune 500 company may not be as essential to a school district outside Chicago, and vice versa. The K12 SIX Essential Cybersecurity Protections were designed by K-12, for K-12,” said Tony Dotts, Information Security Manager at Community High School District 99 in Illinois.
David Mendez, Information Security Manager at Region 10 Education Service Center in Texas added, “It can be daunting and a bit overwhelming to navigate the labyrinth of cybersecurity frameworks, guidelines, and best practices, especially in K12! However, the K12 SIX Essential Cybersecurity Protections, with its simplicity, clarity, and actionable guidelines, provides a robust starting point toward bolstering the resilience of our school districts' ever evolving cyber risks."
K12 SIX-recommended practices are designed to defend against the most common cyber threats facing schools, including those identified by K12 SIX, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, and school insurance carriers. Careful consideration has been made to emphasize protective measures that can be reasonably and cost-effectively implemented in most typical school settings.
Speaking of her involvement in the development of these new resources, Dellea Underwood, Assistant Director of Technology for Frederick County Public Schools in Virginia shared, “It has been a privilege to collaborate with K-12 school systems of varying sizes across the country on a project that can benefit all other school districts! Together, by sharing our stories we can build a stronger future for all K-12s!”
Learn more and download the new guidance for free at https://www.k12six.org/essentials-series.