With technology playing an increasingly integral role in our lives, making sure that our schools are safe from potential cyber threats is of utmost importance. The challenge lies in balancing the need for safety with the use of essential technology tools and resources. Here are five best practices to ensure your school’s security:
Ensure Secure Passwords:
Passwords provide a first line of defense against cyberattacks and must be strong in order to protect school devices, network, and data. Encourage students and faculty to use passwords that contain a combination of upper & lowercase letters, numbers & symbols. Additionally, enable two-factor authentication for all accounts where available.
Educate Staff:
Cyber security threats are constantly evolving and it’s essential to keep everyone in the loop. Educate all school staff about best practices such as not clicking on suspicious links, updating passwords regularly, and the importance of using secure Wi-Fi connections.
Use Firewalls:
Firewalls protect your network from malicious attempts at accessing or disrupting its operations. Ensure your school’s firewall is constantly updated and configured to fit the specific needs of your school environment.
Monitor Activity:
Monitoring network traffic can help identify cyber threats early on and prevent attacks before they happen. Implement systems that monitor all activity on a regular basis for suspicious activity such as data leakage, malware or ransomware attempts, and unapproved access to secure systems.
Backup Data:
Having regular backups of your school’s data is a must for any cyber security strategy. Regularly back up mission-critical data on a secure, off-site server so that it can be recovered quickly if needed. Additionally, ensure that all backups are tested regularly and updated as necessary.
By taking these five steps, you can greatly reduce the chances of a successful cyber attack on your school. It’s important to stay vigilant and continuously update security protocols in order to keep your school and its data safe.