Cybersecurity
Services, resources, and professional learning to help technology leaders plan for and respond to emerging digital threats.
Helping districts foster a secure learning environment
Educational institutions are among today’s most prevalent targets for cyber attacks, including phishing and ransomware. The LTC can help your district strengthen its shield against these evolving threats through our growing portfolio of affordable services and actionable resources.
We also host SecurED Schools, an annual virtual conference focused on furthering the conversation surrounding cybersecurity and data privacy best practices, strategies, and tools.
Protecting Our Future: Partnering to Safeguard K–12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats
This report, created by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, provides recommendations and resources to help K-12 schools and school districts address systemic cybersecurity risk.
Tabletop Exercises (TTX)
Center for Internet Security (CIS) Tabletop exercises are available for use with users, administrators, and technical professionals. Tabletop exercises are meant to help organizations consider different risk scenarios and prepare for potential cyber threats. All of the exercises can be completed in as little as 15 minutes, making them a convenient tool for putting your team in the cybersecurity mindset. In addition, each scenario will list the processes that are tested, threat actors that are identified, and the assets that are impacted.
K12 SIX
Learn more about the K12 Security Information Exchange (K12 SIX). The K12 Security Information Exchange (K12 SIX) is the only national non-profit organization solely dedicated to protecting the U.S. K12 community—including school districts, charter schools, private schools, and regional and state education agencies—from emerging cybersecurity threats.
CoSN Cybersecurity Toolkit
Controlling access to organizational systems and resources is an essential element of cybersecurity. The traditional approach to access control has been to assign usernames with complex password requirements, generally a combination of up to eight letters, numbers, and special characters. However, in an era of sophisticated hackers and cybercriminals, this cybersecurity approach is no longer adequate. Download our new Authentication Management Toolkit to improve your security stance.
USCC Cyber Quests
Cyber Quests are a series of fun but challenging on-line competitions allowing participants to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of information security realms. Each quest features an artifact for analysis, along with a series of quiz questions. Some quests focus on a potentially vulnerable sample web server as the artifact, challenging participants to identify its flaws using vulnerability analysis skills. Other quests are focused around forensic analysis, packet capture analysis, and more. The quests have varying levels of difficulty and complexity, with some quests geared toward beginners, while others include more intermediate and ultimately advanced material.
Funding Office Hours: FCC K-12 Cybersecurity Pilot Program
Want to know more about the FCC’s new K-12 Cybersecurity Pilot program? Join the LTC’s funding expert for program updates, guidance, and answers to your questions about the application process.
Be Connected: Cybersecurity Basics for Teachers
Every teacher plays a crucial role in keeping digital learning environments safe. Discover cybersecurity skills relevant to your job role on this teacher-focused Be Connected!
ROE #3 Cybersecurity Workshop for District Leaders
During this workshop, district leaders (including superintendents and technology directors) will participate in a Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise, which simulates a real-world cyber attack in a controlled, scenario-based environment. Through this simulation, your leadership team can test their district’s response strategy and uncover potential vulnerabilities worth addressing before a real threat comes knocking.
Be Connected: Securing your Physical Environment
Let’s get physical on this week’s Be Connected, where we’ll focus on best practices for securing your school’s physical network environment, including managing access controls, securing hardware, and monitoring network activity.
ROE 8 Cybersecurity Workshop for District Leaders
Join the Learning Technology Center for an engaging and critical workshop where your district’s leadership team, including superintendents and technology directors, will participate in a Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise. This session simulates a real-world cyber attack in a controlled, scenario-based environment to test and enhance your district’s response strategies.
Illinois Education and Technology Conference 2024 (IETC)
Learn, collaborate, and connect with fellow edtech enthusiasts and leaders during a multi-day professional learning experience ideal for collaborating one-on-one with peers and forging meaningful connections.
SecurED Schools
Join fellow K-12 technology leaders and staff for two days of collaborative learning focused on cybersecurity and data privacy – all led by peers and industry experts with experience in today’s educational technology environment.
The Day the Internet Died: A Teacher’s Toolkit for Cyberattacks
This immersive workshop plunges you into the heart of a cyberattack, where carefully crafted digital lesson plans become useless, administrators scramble to communicate, and anxiety ripples through the school community.
The Day the Internet Died: A Teacher’s Toolkit for Cyberattacks
This immersive workshop plunges you into the heart of a cyberattack, where carefully crafted digital lesson plans become useless, administrators scramble to communicate, and anxiety ripples through the school community.
The Day the Internet Died: A Teacher’s Toolkit for Cyberattacks
This immersive workshop plunges you into the heart of a cyberattack, where carefully crafted digital lesson plans become useless, administrators scramble to communicate, and anxiety ripples through the school community.
Cybersecurity Crisis Response Groups: How They Can Keep your District Secure
In the event of a cyber incident, who ya gonna call? Unfortunately, the Ghostbusters can’t help you here. But your friends and peers sure can.
See how a cybersecurity crisis response group can keep your district’s digital environment safe – before, during, and after a crisis.
2023 Education Conferences for Teachers, Administrators & Coaches
No matter your role in education and technology, conferences remain one of the best places to explore new strategies, discover new resources, and connect with peers. Check out all of these note-worthy edtech conferences coming up in 2023!
4 Cybersecurity Tips for School Staff & Students
Each October, the US recognizes Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a multi-week opportunity for everyone – including K-12 school districts – to recommit themselves to protecting digital networks and data. Here are a few quick tips to help your staff and students better understand their role in keeping educational networks secure.