School cyber attacks have become increasingly common as the education system uses more digital tech. As cybercrime awareness rises, it has become clear that vulnerabilities endanger teachers as well as their students.

Therefore, if educators want to stay safe, something needs to change. So, what exactly can we do about it? Let's find out below.

The Importance of Cybersecurity in Education

people sitting at a wooden table with an assortment of laptops and electronic devices

Cybersecurity threats in education institutions have skyrocketed since the onset of COVID-19. According to the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center, 408 publicly disclosed cybersecurity events targeted K-12 schools in 2020 alone, an 18 percent rise above 2019 and the second straight annual record. Data breaches accounted for 36 percent of these incidents, and while most of these targeted students, many affected teachers' data, too.

Teachers became more vulnerable to cybercriminals as they used more online learning platforms amid COVID lockdowns. Some criminals have malware in online textbooks and documents that students and teachers download. Others hack into remote learning sessions to interrupt lessons and share inappropriate content.

While cybercrime awareness has risen, many school systems' tech adoption still outpaces their security upgrades. Now that it's clear that these digital platforms will become a permanent fixture, they must become more secure to prevent school cyber attacks.

How Can Teachers Stay Safe From Cyberattacks?

Data breaches against teachers can have severe consequences. While teachers can deduct some COVID-related expenses through the COVID Tax Relief Act, many have struggled financially amid the pandemic. Losing money through stolen identities or ransomware could take a significant toll.

Thankfully, teachers and the school systems they work for can adapt to minimize cybersecurity threats in education institutions.

What Can Schools Do to Ensure Teachers' Safety?

The backs of students turned towards a lecturing teacher

One of the most critical steps is increasing cyber crime awareness among staff. As reported by Newswire, more than half of data breaches in education stem from insider actions. Schools should train anyone with access to staff data on cybersecurity best practices. These practices include using strong, varied passwords and knowing how to spot phishing attempts.

School systems should also research digital tools before they use them. Vulnerabilities in third-party software vendors can threaten teachers' data, so schools should verify that these tools are secure. That includes looking for features like end-to-end encryption and researching companies' past data breach history.

Finally, schools can install stronger cybersecurity controls on staff devices. Every device on the school network should have up-to-date anti-malware software and virtual private networks (VPNs). Segmenting networks to limit how criminals can move between devices will help, too.

What Can Teachers Do to Protect Themselves?

Teachers can also take cybersecurity into their own hands. Some of the most important steps align with those schools should require, like using strong password management.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers cybersecurity teaching resources educators can use. These include lesson plans for teaching students good security habits and professional development courses to improve their own security. These cybersecurity teaching resources will help promote the best practices and increase awareness.

Teachers should continuously update their software as soon as possible to protect it from newly discovered vulnerabilities. If their school system doesn't provide any, they should download security software to encrypt their data and block malware. It's also vital to make offline backups of any sensitive data to minimize the damage if a breach does occur.

School Cyber Attacks Demand Attention

Cybersecurity threats in education institutions may be new ground for teachers, but they're growing. Learning about these threats and how to stop them is crucial if educators want to stay safe in today's environment.

Following these steps will help schools and their staff protect teachers—who can, in turn, protect students. As more schools embrace these practices, education could become a less vulnerable and, consequently, less valuable cybercrime target.