Schools Districts Face Rising Number of Cybersecurity Threats
A recent cyberattack in Minneapolis Public Schools raises questions about security vulnerabilities in other districts.
Last fall, voters in the Osseo School district approved a referendum to provide more than $2.3 million annually to help guard against cybersecurity threats.
“Cybersecurity and cyberattacks, especially in the K-12 sector, have significantly increased since we’ve come out of the pandemic,” said Anthony Padrnos, executive director of technology for Osseo Area Schools. “It’s created a new landscape for how we as technology leaders are looking at how we need to engage and increase and do better levels of protection of what we’re engaging with in the cyberspace.”
Padrnos says that as schools move more into digital learning and operations, it’s common for districts to pay between $250,000 to $500,000 annually for cybersecurity and training to protect against things like phishing emails and ransomware attacks.
Cameras are among the things that Osseo Area Schools will upgrade with the money from the technology levy.
With voters approving the technology levy last fall, Padrnos says it puts the district in a better position to protect important data from cybercriminals.
“We’re very appreciative to our community for passing that and allowing us to continue the great work that we were doing, but also look at how we’re enhancing our technology needs within the school district,” he said.
In addition to cybersecurity, the district is also making physical security upgrades with improved camera systems, new digital radios for staff, and more secure entrances to buildings.
Related: Voters in Osseo School District Approve Levy Referendums
