[2-Part Series] Cybersecurity Threat Mitigation (Ransomware And Threat Modeling)

Ransomware: Learn How to Keep Your District’s Systems and Data Safe

On September 3, 2020 Los Angeles Unified School District discovered a ransomware attack that “temporarily disabled systems, froze others and had access to some degree of data.” If the second largest district in the country could fall victim to such an attack, yours could easily be next. Hackers are aggressively pursuing schools, recognizing the potential for fast payouts and access to troves of valuable data.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “District staff recognized the breach quickly and took fast action that may have averted an operational disaster.” You need similar tools and processes to identify and mitigate attacks on your systems.

You cannot afford to allow ransomware to infect your school or district. High removal costs, system downtime, and leaks of confidential information will hurt your students, staff, and reputation. On top of that, you may pay a hefty ransom, fueling the unscrupulous attackers and stealing money from education. It is not sufficient to leave the response to information technology staff—all district and site leaders must be knowledgeable, responsive, and involved to prevent attacks and limit their spread.

Cybersecurity experts Daniel Chew and Art Taryan will demystify ransomware and explain the scary details of how cyberattacks breach schools and districts. You will learn how to be ready when hackers strike.