K-12: Learning How to Protect Against Ransomware

Our nation’s K-12 schools are data-rich, but often resource-poor. That combination makes them very attractive targets for ransomware attacks. The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, part of the Center for Internet Security, just released a new report that 29% of its member organization reported being victims of ransomware attacks – and the rapid expansion of remote learning in response to the pandemic has only made the problem worse.

The federal government recognizes the scope of the problem Last year’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $1 billion in federal grants to improve state and local government cybersecurity between 2022 and 2025. States are required to match a certain percentage of the grants, and must submit a plan to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency with a statewide planning committee. K-12 school systems have to compete against other parts of state and local governments for grants. Meanwhile, cyber insurance for K-12 is getting more complicated and expensive.

But there are a number of actions that school systems can take to mitigate their risks and be better prepared for recovering. Join us as thought leaders from government and industry outline their experiences in helping K-12 institutions improve their defenses, make use of available resources and strategies to maximize funding.