Five Tools for School Leaders to Combat Cyber Threats

by Annette Smith, Director of Instructional Technology Services, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

It takes everyone in the organization working toward the same goal to prevent a cyber incident. No matter how good the systems, if a user clicks on one wrong link or leaves one door open, all the best practices go right out the door. Below are four tools to help you prevent and prepare for a cyber attack, and one that helps if you are the victim of an attack.

Practice good cyber hygiene.
Use strong passwords and train your staff to do the same.
Install a firewall.
Backup, backup, backup.
Call the cyber response team! (put this number in your cell phone, please - 1-800-943-0003)

Practice good cyber hygiene by tracking your assets, both hardware and software. Know what you have and where it is located. Make sure you patch and update all your hardware and software, automating the process whenever possible.

Always follow secure configuration practices, including changing and using secure password recommendations. For example make your password a phrase that includes numbers and symbols. Longer is better and always change the default password. Remember this is everyone's responsibility. (Use a password storage solution like LastPass or Thycotic to store all your passwords so you don’t need sticky notes).

Make sure you have a firewall protecting your environment. If possible, a next generation firewall is preferred. That firewall should have the most recent available updates at all times.

Not only should you have a backup, that backup should be backed up in a different location with a separate layer of security. That way if your first backup is attacked, stolen, wiped, or locked, you can go to the second backup that is segmented from the initial attack. AND, make sure you test your backup and recovery systems at least annually.

Finally, if you are the victim of an attack, PLEASE, call the Wisconsin Cyber Response Team (CST) at 800-943-0003. The WEM officer will answer 24/7 and assist in getting the right resources to assist. There is no cost for this service to public schools and libraries across the state.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please reach out to [email protected].