3 Things You Can Do Today to Strengthen Your District’s Cybersecurity!
3 Things You Can Do Today to Strengthen Your District’s Cybersecurity
In today’s connected education environment, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue—it’s a student safety issue, a financial issue, and a trust issue. Every district, regardless of size or budget, faces a constant flow of evolving cyber threats. The good news is that there are practical, high-impact steps you can take right now to strengthen your district’s security posture and reduce risk.
Here are three actions your district can take today to make an immediate difference:
1. Update and Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Passwords alone are no longer enough to protect your systems. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an essential layer of defense by requiring users to verify their identity through a second factor—such as a text message, authentication app, or hardware token.
What you can do today:
- Confirm that MFA is enabled for all staff and administrative accounts, especially those with access to sensitive data or system controls.
- Expand MFA to include students if your platform allows it.
- Review exception lists and remove any unnecessary exclusions.
A few minutes spent enabling MFA could prevent a costly breach tomorrow. Check out these tips: MFA FAQs.
2. Back Up Data—and Make It Immutable
A secure, verified backup is your safety net when ransomware or data loss occurs. However, not all backups are created equal. Attackers often target backups first to prevent recovery.
What you can do today:
- Ensure your critical systems and data are backed up regularly—daily if possible.
- Store copies offsite and in a cloud environment with immutable backup capabilities (which prevent data from being altered or deleted).
- Test your recovery process quarterly to confirm you can restore data quickly and completely.
Immutable, offsite backups mean that even if your network is compromised, your recovery path remains secure.
3. Educate and Empower Your Staff
Human error remains the number one cause of security incidents. Continuous education is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your cybersecurity posture.
What you can do today:
- Share short, practical reminders about recognizing phishing emails, using strong passwords, and reporting suspicious activity.
- Conduct simulated phishing exercises to raise awareness and improve response times.
- Encourage a “see something, say something” culture—every staff member plays a role in cybersecurity.
Even a single informed employee can be the difference between an attempted attack and a successful breach.
Building a Culture of Security
Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time project—it’s a shared responsibility. By taking these three actions today, districts can immediately strengthen their defenses while building a long-term culture of awareness and resilience.
Looking for Cybersecurity Tools?
If you’re looking for vendors to help improve your security, check out our WSIPC Purchasing Program partners. Each vendor who becomes a part of the WSIPC Purchasing Program has been awarded a bid contract through an official RFP process in compliance with Washington State Procurement RCWs.
Our WSIPC Purchasing Program partners provide solutions that help schools like yours stay secure, compliant, and ready for whatever comes next. Learn more here: WSIPC Purchasing Program.
WSIPC is a non-profit public agency that provides technology solutions, services, and support to K-12 schools. WSIPC’s purpose is to help schools do more with every dollar and to empower them with the tools to work smarter. To learn how your district can become part of the WSIPC Cooperative, contact us at info@wsipc.org or 425.349.6600.
WSIPC. Inspired by education. Empowered by technology.TM