Why MFA is Critical for Your District’s Security!
Why MFA is Critical for Your District’s Security!
Earlier this year, Hamilton Community Schools in Michigan found themselves in the news—not because of a technical breakthrough, but because of a cybersecurity failure. Despite having insurance, they faced denied coverage for a $50,000 ransomware attack. The reason? Their cyber insurance required Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), but they hadn’t implemented it. You can read more about it here.
This is a cautionary tale we can all learn from.
Why MFA Matters
MFA is one of the most effective ways to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. Most data breaches stem from compromised credentials, and MFA provides the extra layer that stops attackers in their tracks. By enabling MFA, you are protecting not only district data but also the privacy and security of your staff, students, and families.
Acknowledging the Start-of-School Demands
We know the start of school is a busy and demanding season for administrators and technical teams. Your work is essential, and we deeply appreciate the effort you put into both launching a successful school year and maintaining strong security practices.
Next Steps
Our goal is for all Qmlativ districts to have MFA (or an approved SSO solution) in place by the start of the 2025-26 school year.
- WSIPC will audit MFA implementation by September 30.
- Districts not in compliance will receive a follow-up request to address implementation by October 30, either by sharing a plan for implementation or formally declining to implement.
- If MFA will not be implemented during the 2025-26 school year, your district will receive a formal letter requesting acknowledgment of ownership of the associated security risk. Please note that Skyward intends to make MFA mandatory during the 2026-2027 school year.
If you have not yet enabled MFA, we strongly encourage you to begin now to protect your systems and avoid a compliance follow-up.
Thank you for your leadership and for making security a priority during this critical time of year. Together, we can ensure that our educational community remains safe and secure.
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