Cybersecurity threats against K-12 schools have been rising sharply in recent years. At K12 Montana, we track these threats closely because the districts we serve - including small rural Montana schools - are not exempt. In fact, smaller districts are sometimes easier targets because they have fewer resources dedicated to IT security.
Here's what school leaders need to understand about the email threat landscape, and what practical steps you can take.
The vast majority of school data breaches start with a phishing email - a message designed to trick a staff member into clicking a bad link or handing over login credentials. These emails have gotten sophisticated. They can look like a message from your superintendent, your HR system, or even Google itself.
Once an attacker is inside a staff email account, the damage can be significant: access to student data, financial information, other staff accounts, and internal systems. They can also use the account to send phishing emails to others in your organization, making the problem spread fast.
The most impactful thing you can do right now, at basically no cost, is enforce 2-factor authentication for all staff. Even if an attacker gets a password, they can't log in without the second factor. This single control stops the vast majority of account takeover attacks.
Beyond 2FA, training matters. Staff who know what phishing looks like are far less likely to click on a bad link. Even a short annual refresher on recognizing suspicious emails makes a real difference.
If your district uses Google Workspace, you already have access to significant security tooling: security alerts, suspicious login detection, and administrative controls over what apps can access staff accounts. These tools are only useful if someone is paying attention to them.
K12 Montana helps Montana school districts build practical, right-sized cybersecurity programs. From 2FA enforcement to security awareness, we can help your district take the right steps without overcomplicating things. Contact us to talk about where to start.