Getting Started with Cybersecurity
CoSN’s EdTech Leadership Survey consistently identifies cybersecurity as a top priority for school system IT Leaders. School system leaders, including technology leaders, need to protect their networks and information security, analyze their current status, and validate what they are doing well. CoSN provides tools and resources that provide insight into how risk can be further reduced in ways that help technology leaders contribute to their schools' primary goals of teaching and learning. We also offer assistance to district technology leaders who are working to ensure safety for both students and staff.
CoSN Cybersecurity Project Director: Amy McLaughlin, MS, MA, CETL, CISM, CHPS, CDPSE, CISSP, amclaughlin@cosn.org.
CoSN staff contact: Jill Brown, MA, Ph.D., Director of Professional Learning, jbrown@cosn.org
2025 CIS MS-ISAC K-12 Cybersecurity Report: Where Education Meets Community Resilience
The Center for Internet Security, in partnership with CoSN, has released an 18-month, retrospective study of cyber threat trends and defensive impact in K-12 education. This report examines how K-12 organizations are responding to these challenges through collaboration, preparation, and a deep understanding that cybersecurity in education is fundamentally about protecting people, not just technology. Access the report by clicking here.
Don Ringelestein, CETL, CISSP, CISM, CAPM, ITILv4, Executive Director of Technology at Yorkville CUSD 115.
Addressing Cybersecurity in K-12 Organizations
The Foundation of effective cybersecurity practices is planning.
Preparation is key to preventing attacks and protecting your organizational systems.
Implementation of your cybersecurity program requires a systematic approach. These resources can streamline the process.
Preparedness is what separates a botched response from a secure one.
K-12CVAT: K-12 Community Vendor Assessment Tool Lite-V4.1
CoSN is excited to share the K-12CVAT, based off the Educause Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Tool – Lite (HECVAT-Lite), but geared specifically towards K-12 education.
CoSN Cybersecurity Professional Development Opportunities
- Cybersecurity in K-12 Schools Facilitated Online Course
- Creating Cybersecurity and Incident Response Plans: Cybersecurity Online Workshop 101
- Cybersecurity on a Shoestring Budget Online Workshop 201
- Planning & Running Tabletop Incident Response Exercises Cybersecurity Online Workshop 301
- Cybersecurity Insider Threat: Employee - Incident Response Online Workshop #1
- Cybersecurity Insider Threat: Student - Incident Response Online Workshop #2
- Cybersecurity External Threat: System Infiltration - Incident Response Online Workshop #3
- CoSN also offers affordable customized courses and in-house professional development options for schools or districts. We can provide nationally recognized subject matter expert instructors or fully developed courses for you to facilitate with in-house experts in our LMS.
K-12 Cybersecurity Advisory Committee
CoSN’s EdTech Leadership Survey consistently identifies cybersecurity as a top priority for school system IT Leaders. The CoSN Cybersecurity advisory seeks to support school leaders in their efforts to support school system leaders, including technology leaders, to protect their networks and provide information security, analyze their current status, and validate what they are doing well. Members of the committee share their knowledge and expertise in a number of ways including contributing to ongoing conversations and creation of CoSN resources as well as identifying districts who might serve as exemplars for their work. The group meets monthly for a one-hour meeting with some occasional time for subgroup discussions or input asynchronously. The committee meets remotely once a month for an hour.
Extend Your Learning
CoSN offers ongoing professional development opportunities focused on Cybersecurity for you and your team. These opportunities are open to all, CoSN members enjoy exclusive discounts.
- Cybersecurity Online Courses
- Workshops
- Tabletop Exercises
- Webinars
- Podcasts
Thanks to Our Initiative Sponsors
Thanks to Our Strategic Partner
