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The Education Cybersecurity Weekly is a curated weekly news overview for those who are concerned about Education industry. It provides brief summaries and links to articles and news across a spectrum of cybersecurity and technology topics that are specific to the industry.

School data centers security problems

Education Dive on July 18, 2018

Schools become more data-dependent as they possess the amount of data that grows regularly. This fact makes data centers form the backbone of the institution. To resolve security issues, schools can contract with other vendors and keep data in the cloud, but then, laws related to the use of data and privacy should be considered. The location of a data center can be as significant as cybersecurity measures, which cannot be understated taking into consideration the point that education is a hacker’s preferred target. Caring about servers, temperature and humidity conditions can save administrators’ problems in the long run.

Districts have to ensure that the data centers are accessible with necessary space, organized and located in special places that aren’t with the right temperatures, and have backups. Both hiring IT consultants who would help develop a contingency plan and allocating the budget for this can be an aide.

Facial recognition tech for schools

WIRED on July 17, 2018

Is using facial recognition technology a good thing to make schools safer? Initially, the facial recognition technology was meant to help an app identify people in photos. However, the technology could be used for addressing more pressing problems. Now, the tool integrated with camera systems can help educational organizations monitor those who get to their front doors and filter visitors. But a new question arises – how to balance privacy and security and apply it properly? The use of similar products is debated as it has a chance to be abused by private companies and authorities. In terms of students, it can exacerbate racial disparities and face concerns. Still, testing the tool’s accuracy among different demographics is key.

Keeping pace with cybersecurity technologies

New Straits Times on July 18, 2018

Constant learning is necessary to stay up to date with the current state of cybersecurity and its developments. The Faculty of Information Science and Technology at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) is cognizant of this and developed the Master of Cyber Security program for IT staff.

The program is a collaboration between UKM and CyberSecurity Malaysia for those who want to use knowledge and upgrade skills and come up with effective solutions to cybersecurity challenges to protect organizations. Skills among others include Cyber Law and Ethics, Computer Security, Network Security, Information Security Management and Project.

Technology used in Lexington School for the Deaf

Times Ledger on July 23, 2018

One of our previous overviews touches the benefits of game-based technology for children with autism. At the Lexington School for the Deaf in East Elmhurst, technology creates a rich learning environment for teachers of deaf students.

As the students were born in the digital age, they are mostly digital natives and harness the technology without difficulties. Using iPads in technology classes, children learn coding, keyboarding, posting pictures, messaging, etc. Students in grades 6-12 use portable laptops and learn how to vlog.

The video including video blogging (vlogging) is considered an effective tool that helps students communicate, understand and summarize stories. The videos are intended to aid in completing homework assignments, professional development for the staff and sharing school announcements. Each of them includes American Sign Language, subtitles, verbal and Spanish.

Four ways to combat security threats for K-12 IT directors

EdScoop on July 23, 2018

Every time when yet another data breach or cyber attack occurs, the topic of the cyber safety of U.S. schools becomes essential. Technology cannot stop it but is able to help.

IT leaders took a vital part in campus security as they provide the tools preventing digital as well as physical harm. How can these tragedies be avoided? There are four approaches:

• Student data analysis
• Social media monitoring
• Cybersecurity
• On-campus surveillance

There have been major developments in surveillance technology recently, such as facial recognition systems. It can expand campus security, giving administrators the ability to anticipate and react to dangerous situations much more efficiently. The point to take home is that technology is developing quickly so it’s necessary to work hard and move with the times, and if you don’t keep up with technology, you’ll fall behind so quickly.