(Atlantic) Atlantic Community Schools Technology Director Roger Warne appeared before the School Board on Wednesday to discuss numerous technology topics including, cybersecurity. Warne says earlier this year the AEA started holding monthly online meetings with the sole purpose of bringing many different aspects of good cybersecurity together.
Warne says one of these tools used was a self-assessment provided by SecurityStudio, a partner with the AEA to provide services. Warne says the district can enlist SecurityStudio’s services through the AEA for roughly $3,600 per year. He says the assessment provides a roadmap to the many different areas that are involved in securing a school district’s network and online presence. He says it brought the good, bad, and ugly of the steps necessary to be prepared.
Warnes’ response to the Atlantic School District assessment brought to light the many different areas of insufficiencies within the school district, as well as the sufficiencies. Warne told the board of the twenty to thirty schools represented, they were told upon starting this process that the likelihood of anybody being in the sufficient category when starting this process was less than one percent.
Warne says the GHAEA will offer continued support from SecurityStudio for the fee, and he recommended the school board considers entering into this service.
The focus on this issue came to light when earlier this year the Des Moines Public Schools canceled classes for two days after a cybersecurity breach.
