FIRSTNET PROVIDES A HIGHLY SECURE NETWORK TO PROTECT AGAINST CYBER ATTACKS
The COVID-19 shutdowns that lead to at-home learning , also brought on evolutions in the nature of cybercrimes against school districts . A cyberattack can force the shutdown of critical technology systems that are necessary for the safety of students , teachers , and administrators . Most importantly , it can result in the locking down of critical systems – such as routing and communication access – and bring district services to a grinding halt . Even before the outbreak prompted changes in the way many businesses and schools operate , cyber attacks had grown by 273 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same time in 2019 .
Priority Communications One of the biggest challenges for school districts is the security of students and staff . FirstNet , Built with AT & T is the communications platform built with and for public safety and those who support them . This includes school administration officials in charge of student safety , school resource officers and school bus drivers . FirstNet helps ensure district officials have the reliable , highly secure and prioritized connectivity they need to communicate with first responders and to their network of drivers in charge of transporting students . During an emergency , questions about vehicle location and driver communication become critical . In these instances , access to FirstNet is critical to ensuring student safety . School districts need the ability to connect and communicate with emergency personnel every day to ensure the safety and security of students . As a wireless communications network , FirstNet also offers schools a fleet management solution that allows near real-time tracking of school buses and instant communication between district staff . FirstNet offers its powerful broadband LTE communications platform to help keep school officials connected , so they can :
• Maintain access to voice , data , video , images , and text when emergencies arise
• Communicate easier with the AT & T Enhanced Push-to-Talk solution , which is FirstNet Ready ®
• And get enhanced situational awareness with innovative apps and devices .
Best Practices to Understand In light of the extensive ransomware attacks on school districts across the United States over the past five years , it is crucial that school districts keep meticulous documentation and take inventory of the different kinds of personally identifiable information kept on each child transported by the school district . School district administration teams should embrace cybersecurity best practices to protect their schools from cybercrime . Here are a few things school districts can do to help protect themselves from attacks :
• Implement a zero-trust policy : Instead of assuming everything behind the firewall is safe , verify each request as though it originates from an open network .
• Secure your devices : Implement a mobile device management plan that provides visibility and control of every device that connects to your network .
• Encrypt your data : Effectively encrypting your data can help render it useless to unauthorized users .
• Train staff and educate students : Use your staff and students as the first line of defense against cyber attackers by educating them about mobile device safety , phishing , and other cybersecurity hygiene basics . Focusing on prevention rather than mitigation is always best practice when it comes to protecting your students and organization . Most school districts do not have the resources to engage a staff member dedicated to handle cyber security incidents . Because of this , schools have become a huge target and the mindset must shift from “ if an attack happens ” to “ when an attack happens .” By shifting the focus to secure applications and data before an attack happens , rather than after , school districts will be better prepared to protect students , staff and operations against an external attack , or internal incident .