School districts are improving their physical security, but they might be neglecting the security of their computer infrastructure, if the results of an annual survey are any indication.

The average physical safety rating of K-12 school districts improved by 39 percent over 2007, while the average cyber safety rating declined by 25 percent during the same time period, according to CDW-G's "2008 School Safety Index," which is designed to mark the current state of K-12 school safety. 

"School districts both large and small are embracing advanced technology tools and techniques to make school a safer place for our children," said Bob Kirby, senior director of K-12 business for CDW-G. "Cyber and physical security tools--from network access control to security cameras--are allowing administrators to see into and lock down their networks and school buildings, but schools continue to be frustrated by budget and staff constraints, particularly in their IT security programs."

Asked to grade their school district's physical and cyber security, about a third of survey respondents say these "need improvement." Districts also reported increases in physical and cyber security breaches in the last 12 months.

A nationwide survey of public school district IT and security directors, the School Safety Index gives a first-hand view of school safety issues and allows schools to measure themselves against a national benchmark with current questions and data. The index is based on eight indicators and four contra-indicators, or challenges. 

Evaluating schools' cyber and physical safety, the 2008 index finds that districts nationwide are more successful in their approach to physical safety, and that IT safety might need a refresher course before schools see improvement. 

The study also reveals that districts are actively engaged in using new tools and techniques to try to improve cyber safety. Districts are struggling with budget constraints and with how best to use limited staff resources to improve security, the researchers found. And the implementation of mass-notification systems, coupled with increased use of security cameras, is giving physical safety an edge over cyber security this year.

Here are some other key findings:

• More than half of K-12 school districts are using network access control (NAC) technology to protect data and ensure that only authorized users and approved applications can access their networks. However, budget constraints, lack of staff resources, and the need for more IT tools cancelled out districts' efforts to improve cyber safety.
• Nearly half of all districts are using mass-notification systems, and 70 percent are using security cameras; 29 percent of districts report that security cameras have had a positive impact on district safety.
• Districts should consider the instant access that IP security cameras can give their local police. Although more schools are using security cameras, only a small number of districts give their local police force the ability to access digital footage in real-time during an emergency.