Digital equity can be better achieved by marrying flexibility with cybersecurity--here's how your district can begin.

How digital equity enhances cybersecurity in schools


Digital equity can be better achieved by marrying flexibility with cybersecurity

Today’s more advanced IAM platforms can significantly reduce delays and help prevent data theft at the same time. Some of the most powerful and efficient benefits of a properly deployed IAM include: 

  • Multi-Factor Authentication – Approves or denies access rights and tailors authentication methods used based on risk level.  
  • Privileged Access Management – Reduces the risk of a security breach with comprehensive privileged access controls that decreases the number of users with multiple accounts. 
  • Automated Deprovisioning – Eliminates the risk of human error by automating user accounts and lifecycle management of all users including students, staff, and vendors. 

By creating a digital identity for each person within the organization, it’s possible to consistently put students at the center of a school’s technology strategy. These digital identities help patterns to be noticed, including when changes should be made based on behavioral, demographic, academic and lifestyle information that’s stored. With direct access to this data, educators can create personalized learning environments that are tailored to the needs of each individual student 

Minimizing the Load on Edtech and IT Teams 

Achieving comprehensive IAM success definitely isn’t easy, as it may simply be a new concept for IT administrators who have worked with legacy systems for years. However, the beauty of digital identities is that it not only helps ensure digital equity, but it also helps those same IT administrators to more easily scale and better serve both educators and students.  

Classroom digital resources can also connect to a single portal that IT controls, with users accessing everything they need through, for example, one username and password. Furthermore, IT teams can benefit from promoting security risk management as everyone’s responsibility. By being actively trained regarding possible vulnerabilities, students can become more “security aware” in their password strength and how to safeguard their unique digital footprints.     

In the end, these foundational IAM “gateways” to a school’s systems are much more than a checkbox on an IT checklist–they serve as a notable enabler for so much in the education ecosystem. Indeed, digital equity can be better achieved by marrying flexibility with cybersecurity. After all, IAMs are the sentinel that enables access in the first place – and it’s easy to overlook the impact (both positive and negative) that they can have on millions of students, teachers, and administrators. 

 

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