IT leadership Archives

Resilient learning begins with Zero Trust and cyber preparedness

November 25, 2025 by Gary Barlet, Illumio

Even in districts with limited staff and funding, schools can take important steps toward stronger security with Zero Trust and cybersecurity

The U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recently warned of a surge in cyberattacks from “insider threats”--student hackers motivated by dares and challenges--leading to breaches across schools.

K-12 Cybersecurity

5 cybersecurity green flags: A practical guide for sourcing edtech

August 1, 2025 by Ben Johnson, Prodigy Education

Every school district can take meaningful, manageable steps to reduce risk, establish guardrails, and build trust with cybersecurity.

Although educators are excited to innovate, school leaders must weigh every new app or online platform against cybersecurity risks and the responsibility of protecting student data.

K-12 Cybersecurity

Rethinking K-12 cyber strategies amid federal budget cuts

July 21, 2025 by Gary Barlet, Illumio

Incremental but intentional steps to strengthen cyber hygiene help school districts improve their security posture and realize savings.

The recent suspension of the K-12 Cybersecurity Government Coordinating Council marks a pivotal shift in how the nation’s public school systems manage cybersecurity.

Innovation Insights

InstructureCon 2025: Ryan Lufkin, Vice President of Global Academic Strategy, Brings the Skinny

May 8, 2025 by Kevin Hogan

When the developers of Canvas, the world’s leading web-based learning management system (LMS) software, invite you to a party—July 22-24 ... Read more

K-12 Cybersecurity

Edtech gone rogue? Tackling “Dirty Stream” attacks amidst uncontrolled app overloads

May 7, 2025 by Apu Pavithran, Hexnode

Safeguarding student data and securing the digital future of education is a joint venture to keep Android apps safe for schools.

In May 2024, Microsoft identified a critical vulnerability pattern targeting Android applications, ominously called “Dirty Stream.” This vulnerability allows malicious apps to overwrite files, potentially leading to arbitrary…

Student Data Security

Leadership is key to protecting student data privacy in 2025

April 14, 2025 by Linnette Attai, CoSN

For many school districts, successful implementation of a student data privacy program may require some form of organizational change.

In the year 2025, no one should have to be convinced that protecting data privacy matters. For education institutions, it’s really that simple of a priority--and that complicated.

K-12 Cybersecurity

How schools can fight growing ransomware attacks

February 25, 2025 by Ian Milligan-Pate, Zscaler

Cyber criminals and ransomware are growing threats to schools and to students’ privacy, making data security and cybersecurity critical.

The education sector is facing a growing and multiplying menace: a surge in cyberattacks by ransomware groups that are leveraging generative artificial intelligence and other sophisticated tools.

K-12 Cybersecurity

Preparing for evolving ransomware threats in 2025

January 22, 2025 by Gary Barlet, Illumio

For ransomware threats, schools must embrace an "assume breach" mindset and strengthen internal defenses to avoid cyber disasters.

As ransomware evolves, so must the strategies used to combat it. Traditional perimeter defenses, such as firewalls and antivirus software, are no longer sufficient in an era of…

Student Data Security

The advantages of edtech compliance for schools and vendors

January 9, 2025 by Mike DeKock, MJD Advisors

As schools continue to invest in technology, they’ll also continue to focus on edtech compliance and vet vendors to safeguard student privacy

Schools are increasingly adopting technological solutions that enhance learning outcomes and simplify administrative tasks--from eLearning platforms to teacher scheduling apps and parent communication tools.

K-12 Cybersecurity

How to prepare for a school cybersecurity audit

November 27, 2024 by Dave Courbanou, Intelligent CloudCare

A school cybersecurity audit can help provide assurance that your school IT environment is secure and IT staff are aware of critical info.

School cybersecurity audits don’t have to be stressful. If you know what to expect, you can be well prepared and set yourself up for future success. The effort…

IT Innovations

Skills gap, outdated infrastructure hinder AI use

September 11, 2024 by Laura Ascione

A new survey underscores the rapid rise of AI use and adoption, while identifying the common use cases and challenges of this technology.

Although a high majority of enterprises are adopting AI in some capacity (88 percent), many still lack the necessary data infrastructure and employee skills to truly benefit from…

K-12 Cybersecurity

It’s time to rethink cybersecurity in education

July 24, 2024 by Laura Ascione

Traditional approaches to network cybersecurity on their own are no longer enough to maintain IT security and keep data private.

IT leaders are tasked with protecting school district networks and must constantly evaluate their cybersecurity strategies as attacks from outside threats increase in frequency and become more sophisticated.

K-12 Cybersecurity

Why federal-education partnerships are critical for cybersecurity

November 12, 2024July 18, 2024 by Gary Barlet, Illumio

Given the constantly changing threat landscape, education must act with urgency and have robust cybersecurity plans in place now.

By providing essential funding, advanced cybersecurity resources, expert guidance, and gathering analytics and data, the federal government can help schools effectively protect against cyber threats.

IT Innovations

IoT infrastructure: Smarter students, significant savings

July 12, 2024 by Luis Coton, Allied Telesis

Merging AI with advanced IoT networking technology allows schools to enhance teaching, personalize learning, and streamline operations.

When schools embrace the Internet of Things (IoT) to create a "smart" environment, the benefits extend far beyond energy savings. Research consistently shows that students thrive in optimized…

Internet Connectivity

Demystifying network speed: Measuring true Wi-Fi and wired network needs

May 29, 2024 by Roger Sands, Wyebot

School Wi-Fi speeds and needs will vary, but networks can tell you what they need based on specific metrics and data.

There’s no question that educational institutions require reliable, high-speed connectivity. We’re all in agreement there. The question that arises is: How fast is fast enough?

K-12 Cybersecurity

Here’s how to protect schools from cyberattacks in 2024

February 14, 2024 by Thuy Wong

The costs of cyberattacks in school may include replacing computer hardware and enhancing cybersecurity protections--and identity theft.

Identity theft and data breaches are on the rise and K-12 schools are one of the biggest targets. In fact, from 2016 through 2022, there have been more than 1,600 publicly reported…

E-rate Funding

The looming threat that could worsen the digital divide

January 19, 2024 by Diamond McKenna, Co-Founder, Diamond Assets

Expiring ECF funding poses a substantial threat to the strides made in narrowing the digital divide in underserved schools and libraries that depend on the E-rate.

In an era where technology plays a pivotal role in education, the expiration of the E-rate program's Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) funding poses a significant threat to underserved…

K-12 Cybersecurity

K12 cybersecurity threats to your school can be lowered-here is how

December 11, 2023 by ESchool News Staff

K12 cybersecurity hygiene training for students, teachers and staff will help IT teams keep the bad actors out

The school bell is about to ring in another academic year, and as children pull out their lunchboxes and teachers decorate their rooms, schools continue to face an…

IT Innovations

Now is the time to plan for next year’s technology upgrades

November 16, 2023November 6, 2023 by Diamond McKenna, Co-Founder, Diamond Assets

With the help of technology experts, districts can create a comprehensive plan that outlines desired outcomes of school technology upgrades.

While school districts are well underway into their new year – and their new budget – many are already planning for the year ahead, and technology remains one…

IT Leadership

5 K-12 IT insights from IT leaders

March 7, 2023 by Laura Ascione

Careful consideration should be paid to cybersecurity, data access, K-12 IT departmental operations, and more.

IT leadership is an essential component of school and district operations, and in today's post-pandemic landscape, K-12 IT security is critical in combatting increasing cybersecurity attacks that can…

IT Innovations

7 facts about the state of edtech in schools

December 5, 2022May 19, 2022 by Laura Ascione

Districts are modernizing their edtech strategies, but IT leaders still grapple with near-constant cybersecurity risks.

School networks are getting faster and more modern, but school IT departments struggle to keep up with the demand for remote access and support, according to an annual…

Ancillary

11 facts about K-12 IT leadership

November 10, 2021 by Laura Ascione

Access to high-speed internet and challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic top the list of hurdles IT leadership departments have tackled this year

Broadband access and the ever-growing equity gap are among K-12 IT leaders' top concerns, according to CoSN's annual IT Leadership Survey.

Featured on eSchool News

11 facts about today’s K-12 IT leadership

November 4, 2021June 10, 2021 by Laura Ascione

Broadband access and the ever-growing equity gap are among K-12 IT leaders' top concerns, according to CoSN's annual IT Leadership Survey.

Featured on eSchool News

10 priorities for K-12 IT leaders

March 2, 2020March 2, 2020 by Laura Ascione

With increased data and connectivity come threats to school networks and a focus on equity--and K-12 IT leaders have their plates full managing these challenges, and more.

School districts are moving to highly digital ecosystems, and K-12 IT leaders have more and more to manage to ensure that teaching and learning can go on uninterrupted…

District Management

Introducing the EdLeader Personality Test

September 24, 2018 by John Jennings

Personality tests are fun. Some people derive valuable insights from them. Others simply use them to validate what they already know about themselves. Most just like to see…

District Management

This is how your infrastructure should look before your next tech rollout

March 4, 2016February 3, 2016 by Peter West

Follow these guidelines to create a technology infrastructure that support teachers and students, and take a quick quiz to test your readiness.

District Management

Survey finds gender gaps in school IT leadership

October 9, 2014September 18, 2014 by ESchool News Staff

While women who occupy leadership positions in school technology are better educated and have more experience, on average, than their male colleagues, men in the school IT field…

Resilient learning begins with Zero Trust and cyber preparedness

5 cybersecurity green flags: A practical guide for sourcing edtech

Rethinking K-12 cyber strategies amid federal budget cuts

InstructureCon 2025: Ryan Lufkin, Vice President of Global Academic Strategy, Brings the Skinny

Edtech gone rogue? Tackling “Dirty Stream” attacks amidst uncontrolled app overloads

Leadership is key to protecting student data privacy in 2025

How schools can fight growing ransomware attacks

Preparing for evolving ransomware threats in 2025

The advantages of edtech compliance for schools and vendors

How to prepare for a school cybersecurity audit

Skills gap, outdated infrastructure hinder AI use

It’s time to rethink cybersecurity in education

Why federal-education partnerships are critical for cybersecurity

IoT infrastructure: Smarter students, significant savings

Demystifying network speed: Measuring true Wi-Fi and wired network needs

Here’s how to protect schools from cyberattacks in 2024

The looming threat that could worsen the digital divide

K12 cybersecurity threats to your school can be lowered-here is how

Now is the time to plan for next year’s technology upgrades

5 K-12 IT insights from IT leaders

7 facts about the state of edtech in schools

11 facts about K-12 IT leadership

11 facts about today’s K-12 IT leadership

Introducing the EdLeader Personality Test

Why interactive solutions are a smarter investment for schools

100 Learning Spaces Transformed, $5 Million Invested: School Specialty and College Football Playoff Foundation Celebrate Impact Across Schools Nationwide

ACT and Texas Instruments Collaborate to Enhance Student Success in Mathematics

Big Ideas Start Young: Games for Change Opens 2026 Student Challenge to Game Creators and Innovators Ages 10–25

BBC Learning Hub Launches Walking with Dinosaurs Virtual Field Trip Resources

Four education innovators honored with the 2025 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education

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