Laptops. Tablets. Learning apps. Email. Online assignments. Technology is woven into nearly every part of the school day.
And every login, download, and connected device creates another opportunity for something to go wrong.
Keeping a school’s systems and information secure may sound like a job for the IT department, but good cyber safety depends on everyone who uses them. Teachers and staff need to know how to recognize suspicious activity. Students need age-appropriate guidance for navigating the internet safely. And schools need practices in place to protect devices, accounts, and sensitive information.
6 tips for protecting your school community
Why is cyber safety important for schools? Consider how much information and activity now lives online—from student records and employee information to classroom assignments and everyday communication.
A single compromised account or device can create problems well beyond the person using it. That's why some of the most effective cybersecurity measures aren't highly technical. They're everyday habits that make it harder for cybercriminals to get in.
1. Keep school devices up to date
That software update notification is easy to ignore when you're trying to start a lesson. But those updates often include fixes for known security vulnerabilities.
Work with your IT team to keep operating systems, browsers, apps, and security software updated. When possible, automate updates so they don't depend on individual users remembering to install them.
Teachers and staff should also know your school's policy for downloading software and apps. A free classroom tool may look useful, but installing unapproved software can introduce security and privacy concerns.
2. Make accounts harder to crack
Passwords are often the first line of defense between a cybercriminal and your school's information. Encourage staff and students to use long, unique passwords rather than reusing the same password across accounts.
Schools should also enable multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever possible, particularly for accounts with access to sensitive information. MFA requires an additional form of verification beyond a password, which can help prevent unauthorized access even when a password is compromised.
And one rule is worth reinforcing with students and adults alike: Don't share passwords.
3. Teach everyone to think before they click
Cybercriminals don't always "hack" their way into a system. Sometimes, they simply convince someone to open the door.
Phishing messages may arrive by email, text, or direct message and try to get the recipient to click a malicious link, open an attachment, or provide sensitive information. They may create urgency, appear to come from someone familiar, or offer something that seems too good to be true.
Help teachers, staff, and students get in the habit of pausing before they respond. Watch for:
- Unexpected requests for passwords or personal information
- Links or attachments you weren't expecting
- Messages that pressure you to act immediately
- Unusual requests that appear to come from a principal, coworker, or other familiar person
- Offers, prizes, or giveaways that require you to click a link
If something seems suspicious, don't use the contact information or links in the message to verify it. Instead, contact the supposed sender another way or report the message according to your school's procedures.
4. Build cyber safety into everyday learning for students
Students don't need to become cybersecurity experts. But they do need to understand that what they do online can have real-world consequences. Talk about protecting personal information, recognizing scams, using privacy settings, and thinking carefully about what they share online.
For older students, cyber safety for teens can also include conversations about social media, gaming, direct messages, and the permanence of a digital footprint.
Useful tips on cyber safety include reminding students to:
- Keep personal information private
- Avoid clicking unexpected links or downloads
- Never share account passwords with friends
- Be cautious when communicating with people they don't know offline
- Check privacy and security settings on apps and accounts
- Tell a trusted adult about suspicious, threatening, or inappropriate online activity
Make those conversations ongoing rather than a once-a-year presentation. A suspicious email or new online trend can become an opportunity to reinforce safer habits.
5. Know what information your apps are collecting
Schools use an ever-growing collection of websites, apps, and digital learning tools. Before adding another one, consider what information it collects and whether it really needs access to that information.
Teachers should use school-approved platforms and avoid creating student accounts on unapproved services without following district procedures.
Schools should also periodically review the apps and services they're already using. Ask:
- What student or employee information does the service collect?
- Who can access that information?
- Does the app really need the permissions it's requesting?
- Is the service still being used?
- What happens to the data when an account is deleted?
When an app or service is no longer needed, remove access rather than leaving unused accounts sitting open.
6. Make reporting easy—and expected
Even good cyber safety practices can't prevent every suspicious email, lost device, or compromised account. Teachers, staff, and students should know exactly how to report a cyber concern and feel comfortable doing it quickly.
The sooner your IT or security team knows about a potential problem, the sooner they can investigate and take steps to limit the damage.