A convincing email. A familiar-looking text message. One careless click can expose a school district to a cyberattack. The most important tools to prevent a cyber loss are education and vigilance, and CSDSIP offers Members several free services to assist.
Managing Cyber Risks
Approximately once a month, the staff at Byers School District receives a communication that unknown to them comes from Gallagher’s Cyber Defense Center. It could look like an email from a vendor or a text from a supposed trusted source. But, in fact, the communication is testing the school district’s vulnerability to cyberattacks.
“Each time we learn which staff members click on the communication and can better evaluate our cyber risks,” said Tom Turrell, superintendent of the Byers School District. “It’s a great tool to help us continually educate our staff about these risks.”
Cyberattacks continue to be a persistent threat for Colorado K-12 schools. This year a cyberattack forced one Colorado school district to shut down its network and work offline during the evaluation of the threat. Another nationwide attack that targeted Canvas affected both K-12 and higher education institutions in Colorado.
These attacks can cost school districts losses in trust, time and money.
“In our current technological climate, education is the key to prevention,” said Andrea Leal, CSDSIP’s manager of Claims. “By educating staff members, our Members can gain a level of comfort that they are taking the right steps to mitigate the potential for a cyber-related loss.”
Tools to Maintain Compliance
CSDSIP Members have free access to two tools that help them strengthen their cybersecurity practices and maintain compliance with coverage requirements.
Gallagher’s Cyber Defense Center is a unique combination of tools and services that help by training staff to notice possible cyberattack entry points. Testing network vulnerability with regular scans using the Cyber Defense Center allows districts to meet one of the criteria required to maintain compliant status.
CSDSIP Members also have access cyber security awareness training through Vector Training Solutions. CSDSIP Members can access their on our Vector Training Portals webpage. Vector includes Cyber Security Awareness Trainings, which can be used with staff to fulfill another component of cyber compliance.
For more information on these tools, CSDSIP Members can contact our Risk Control Team at riskcontrol@csdsip.net.