The U.S. Department of Education and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Administration (CISA) announced the creation of a new federal council aimed at improving cybersecurity in schools.
This initiative arose from the growing complexity of cybersecurity in K-12 schools and ransomware attacks that have occurred across the country, resulting in school closures and the leakage of sensitive personal information of students, teachers and families, federal officials said.
See more: K-12 schools remain vulnerable to ransomware attacks
Cindy Marten, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, emphasized in a public statement that the Government Council is committed to the cybersecurity of the nation’s schools. She said that this initiative is an important step towards strengthening collaboration among federal, state, and local education leaders to protect critical K-12 infrastructure.
This event followed the K-12 “Back to School Safely” Cybersecurity Summit held at the White House in August. During the event, the U.S. Department of Education and federal officials outlined a plan to improve data protection measures in schools through public awareness campaigns and partnerships with ed-tech companies and education advocacy groups.
Although two federal agencies coordinated the launch, officials said technology, school principals and directors, as well as leaders from state and education agencies, contributed to the strategy and direction of the Government Council.
CISA Director Jen Easterly said in an official statement, “Protecting our schools, students and teachers from cyberattacks is vital. I am proud of the work that the Department of Education and CISA are doing in this critical area. I am delighted that today the Government Coordinating Council for Education is launching . This will play a critical role in supporting efforts to create a safe and resilient learning environment for all classrooms across the country.”
Although the Cabinet Office announcement was made recently, the Executive Branch’s formal obligation to protect schools as critical infrastructure has been in place for more than a decade under Presidential Directive 21, according to the White House. The Educational Facilities Division is part of the Government Facilities Sector, one of 16 critical infrastructure sectors listed in the directive.
Read also: CISA: Reveals rule to strengthen cybersecurity resilience
“The Nation’s critical infrastructure provides essential services that support American society. Coordinated efforts are needed to enhance and maintain secure, operational, and resilient infrastructure—including assets, networks, and systems—that are critical to public trust, safety, and well-being,” the directive states.
Source: govtech
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