Providing Digital Safety Measures

Overview

Technology serves many purposes in the field of education such as to support learning and to store data. Schools have unique needs and challenges when it comes to safety and security. All of these factors must be considered when choosing the right digital safety measures. 

Schools often use technology to enhance the educational experience and make learning more accessible to a diverse range of learners. While leveraging digital resources, schools have the educational obligation to provide a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment for students and staff. With social media threats on the rise all facilities should have resources and programs designed to protect against security threats inherent to the use of technological tools. Prevention is key when considering how to mitigate security risks, threats, and emergency situations. 

Additionally, the amount of data that educational organizations deal with has grown exponentially. School districts and charter schools should be invested in keeping data secure due to the high level of sensitive information being stored. It is wise to develop a plan for cybersecurity that is reviewed annually.

Awareness

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), under leadership from the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), has focused its previous messages around a theme of 'Our Shared Responsibility.' This year, NCSAM moves to a new overarching theme, 'Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT,' to help encourage personal accountability and proactive behavior in digital privacy, security best practices, common cyber threats and cybersecurity careers. NCSAM seeks to convey messages about online safety and identify opportunities for behavior change through this year's theme.

Own IT

  • Never Click and Tell: staying safe on social media
  • Update Privacy Settings
  • Keep Tabs on Your Apps: best practices for device applications

Secure IT

  • Shake Up Your Passphrase Protocol: create strong, unique passphrases
  • Double Your Login Protection: turn on multi-factor authentication
  • Shop Safe Online
  • Play Hard to Get With Strangers: How to spot and avoid phish

Protect IT

  • If You Connect, You Must Protect: updating to the latest security software, web browser and operating systems
  • Stay Protected While Connected: Wi-Fi safety
  • If You Collect It, Protect It: keeping customer/consumer data and information safe

Your community can get involved in NCSAM through social media and by taking action on campus.

  • Follow the National Cyber Security Alliance on X, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn to receive the latest online safety news and resources. Share and repost this information with others.
  • Post online safety tips and reminders about NCSAM on your social media networks. Use the hashtags #BeCyberSmart and #CyberAware.
  • Download and share sample social media posts from the NCSAM Resources Library leading up to and throughout the month on social media - download and share them all or customize them to your needs and interests!
  • Become a NCSAM Champion and show your organization or campus' official involvement in the month. It's free and simple to sign up.
  • Post the NCSAM Images and Logos to your campus' external or internal website. You can link to the NCSAM "About" page to provide more info.
  • Host a training for campus faculty and staff on cybersecurity. Check out the Free ESET Cybersecurity Awareness Training as a great resource.
  • Host a poster/video content for students in which participants create informative online safety resources. Display the winning entries at school or share them with your community.

Resources

Advancing Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems: Guidance from the Field
National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH)

Students and Cyber-Security Research
International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS)

Resources

Cyber Safety

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Stop. Think. Connect. Promotional Materials | Stop. Think. Connect. Securing One Citizen, One Family, One Nation Against Cyber Threats
United States Department of Homeland Security

Digital Citizenship Curriculum

Digital citizenship curriculum are offered to all schools, free, through the Attorney General’s Office and in partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Utah. You may contact them via email at info@respons-ability.net.

Digital Respons-A-bility
State of Utah Office of the Attorney General

Sexting

Content Coming Soon