{"id":8707,"date":"2024-02-09T09:42:26","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T14:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carahsoft.com\/wordpress\/?p=8707"},"modified":"2025-04-03T12:08:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T17:08:14","slug":"carahsoft-edtech-talks-security-education-for-safe-learning-environments-blog-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carahsoft.com\/wordpress\/carahsoft-edtech-talks-security-education-for-safe-learning-environments-blog-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"EdTech Talks: A Comprehensive Look at Security in Education for Safe Learning Environments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Emerging technologies today are providing K-12 schools and higher education institutions with the capabilities to support seamless and secure campus efforts, which ensures protection of academic environments as well as students, faculty and staff. Remaining vigilant, versatile and adaptable in the current education landscape, especially when it comes to security and student safety, are the most important considerations for education leadership when deciding what new solutions and integrations to incorporate into their schools.<\/p>\n

Carahsoft\u2019s annual EdTech Talks Summit brought together industry and education thought leaders to explore three tactical learning tracks: safety for the learning environment, the impact of technology on student growth and development, and modernizing education with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. During the first day\u2019s discussion, speakers provided insights into building safe learning settings with a comprehensive look at both cyber and physical security in education.<\/p>\n

Analyzing Current Security Risks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"CarahsoftEducation institutions face a myriad of cybersecurity challenges such as ransomware, third-party access to school systems, internal bad actors and stolen credentials. One of the most impactful vulnerabilities is a lack of awareness across school communities regarding security. For example, individuals who are unable to recognize a phishing text message that asks the receiver to click on an unsafe link because an account has been frozen may potentially put their own data and their school\u2019s data at risk of exposure.<\/p>\n

While cybersecurity is one of the most important aspects of cultivating a successful learning environment, it is just as important to consider physical security for a safe<\/em> learning environment. Building and campus surveillance, visitor management monitoring, lock down and fire drills, active shooter and crisis management are among some of the ways schools provide personal security for students and staff. With so many aspects of security to manage, schools also must balance being open, inclusive and engaging with communities and culture to provide more expansive learning opportunities while simultaneously protecting against threats on limited budgets.<\/p>\n

Protecting Against Cyber Threats in the Modern World<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For improved security, educators and industry leaders must collaborate to take proactive measures to safeguard digital infrastructure, data and physical campuses. The best place to start is by ensuring the fundamental standards of cyber defense are in place, functioning properly and are continuously monitored and modernized. This includes solutions and processes such as:<\/p>\n