Susan Brown-Clukey

CYSE425W

Professor Bora Aslan

The escalating cyber-attack threat, fueled by our increasing dependence on technology, is not a distant concern but a pressing issue that demands immediate attention, especially among school-aged children. There is increased vulnerability within the school systems because of the dependency on technology, as most lesson plans, schoolbooks, homework, quizzes, tests, and exams are done via computer or other forms of technology. School-aged children are increasingly vulnerable, with society and schools relying more on computer networks and the abundance of sensitive data. Providing cybersecurity awareness and education to school-aged children is essential and urgent. It should be included in the standards of learning, ensuring they can navigate the online world safely.

As technology continues to change, so does the need for education. Cyber-attack vulnerability has risen as technology becomes a more integral part of education and daily life.  By addressing the challenges that school-aged children may encounter, having a united front between educators, parents, and policymakers will work together to maximize the results of cybersecurity awareness and education in K-12 children. This collaborative effort is crucial in preparing children to navigate the digital world better, responsibly, and safely, and it is vital to why it needs to be included in the standards of learning and not just a simple one-time instruction, elective class, or club for students.

Over the years, parents have been their children’s primary source of safety instructions. Before the digital age, they would advise their children to be home when the streetlights came on, stay in a group, not get into a car with someone they don’t know, and so on. As technology advances, so do the dangers to children. Parents may not be fully aware of their children’s hazards while using their smartphones, laptops, tablets, gaming systems, etc., as they may not be as technology-savvy as they could be. However, with help from the school system and policymakers who could make information available and user-friendly for parents, they can become more integral to protecting their children from online dangers. Parents play a crucial and empowering role in protecting their children in the digital world, just as they do in the physical world. Parents can effectively safeguard their children online with the proper knowledge and tools. Schools also have an important role in teaching critical digital literacy to students and guiding and informing parents regarding children’s internet use at home. Local schools in Virginia Beach send a weekly email to the parents so that they are aware of their children’s data usage while in school through an app called Securly Home.

In recent years, the education sector, particularly kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) institutions, has been increasingly targeted by ransomware attacks. These attacks have resulted in various disruptions, such as restricted access to networks and data, postponed exams, school closures, and unauthorized access to and theft of personal information of students and staff. The FBI, CISA, and the MS-ISAC anticipate a rise in these attacks as the 2022/2023 school year begins, with cybercriminal groups seeing opportunities for successful attacks. School districts with limited cybersecurity capabilities and resources are often the most vulnerable. Still, even those with solid cybersecurity programs are at risk due to the opportunistic nature of cyber criminals. K-12 institutions are attractive targets due to the significant amount of sensitive student data accessible through school systems or their service providers. (Agency, 2022) However, the present research provides empirical support that national-level efforts to improve cybersecurity education, awareness raising, and training (CEAT) have made a positive difference. (a, 2022)

In conclusion, cybersecurity within the education system is a concern for which more detailed standards are urgently needed. As it stands at this moment, the standards are woefully inadequate to protect our children’s educational stability. Without a form of stability, educational institutions suffer from lacking access to information, seeing as most content has been digitized.

a, R. S. (2022, August). ScienceDirect. Retrieved from ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167404822001511

Agency, C. &. (2022, Sept 8). Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency. Retrieved from https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa22-249a-0: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa22-249a-0

Rahman N. A. A, S. I. (2020). The Importance of Cybersecurity Education in School. international Journal of Information and Education Technology, Vol. 10, No. 5, May 2020, 378-382.