DCIU Information Technology working to protect schools from Cyber Threats

This week, global credit rating provider Moody’s announced the cybersecurity risk score for the education and nonprofit sectors has jumped from “moderate” to “high” over the past two years.

The education sector’s rising cyber risk rating comes as ongoing calls for K-12 cybersecurity support are amplified at the national and state levels. According to Moody’s, higher cyber risk scores are being driven by growing digitization — which produces an “extensive digital footprint potentially more vulnerable to a cyberattack” — and below-average mitigation of cyber risks.

The report also noted that education sectors have reported one of the highest rates of ransomware attacks and that the costs of cyber incidents have more than tripled in the past year.

The Moody’s findings come as ongoing calls for K-12 cybersecurity are amplified at the national and state levels, and as ransomware increasingly poses a threat to shutting down school networks and straining resource-strapped districts.

The Delaware County Intermediate Unit’s Office of Information Technology works with school districts and government partners across the Commonwealth to foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness and protection and provide services and support. DCIU continuously provides high quality cybersecurity services including Network Penetration Testing, Network Security Assessment, Cybersecurity Audit Service, and Managed Security Services to schools and government partners across the Commonwealth.

“Cybersecurity for schools is crucial as educational institutions increasingly adopt digital tools and platforms for learning, administration, and communication,” said Khalid Ayyubov, Chief Information and Technology Officer for the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. “Schools are particularly vulnerable to cyber threats due to limited resources for cybersecurity and the diversity of users, including students, teachers, and administrators.”

The Delaware County Intermediate Unit’s Office of Information Technology is a leader in cybersecurity services, with direct partnerships with major cybersecurity firms such as CrowdStrike and Checkpoint.

“We understand Cybersecurity protection is crucial for our schools in today’s interconnected digital landscape due to the increasing reliance on technology and the growing sophistication of cyber threats. DCIU understands the critical need to safeguard personal and organizational assets and strives to assist our schools and organizations in implementing the most effective tools and technology to prevent and address cyber threats,” said Ayyubov.

Learn more about the Delaware County Intermediate Unit’s Office of Information Technology here.