WSIPC - Connecting You with the Cybersecurity Solutions Your School Needs!

WSIPC - Connecting You with the Cybersecurity Solutions Your School Needs!

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time for schools to reinforce their commitment to safeguarding sensitive data. In today’s increasingly digital world, schools are handling vast amounts of personal and financial information, making them prime targets for cyber threats. Protecting this data is critical not just for compliance, but also for maintaining the trust of students, staff, and parents.

Here are some key steps you can take to bolster you school’s cybersecurity efforts:

1. Implement Strong Password Policies: Encourage students, teachers, and staff to use complex, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible. This extra layer of security can prevent unauthorized access to sensitive systems.
2. Provide Cybersecurity Training: Providing regular training for staff and students on identifying phishing attempts, suspicious links, and unsafe online behavior can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks. Awareness is often the first line of defense.
3. Update Software Regularly: Ensure all software and systems, including antivirus programs, are kept up to date. Security patches are vital in protecting against newly discovered vulnerabilities.
4. Use Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest. This adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring that even if data is intercepted, it cannot be easily accessed.
5. Back Up Data Frequently: Regular data backups help schools recover quickly from cyberattacks, particularly ransomware. Storing backups securely offsite or in the cloud ensures that data is safe even if primary systems are compromised.
6. Limit Access to Sensitive Information: Use role-based access controls to ensure that only authorized individuals can access critical data. This minimizes the risk of internal breaches or accidental data exposure.

By taking proactive steps like these, schools can strengthen their cybersecurity posture and better protect their valuable data, ensuring a safer digital environment for everyone involved.

Let WSIPC Connect You with the Security Solutions You Need!
Save time, money, and resources with the solutions offered through our WSIPC Purchasing Program. Click the secure links below to learn how our WSIPC Purchasing Program partners can help protect your organization from cybersecurity threats.

• WSIPC RFP 23-02 Enterprise Cybersecurity & Risk Assessment Solutions
• WSIPC RFP 22-05 Managed Security and Physical Security Solutions
• WSIPC RFP 21-04 Cybersecurity Awareness Training Solutions

Make the most of your WSIPC Cooperative’s benefits and reference the WSIPC RFP for contract pricing!

Each vendor who becomes a part of the WSIPC Purchasing Program has been awarded a bid contract through an official RFP process in compliance with Washington State Procurement RCWs. All our partners have been vetted to ensure they offer the best solutions at reasonable prices.

WSIPC is a non-profit cooperative that provides technology solutions (including Skyward), services, and support to K-12 schools. WSIPC’s purpose is to help schools do more with every dollar and to empower them with the tools to work smarter. To learn how your district can become a part of the WSIPC Cooperative, contact us at info@wsipc.org or 425.349.6600.

WSIPC. Inspired by education. Empowered by technology.^TM

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