Giving Compass' Take:

• Matthew J. Frederickson details how to protect schools from increasing ransomware attacks that have cost organizations billions of dollars and how to secure modern school networks.

• What are the challenges of implementing internet regulations? How can donors support campaigns that encourage ethical digital citizenship? 

• Read more about why the digital age needs ethical and legal guidelines. 

After over 30 years in IT, change is the only constant. I love that this job brings with it constant opportunities for me to learn and grow. Unfortunately, if you are like me, the past several years have seen an exponential increase in risk, and a serious loss of sleep.

I have ransomware to thank for that.

In 1989, biologist Joseph L. Popp created the first ransomware, called the AIDS Trojan, but it wasn’t until 2013 that two Russian hackers realized people would pay them to unencrypt files they had encrypted. Fast-forward a few years, and ransomware costs to organizations are now measured in the billions of dollars. It’s no longer a “guy living in his parents’ basement” thing — it’s big business.

And it’s not slowing down anytime soon.

According to Dark Reading, from January 1, 2019, to September 1, 2019, approximately 50 school districts were hit with ransomware. By December 16, the number had climbed to over 1,000. According to the Department of Homeland Security, it’s only going to get worse. In a fall announcement, DHS stated cyber criminals were targeting “municipalities and schools — organizations that traditionally have weak infrastructures and processes.”

Read the full article about securing modern school networks by Matthew J. Frederickson at Education Dive.