Welcome to Episode 3 of Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Phil and Andy set the stage for what this podcast is all about: making cybersecurity accessible and actionable for the entire education technology community. Starting with the recent AT&T data breach as a springboard, our hosts demonstrate how cybersecurity vulnerabilities affect everyone - from major corporations to local school districts. Through this lens, they dive into the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and its crucial role in education technology. Drawing from their extensive experience, Phil and Andy break down complex security concepts into actionable insights, exploring incident response planning and multi-factor authentication. The conversation highlights valuable training resources like Try Hack Me for offensive security and Let's Defend for defensive strategies, showcasing their commitment to building a stronger education technology community through practical, accessible guidance.

Key Takeaways:

• The AT&T breach demonstrates how cybersecurity impacts every organizational level
• CoSN provides essential resources and community support for education technology leaders
• Incident response planning is crucial for all organizations, regardless of size
• Multi-factor authentication remains a fundamental security best practice
• Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the IT department
• Parting Tool: Try Hack Me and Let's Defend offer complementary approaches to security training

Tune in to join a community dedicated to protecting our educational institutions and learning the tools and strategies that make it possible.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Andy Lombardo and Phil Hintz recap the latest from the ISTE conference, where education and technology converge to shape the future of learning. We explore the major announcements, including the launch of EdTechIndex.org, a new resource for educators to find vetted educational apps that meet strict privacy and security criteria. The episode emphasizes the need to bridge the gap between technology and education, breaking down silos in school districts, and fostering collaboration to ensure effective implementation of new tools.

Our hosts also tackle the increasing importance of cybersecurity in schools. From district-wide cybersecurity training to ensuring all stakeholders are involved, they stress that securing student data is a responsibility that goes beyond the tech department. AI's growing role in education is another focal point, with tools like Steve AI and the Edge browser offering exciting opportunities while addressing critical security needs.

Key Takeaways:

• Bridging the gap between technology and education is essential for smooth technology integration in school districts.
• Breaking down silos and encouraging collaboration between departments is crucial for successful tech adoption.
• Cybersecurity training should involve all district stakeholders to protect student data.
• EdTechIndex.org serves as a trusted source for apps that prioritize privacy and security.
• AI is transforming education, and responsible partnerships with vendors like Open AI are vital to protecting data.
• Andy Shares his newsletter EdTechIRL where anything K12 edtech is fair game - instructional, infrastructure, incident response, tools, tips, tricks, deployment, data privacy, diagnostics, etc
• The Parting Tool: This episode features Steve AI "Go from Prompt to Video, Script to Video, and Audio to Video"

Tune in for an in-depth discussion on education technology, AI integration, and cybersecurity best practices in K-12 education.

Welcome to the debut episode of Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Andy Lombardo and Phil Hintz introduce the podcast, focused on the critical importance of cybersecurity in K-12 education. Drawing from their backgrounds in education and technology, they share their personal experiences with cyber attacks and discuss why striving for a “zero breach zone” is essential, even though complete security isn’t always achievable.

Key topics include insider threats, student data privacy, and the growing need for cybersecurity insurance in schools. Andy and Phil also highlight BlueMirror, a free SIEM tool for Microsoft 365, which provides alerts and guidance on suspicious activity.

Takeaways:

• Striving for a "zero breach zone" is critical, even though perfect security is unattainable.
• Insider attacks and protecting student data privacy are unique challenges in K-12 education.
• Cybersecurity insurance is becoming essential for school districts.
• Introducing our recurring segment, The Parting Tool: This episode features BlueMira, a free tool that helps detect and respond to suspicious activity within Microsoft 365 environments.

Tune in for an insightful discussion on the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding our schools!

This podcast is brought to you by CyberNut—the go-to security solution for schools, built with IT Directors to protect against online threats, data breaches, and phishing. Learn more: https://www.cybernut.com/