Cybersecurity and the Day the Internet Died

15 Jan 2025
Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center
Eric Muckensturm
Eric Muckensturm
IT Strategy Manager, Cybersecurity, Learning Technology Center
Linda DeYounge
Linda DeYounge
Program Manager of Online Learning, Learning Technology Center
Brian Bates
Brian Bates
Associate Executive Director of Professional Learning, Learning Technology Center

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Episode Notes

Another average school day is just beginning when…ding! A text message comes through and your stomach sinks. “We’ve been hacked. It’s bad.”

It’s not the start to a new made-for-Netflix blockbuster; Emily Flach lived it in her former role as a tech director at an Illinois school district. Now a Regional Educational Technology Coordinator with the LTC, Emily takes us behind the scenes of “The Day the Internet Died”, sharing her experiences from a real cybersecurity incident, as well as how her team managed the crisis and the critical lessons she learned along the way

As recent news has reminded us, cyber attacks targeting educational institutions like this one are not a thing of the past. The LTC’s IT Strategy Manager, Eric Muckensturm, also joins us this week to highlight the latest risks and explore practical strategies to help IT leaders, educators, and administrators prepare for evolving cyber threats. 

Hear more from both Emily and Eric at SecurED Schools, an online cybersecurity conference for K-12 technology teams coming up on January 28, 2025:

January 28, 11:00 AM – Vetting EdTech

January 28, 12:20 PM – Reasonable Security Practices v2

 

Interview Guests

Emily Flach | Regional Education Technology Coordinator, Learning Technology Center

Eric Muckensturm | IT Strategy Manager, Learning Technology Center

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Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center

Emily develops and leads professional learning programs, trainings, and resources related to curricular integration, digital access, and technology infrastructure in southern Illinois.

Eric Muckensturm
Eric Muckensturm
IT Strategy Manager, Cybersecurity, Learning Technology Center

Eric provides a multitude of services to help Illinois public school districts improve their overall security posture and maturity, including through the implementation of standards, frameworks, and industry best practices.

Linda DeYounge
Linda DeYounge
Program Manager of Online Learning, Learning Technology Center

Linda designs, develops, and evaluates the LTC’s digital professional learning, including working with subject matter experts to create learning objectives, conducting needs assessments, and delivering interactive online PD opportunities.

Brian Bates
Brian Bates
Associate Executive Director of Professional Learning, Learning Technology Center

Brian leads and develops events, programs, and resources in support of digital learning, digital citizenship, emerging technologies, technology integration, and computer science.