Focus Area

Cybersecurity

Services, resources, and professional learning to help technology leaders plan for and respond to emerging digital threats.

Helping districts foster a secure learning environment

 

Educational institutions are among today’s most prevalent targets for cyber attacks, including phishing and ransomware. The LTC can help your district strengthen its shield against these evolving threats through our growing portfolio of affordable services and actionable resources.

We also host SecurED Schools, an annual virtual conference focused on furthering the conversation surrounding cybersecurity and data privacy best practices, strategies, and tools.

Services
Resources
Events
Articles
Professional Learning

Be Connected Series

Monthly
Free

A weekly webinar series hosted by the LTC’s Technology Services Team.

Service

Cybersecurity Audits & Assessments

Free

Free district cybersecurity assessments for Illinois public school districts.

Professional Learning

IETC Conference

November
$175+

The Illinois Education and Technology Conference, held annually in Springfield, brings together educators and tech experts to explore innovative teaching methods and leverage technology for enhanced learning statewide.

Service

ILTPP Purchasing Cooperative

Free

Save money and time through ILTPP cooperative purchasing contracts.

Network

LTC Online Community

Free

A free online community for educators, admin, and technology leaders.

Network

Networking Meetings

Free

Connect, learn, and share with your colleagues from around the state at both in-person and virtual networking events.

Service

Phishing Awareness Program

Free

Free phishing campaigns to public school districts in Illinois.

Professional Learning

SecurED Schools

Secured Schools is the LTC’s annual virtual cybersecurity and data privacy conference, aimed at bolstering security measures within K12 school systems.

Professional Learning

SummIT

Summer
$100

A summer technology conference for IT leaders and support staff.

Consulting

Technology Consulting

Free

Free IT consulting and technical assistance to district leadership and technology teams.

Handout/Worksheet

District Website Checklist

The District Website Checklist is a component of the more extensive Legal Reference Guide published by the Learning Technology Center and is designed to assist school districts in navigating the landscape of legal obligations.

Guidance

CyberGuide

Strengthen your district’s cybersecurity posture with this free guide for technology leaders, which includes step-by-step instructions on how to implement auditing, professional development, incident response and disaster recovery planning, and much more.

Best Practices

CISA K-12 Cybersecurity Recommendations & Toolkit

This report, created by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, provides recommendations and resources to help K-12 schools and school districts address systemic cybersecurity risk.

Best Practices Report

Protecting Our Future: Partnering to Safeguard K–12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats

This report, created by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, provides recommendations and resources to help K-12 schools and school districts address systemic cybersecurity risk.

Tools and Apps

Google’s Phishing Quiz

Identifying phishing can be harder than you think. Phishing is an attempt to trick you into giving up your personal information by pretending to be someone you know. Practice telling what is fake using Google’s Phishing Quiz. 

Video

School Law Update: Top Tech Issues for the 2022-23 School Year

Video

Tips for Teaching Cybersecurity | LTC Webinar

Best Practices

Cybersecurity Frameworks: What K-12 Leaders Need to Know

“Cybersecurity Frameworks: What K-12 Leaders Need to Know” is a resource for state and local education leaders encouraging the adoption of nationally recognized cybersecurity best practices.

Tools and Apps

Tabletop Exercises (TTX)

Center for Internet Security (CIS) Tabletop exercises are available for use with users, administrators, and technical professionals. Tabletop exercises are meant to help organizations consider different risk scenarios and prepare for potential cyber threats. All of the exercises can be completed in as little as 15 minutes, making them a convenient tool for putting your team in the cybersecurity mindset. In addition, each scenario will list the processes that are tested, threat actors that are identified, and the assets that are impacted.

Best Practices Tools and Apps

Security Studio S2School Resources including IT Security Policy Templates

IT Security Policy Templates among additional Security Resources from Security Student

Tools and Apps

K12 Incident Response Plan Template – Security Studio

Utilize the K12 Incident Response Management Plan Template from Security Studio to be better prepared if and when an Incident happens in your District.

Organization

K12 SIX

Learn more about the K12 Security Information Exchange (K12 SIX). The K12 Security Information Exchange (K12 SIX) is the only national non-profit organization solely dedicated to protecting the U.S. K12 community—including school districts, charter schools, private schools, and regional and state education agencies—from emerging cybersecurity threats.

Report

The K-12 Cyber Incident Map

The K-12 Cyber Incident Map, a visualization of publicly disclosed school cyber incidents from 2016 to present. Maintained as a public service by K12 SIX.

Best Practices

Student Privacy Primer from Student Privacy Compass

Great resource from Student Privacy Compass for PD and Trainings about Data Privacy.

Tools and Apps

Data Breach Scenario Trainings

Utilize the data breach scenario trainings as professional development for your District Administration, Staff, and Teachers

Tools and Apps

CoSN Cybersecurity Toolkit

Controlling access to organizational systems and resources is an essential element of cybersecurity. The traditional approach to access control has been to assign usernames with complex password requirements, generally a combination of up to eight letters, numbers, and special characters. However, in an era of sophisticated hackers and cybercriminals, this cybersecurity approach is no longer adequate. Download our new Authentication Management Toolkit to improve your security stance.

Tools and Apps

Cybersecurity Leadership Game

Test your knowledge of Cybersecurity with COSN’s Cybersecurity Leadership Game.

Organization

USCC Cyber Quests

Cyber Quests are a series of fun but challenging on-line competitions allowing participants to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of information security realms. Each quest features an artifact for analysis, along with a series of quiz questions. Some quests focus on a potentially vulnerable sample web server as the artifact, challenging participants to identify its flaws using vulnerability analysis skills. Other quests are focused around forensic analysis, packet capture analysis, and more. The quests have varying levels of difficulty and complexity, with some quests geared toward beginners, while others include more intermediate and ultimately advanced material.

Cybersecurity Data Privacy

SecurED Schools

Jan 28, 2025
40

Join fellow K-12 technology leaders and staff for a full day of collaborative learning focused on cybersecurity and data privacy – all led by peers and industry experts with experience in today’s educational technology environment.

Duane Shaffer
Duane Shaffer
Director of Technology Services, Learning Technology Center

The Day the Internet Died: A Teacher’s Toolkit for Cyberattacks

Jan 30, 2025
30

This immersive workshop plunges you into the heart of a cyberattack, where carefully crafted digital lesson plans become useless, administrators scramble to communicate, and anxiety ripples through the school community.

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

The Day the Internet Died: A Teacher’s Toolkit for Cyberattacks

Apr 29, 2025
25

This immersive workshop plunges you into the heart of a cyberattack, where carefully crafted digital lesson plans become useless, administrators scramble to communicate, and anxiety ripples through the school community.

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

The Day the Internet Died: A Teacher’s Toolkit for Cyberattacks

May 29, 2025
20

This immersive workshop plunges you into the heart of a cyberattack, where carefully crafted digital lesson plans become useless, administrators scramble to communicate, and anxiety ripples through the school community.

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

The Day the Internet Died: A Teacher’s Toolkit for Cyberattacks

May 29, 2025
20

This immersive workshop plunges you into the heart of a cyberattack, where carefully crafted digital lesson plans become useless, administrators scramble to communicate, and anxiety ripples through the school community. But amidst the chaos, resilience emerges. Teachers tap into their creativity, communities rally together, and IT professionals fight back against the unseen enemy. Learn to identify threats, implement robust security, teach creatively without tech, and foster cyber awareness. Turn crisis into opportunity and become a cyber-savvy educator ready for any digital challenge.

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

SummIT

Jun 24, 2025
100

Gain valuable insights and practical strategies for tackling the toughest IT issues facing your school district while connecting with fellow tech directors and IT staff in a collaborative environment.

Duane Shaffer
Duane Shaffer
Director of Technology Services, Learning Technology Center
Eric Muckensturm
Eric Muckensturm
IT Strategy Manager, Cybersecurity, Learning Technology Center
Cybersecurity Networking

Cybersecurity Crisis Response Groups: How They Can Keep your District Secure

In the event of a cyber incident, who ya gonna call? Unfortunately, the Ghostbusters can’t help you here. But your friends and peers sure can.

See how a cybersecurity crisis response group can keep your district’s digital environment safe – before, during, and after a crisis.

Networking Professional Learning

2023 Education Conferences for Teachers, Administrators & Coaches

No matter your role in education and technology, conferences remain one of the best places to explore new strategies, discover new resources, and connect with peers. Check out all of these note-worthy edtech conferences coming up in 2023!

Cybersecurity

4 Cybersecurity Tips for School Staff & Students

Each October, the US recognizes Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a multi-week opportunity for everyone – including K-12 school districts – to recommit themselves to protecting digital networks and data. Here are a few quick tips to help your staff and students better understand their role in keeping educational networks secure.