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
Service
Professional Learning

Be Connected Series

Monthly
Free

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

Service
Service

Cybersecurity Audits & Assessments

Free

Free district cybersecurity assessments for Illinois public school districts.

Service
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
Service

ILTPP Purchasing Cooperative

Free

Save money and time through ILTPP cooperative purchasing contracts.

Service
Network

LTC Online Community

Free

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

Service
Network

Networking Meetings

Free

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

Service
Service

Phishing Awareness Program

Free

Free phishing campaigns to public school districts in Illinois.

Service
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.

Service
Professional Learning

SummIT

Summer
$100

A summer technology conference for IT leaders and support staff.

Service
Consulting

Technology Consulting

Free

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

Resources
Resource
Resource Collections

Incident Response Plan Templates

Curated by the LTC’s Technology Services team, 11 templates and example playbooks for developing comprehensive incident response plans based on core objectives, actions, and communications.

Resource
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.

Resource
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.

Resource
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.

Resource
Best PracticesReport

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.

Resource
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

Resource
Video

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

Resource
Video

Tips for Teaching Cybersecurity | LTC Webinar

Resource
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.

Resource
Best PracticesTools and Apps

Security Studio S2School Resources including IT Security Policy Templates

IT Security Policy Templates among additional Security Resources from Security Student

Resource
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,

Resource
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.

Events

Be Connected: Building a Cybersecurity Culture

Mar 19, 2025
Free

This week on Be Connected, we’re diving into strategies for building a strong cybersecurity culture in your school district, starting from the ground up. From practical tips to effective processes, we’ll explore ways to engage

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

Be Connected: E-Rate PIA Process & Cybersecurity Pilot Update

Apr 9, 2025
Free

This week on Be Connected, let’s dig into an important step in the E-Rate filing process – Program Integrity Assurance (PIA). We’ll be joined by federal funding expert Mindy Fiscus, who will highlight what to

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

Be Connected: Detecting & Mitigating Insider Threats

Apr 23, 2025
Free

The call is coming from inside the house! Join us this week on Be Connected as we explore common insider threats that can put your school’s network at risk. Along the way, we’ll also discuss

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

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | South IL

Apr 28, 2025
Free

This session will guide public school administrators and IT leaders through the financial and operational consequences of a ransomware attack. Participants will take on roles within a simulated school district, gaining firsthand insight into how

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

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | West IL

Apr 29, 2025
Free

This session will guide public school administrators and IT leaders through the financial and operational consequences of a ransomware attack. Participants will take on roles within a simulated school district, gaining firsthand insight into how

Duane Shaffer
Duane Shaffer
Director of Technology Services, 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

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | East Central IL

Apr 30, 2025
Free

This session will guide public school administrators and IT leaders through the financial and operational consequences of a ransomware attack. Participants will take on roles within a simulated school district, gaining firsthand insight into how

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

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | Chicagoland

May 1, 2025
Free

This session will guide public school administrators and IT leaders through the financial and operational consequences of a ransomware attack. Participants will take on roles within a simulated school district, gaining firsthand insight into how

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

Cybersecurity Roadshow with Bytespeed | Northwest IL

May 2, 2025
Free

This session will guide public school administrators and IT leaders through the financial and operational consequences of a ransomware attack. Participants will take on roles within a simulated school district, gaining firsthand insight into how

Duane Shaffer
Duane Shaffer
Director of Technology Services, 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

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
Articles

“That’s a wrap!” – Highlights from IETC 2020

The 27th annual Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC) wrapped up on Saturday, November 21. This year marked the conference’s first venture into the virtual realm, with all sessions, workshops, and networking held online. Read

“A Big Year Ahead” – Takeaways from SecurED Schools 2021

The 4th annual SecurED Schools conference concluded back on Thursday, January 14. Though this year’s gathering was held virtually, technology leaders from around Illinois still participated in plenty of insightful conversations about the future of

AR/VRNetworkingProfessional LearningRobotics

“Keeping it real with real educators” – Takeaways from IETC 2021

The 28th annual Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC) wrapped up on November 19 after three days packed with exploring edtech’s latest integration strategies and best practices. Read up on highlights from this year’s conference,

Tim McIlvain
Tim McIlvain
Executive Director, Learning Technology Center
CybersecurityData Privacy

“We need to act. Now.” 4 Takeaways from SecurED Schools 2025

January’s conference was packed with actionable cybersecurity insights. Here’s what we learned from this year’s conversation leaders – including K-12 tech leaders and national experts.

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

Lisa Schwartz
Lisa Schwartz
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | West Central Region, Learning Technology Center
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

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