2023 - 24 Annual Report
Information Technology and Library Services
Securing our Data and Network Infrastructure
School systems process a good deal of personal data on students and staff . Our educational environment relies on a well - functioning network free of interruptions from outside forces , and in recent years educational institutions have increasingly become the target of cyber attacks . Two key initiatives furthered the district ' s efforts to keep the district cyber - secure . This year all staff in the Newton Public Schools received comprehensive training on cybersecurity and their responsibilities to keep our network environment secure . This program was offered as part of the Massachusetts Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness Program . The interactive online modules covered topics ranging from identifying and avoiding phishing emails to best security practices for password and network access . Simulated phishing campaigns provided staff with real - life experiences in identifying suspect emails . Time provided during staff meetings ensured 76 % of all adults with NPS accounts ( including staff currently on leave ) completed all training modules and nearly 80 % fully completed or partially completed the training modules . Cybersecurity Training for Staff
IBM Cybersecurity Grant
Newton Public Schools received a grant from IBM to work alongside IBM cybersecurity professionals to better secure our environment . Through a self - assessment and analysis driven by IBM staff , key steps were identified and plans were developed to improve our cybersecurity posture . In addition , our IBM team assisted in furthering our work on cyber incident response creating run - books for responding to particular types of incidents . These living documents will become part of our arsenal to both mitigate and recover from cyber - attacks .
The human element still makes up the overwhelming majority of incidents, and is a factor in 74% of total breaches...*
*https://www.verizon.com/about/news/2023-data-breach-investigations-report
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