Welcome to Episode 7 of the Zero Breach Zone ! Join hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo as they sit down with Frankie Jackson, a cybersecurity expert and former CTO of Cypress Fairbanks ISD, to explore the intersection of education and cybersecurity. From NASA to one of Texas's largest school districts, Frankie shares her journey and insights on developing comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks for educational institutions.

As a thought leader in K-12 cybersecurity, Frankie Jackson continues advocating for increased diversity in technology, co-authoring The Savvy Ed Tech Leader alongside Sheryl Abshire, Diane Doersch, and Donna Williamson – a comprehensive roadmap helping technology practitioners advance their careers and shape the future of educational technology. This episode is highly engaging and essential listening for K-12 cybersecurity pros and the like!

Key Takeaways:
• Frankie Jackson transitioned from NASA to K-12 education for a better work-life balance but found her true passion
• Her work in Cypress Fairbanks ISD, one of the largest school districts in Texas
• The Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) and the focus on data privacy in education
• Behind the scenes of he Cybersecurity Coalition and why it was formed to improve cybersecurity practices in education
• The NIST Cybersecurity Framework and how it was adapted for educational institutions
• Frankie explains why collaboration among strategic partners is crucial for effective cybersecurity solutions
• The creation of the cybersecurity rubric, which helps school districts assess their cybersecurity maturity
• Why training for cybersecurity rubric evaluators is essential for effective implementation
• Phil asks if cybersecurity insurance rates can decrease with improved cybersecurity practices
• Frankie Jackson envisions a standardized framework for cybersecurity in education
• Parting Tool: Savvy Ed Tech Leader Self Assessment

Resources Mentioned:
- Trusted Learning Environment (TLE)
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- Cybersecurity Coalition
- Cybersecurity Rubric
- The Savvy Ed Tech Leader book

Connect with Frankie Jackson

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As we round out the year 2024, we wanted to reintroduce you to our hosts Andy Lombardo & Phil Hintz and remind you why the Zero Breach Zone is a vital resource for K-12 cybersecurity.

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/

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo welcome Jason Yaw Osei, Tech Director of Technology and Cybersecurity at Campbell ISD in Texas, for a fun and engaging discussion about cybersecurity in education and innovative training approaches.

Yaw's infectious energy and passion for all things tech shine through in this episode packed with laughs, tech talk, and cybersecurity insights. From geeking out about AI innovations to trading cybersecurity war stories, the conversation flows effortlessly between serious security discussions and playful tech banter. Whether you're a cybersecurity pro or just love hearing passionate people talk tech, this episode delivers entertainment and education in equal measure.

Key Takeaways

• Breaking Down Innovation Barriers: Yaw discusses his thoughtful approach to introducing new security practices in communities that often view change with skepticism, showing how building trust and understanding can transform resistance into enthusiasm
• Digital Identity as Personal Security: Yaw breaks down complex cybersecurity concepts using brilliant home security analogies - from treating passwords like house keys to viewing data breaches like leaving your front door wide open. His memorable comparisons help make digital security feel as natural and necessary as locking your doors at night
• Innovative Training Through CyberNut: Discussion of how gamification is revolutionizing cybersecurity training, making it more engaging and effective for educational staff in his district
• Future of EdTech Security: Analysis of emerging trends in educational cybersecurity, including the integration of AI and automation in school settings.
• CyberNut - the security awareness training platform built exclusively for schools
• Parting Tool: AboutMy.email: lets you send us a questionable email and we'll analyze it and tell you about its authentication, size, structure and how well it complies with best practices set by Yahoo & Google

Welcome to Episode 5 of Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Phil and Andy speak to the core of what this podcast is all about: making cybersecurity accessible and actionable for the entire education technology community. They share key insights from their recent cybersecurity and education technology conference experience at RTM. Phil and Andy dive into their recent cybersecurity concerns with playful banter, with Andy emphasizing his passion for Multi-Factor Authentication as a critical security foundation. They explore AI's expanding influence in education, from classroom applications to administrative tools, while sharing their upcoming speaking engagements at COSN, TETC, and other education technology conferences in the coming months.

Key Takeaways:

• In-person conferences remain invaluable for building professional relationships and sharing solutions
• Organizations must master basic security hygiene before adopting advanced technologies
• AI tools are transforming both educational practices and cybersecurity approaches
• Multi-factor authentication continues to be a cornerstone of digital security
• Community-driven tools and peer networking can significantly enhance cybersecurity efforts
• Parting Tool: Maester, a Microsoft Security test Automation framework

  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 4 of the Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, we sit down with Oliver Page, CEO and founder of CyberNut, for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship and cybersecurity in education. Oliver shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, including his experience founding NutKase, a successful K-12 device case manufacturer that protected over 3 million student devices. Through both success and failure, he shares valuable lessons that led him to his current venture. As the founder of CyberNut, he discusses how his company is revolutionizing cybersecurity training in educational institutions with innovative, user-friendly solutions.

Oliver explores the critical need for comprehensive cybersecurity education and how CyberNut is meeting this challenge through fast, efficient training programs and authentic phishing simulations. The discussion highlights how their unique approach caters to both faculty/staff and student needs, setting them apart in the educational cybersecurity space.

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/