A principal recently asked me, "What mistakes do schools make most often when it comes to IT and cybersecurity?"
Short answer: more than you'd think.
After years of working with K-12 schools across Florida, the biggest mistake I see-again and again-is treating IT and cybersecurity as an afterthought. Even with cyberattacks on school districts making headlines, too many administrators underestimate the risks or assume that basic protections are "good enough."
Here's the hard truth: They're not.
A single phishing email, ransomware attack, or system failure can bring your entire school operation to a halt-shutting down learning, compromising sensitive student data, and costing your school far more in downtime and recovery than prevention ever would.
Another major misstep? Relying on free or outdated software. I get it-school budgets are tight, and it's tempting to patch things together with free antivirus programs or home-grade routers. But those "savings" disappear fast when your network is breached or your systems are locked down mid-semester. If you wouldn't trust free software to run your gradebook, why risk it for your school's cybersecurity?
Then there's the hidden cost of downtime. Some schools assume they can tolerate a few hours offline. But when your student management systems, communication platforms, or Wi-Fi go down, learning stops. Teachers can't teach, students can't access materials, and staff can't do their jobs.
And finally, there's this: Failing to plan for the long term. Cybersecurity isn't a one-and-done fix. Threats evolve. Technology changes. Hackers adapt. If your security strategy hasn't been reviewed in the past year, you're likely already behind.
So what's the solution?
Don't cut corners. Invest in school-grade IT and cybersecurity infrastructure-not quick fixes.
Think long-term. Build a proactive security plan that grows with your school and keeps up with new threats.
Get expert support. Your staff already wears enough hats-let trained professionals guide your IT strategy and help you stay secure.
If you're ready to take cybersecurity seriously-for your students, your staff, and your school-let's talk.
Call us at 305-403-7582 to schedule a FREE Discovery Call, and let's make sure your school isn't one click away from catastrophe.
