What Is OpSec, and How Can It Help K–12 Districts?

Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
Versa Networks, which helps companies unify network and security tools into a single console, raised $120M in equity and debt, bringing its funding to $316M  —  Networking and cybersecurity firm Versa today announced that it raised $120 million in a mix of equity and debt led by BlackRock, with participation from Silicon Valley Bank.

While it may feel like adding another requirement to the to-do list, targeted professional development can help a school district struggling with teacher retention challenges by working smarter, not harder, beginning with the planning process through professional development delivery.
Districts need to understand how to offer PD without overwhelming their staff, and that starts with ensuring available professional development is accessible and informative. Implementing PD requires planning and collaboration among multiple stakeholders across departments to meet educators where they are and…

Maggie Miller / Politico:
A look at Estonia’s efforts to aid cybersecurity workers in Ukraine and coordinate with European and US allies to defend against Russia’s cyberattacks  —  TALLINN, Estonia — Ukraine has surprised the world with its ability to fend off major cyberattacks from Russia.

K–12 environments are prime targets for hackers due to the sensitive information they hold and historically underdeveloped security measures. As a former K–12 CTO in Indiana and Georgia for more than 25 years, I saw many school districts dealt a devastating blow by cybersecurity breaches and attacks, many of which happened as the result of an overall lack of funding, awareness, support and staff expertise.
The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the situation, as many schools leapt quickly into virtual learning environments, exposing more staff and students to vulnerabilities. Educators and IT…