As schools face the challenges of cyber vulnerability and limited resources, on August 12, 2026 the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a free collection of K-12 cybersecurity resources to help school and district leaders mitigate and respond to their unique cyber risks.
The CISA resources include two guides: The first aims to give school leaders the basic foundations for developing and improving K-12 cybersecurity programs, and the other is designed for K-12 cybersecurity leaders to find ways to sustain their approaches to cyber defense.
CISA and other federal resources have faced significant funding disruptions and staff cuts under the Trump administration, creating an uncertain future for the high-level support that cash-strapped schools desperately need.
As reported by K-12 Dive, the new CISA guidance reports advise K-12 school and cybersecurity leaders to implement the following objectives to strengthen their networks:
-Protect the login credentials of students and staff.
-Safeguard student and staff devices.
-Perform, verify and test backups.
-Create and practice a cyber incident response plan.
-Tap into available cybersecurity training and awareness campaigns.
-Protect sensitive data.
-Prioritize and invest in strategies outlined in the full list of applicable CISA Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals.-Develop a customized long-term cybersecurity plan that leans on the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework.
For more from K-12 Dive, click here.