The report paints a grim picture: 82% of K-12 organizations experienced cyber incidents, with nearly 14,000 security events recorded and over 9,300 confirmed attacks. The 2025 CIS MS-ISAC K-12 Cybersecurity Report provides a deep dive into the cybersecurity landscape for 5,000 K-12 organizations from July 2023 to December 2024. The study by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) exposes the increasing sophistication of cyber threats against schools. The findings highlight the rising impact of cyberattacks on education, affecting students, staff, and entire communities.
Cyber Threats Disrupt Schools and Communities
These cyberattacks extend beyond stolen data—disruptions to meal programs, counseling services, and school operations have ripple effects throughout communities.
Consider this example of a K-12 ransomware attack on a rural school during midterms. It rendered student records and testing systems inaccessible. At the same time, cafeteria staff struggled to serve meals while parents scrambled to find childcare. This example is one of many illustrating how cyber threats can destabilize essential community services. It isn’t just school that is distracted.
Cybercriminals Exploit Strategic Timing and Human Vulnerabilities
When Schools Are Most at Risk
Cyber actors time their cyberattacks on education strategically, targeting schools at their most vulnerable moments, such as:
- Beginning of the school year: When IT teams are busy onboarding students and staff.
- Exam periods: When downtime is not an option.
- End-of-year transitions: When schools conduct major system updates.
These periods force schools to choose between rapid ransom payments or prolonged disruptions, putting immense pressure on administrators.
How Hackers Gain Access
The report identifies human-targeted threats as the most exploited cyberattacks on education vector, surpassing technical vulnerabilities by 45%. Cybercriminals use:
- Malvertisements: Fake ads tricking users into downloading malware.
- Phishing emails: Deceptive emails targeting school staff.
- Compromised websites: Redirecting users to malicious domains.
Key Cybersecurity Challenges in K-12 Education
1. Limited Cybersecurity Staff and Resources
It’s not a good grade; a staggering 86% of K-12 school districts reported having fewer than five employees dedicated to cybersecurity. A gap in resources this large would expose any organization to attack.
2. Lack of Documented K-12 Cybersecurity Strategies
More than 37% of schools lack any sort of cybersecurity strategy. As cybersecurity experts or anyone with knowledge of crisis management will tell you, a plan for when things go bad is essential.
3. Outdated Security Frameworks
Although 77% of schools use security frameworks, implementation remains inconsistent, leaving critical gaps in protection.
4. Inadequate Funding
More than 86% of schools cited a lack of funding as their most significant cybersecurity barrier. Schools often struggle to prioritize security amid tight budgets.
Building Cyber Resilience: What Schools Can Do
Collaboration is Key
The MS-ISAC offers no-cost resources to K-12 institutions, including:
- Incident response support
- Real-time threat intelligence
- Cybersecurity training for staff
- Network monitoring solutions
Schools that actively engage with these services report faster recovery times and better protection against cyberattacks.
Empowering School Staff
Instead of treating employees as security risks, schools must train teachers and administrators to recognize threats. Security awareness programs should focus on:
- Identifying phishing emails.
- Safe browsing habits.
- Proper data handling.
Technical Safeguards
Key cybersecurity measures recommended include:
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): To help reduce unauthorized access.
- Regular data backups: This creates resilience.
- Endpoint security solutions that detect and stop malware.
The Future of K-12 Cybersecurity
Across the spectrum of organizations, cybercrime is evolving. As well-funded businesses and organizations bolster defense, K-12 schools will remain attractive targets due to their limited security budgets and increasing digital reliance. The 2025 CIS MS-ISAC report emphasizes that cybersecurity in education is about more than protecting data—it’s about protecting students, staff, and entire communities.
Schools, local governments, and cybersecurity organizations must work together to fortify defenses, train staff, and adopt proactive cybersecurity measures. The stakes are too high to ignore.
Other News: Most K-12 Schools Have Cyber Insurance, But Still Lack Basic Security Measures: MS-ISAC Report (Opens in a new browser tab)
