Security solutions

Microsoft Education prioritizes providing solutions and tools to help you be cybersafe. Learn five ways that you can prioritize cybersecurity to help keep your school and users safe.

Technology has become an integral part of education, with students relying on various devices to access resources, collaborate with peers, and engage in learning activities. However, with the increased reliance on technology comes the heightened risk of cyber threats.

In 2023, Oregon State University (OSU) was at the forefront of innovation, securing more than $480 million in competitive research grants. However, the spring of 2021 brought a harsh realization: even the most prestigious institutions are not immune to cyber threats.

As educators, we recognize that you stay on the lookout for new ways to engage your students, enhance your teaching, and streamline your workflows.

Technology was already firmly integrated with school systems before the COVID-19 pandemic. But since 2020, admin processes and classroom learning—whether traditional, hybrid, or fully remote—have pivoted, increasingly relying on technology-based solutions.

At Reimagine Education, we announced new ways that Microsoft’s AI tools can be used to bring new opportunities to life, build secure foundations, and prepare students for the future.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, school staff were responsible for most of the accidental security breaches plaguing schools between 2016–2020, with students responsible for most of the intentional breaches (the bulk of incidents being to—perhaps unsurprisingly—change grades).

“We need to be taking these cyber-attacks on schools as seriously as we do physical attacks on critical infrastructure. Schools are the infrastructure of learning in America.” – Dr.

The Microsoft 365 A5 security suite helps districts and schools provide safe and secure learning experiences backed by world class protection and consolidated into one cost-effective solution.

A common misconception is that young people, many of whom grew up using tablets or touchscreen phones from an early age, are inherently tech savvy. For many, digital safety is a glaring area of growth.

Each year, hundreds of K-12 schools in the U.S. alone experience cyberattacks, including 408 schools that publicly disclosed them in 2020, up 18% from the previous year, according to the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center.