INNISFAIL - Work is ongoing across the Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) to address cyber security risks and to ensure that teachers and staff are able to do their part in keeping systems secure, says Jason Drent, associate superintendent of learning services.
Drent outlined some of the challenges facing the division and things being done to prevent problems, including the extensive use of firewalls in computer systems, in his monthly report on technology to trustees at the Jan. 11 board meeting.
In a follow-up Albertan interview, Drent explained although the 11,000 student, Innisfail-headquartered CESD hasn’t been the target of any serious cyber attacks the desire is to be proactive going forward.
“You don’t have to go to far to know that cyber security is definitely an issue in any industry, and education is unfortunately not free from that,” said Drent. “We want to ensure that our infrastructure and our people are protected from that.
“We’ve been really lucky that we haven’t been faced with any (serious cyber attacks). We are really trying to be proactive with people to ensure that all of our sensitive information is protected.”
The division already has “very robust security” within its infrastructure, he noted.
“We have a very competent security team to help support us, our technology team,” he said. “We do have great firewalls and network security.”
Educating staff across the region on how to protect themselves from such things as malicious emails is ongoing, he said.
“There is an increasing world of ransomware where people inadvertently share sensitive information. That is what we are really working on, protecting our people by saying, ‘hey, this is what these could look like.'”
The technology team has developed a training process to identify vulnerabilities and to ensure the needs of teachers and staff are being met, he said.
“Our tech people are working elbow to elbow with people, saying this is what you could see and this is how you can protect yourself. Things like never share this type of information, this is how you can make sure it is coming from a legitimate source, and things of that sort. It’s really about education,” he said.
Meanwhile, the CESD board is currently considering a $600,000 budget request to enhance technology in schools across the division, he said.
“We want to get (those funds) directed directly into classrooms,” he said. “What we are talking about are tools that are going to be in the hands of our students and our teachers. We are talking about projection devices and those types of resources. There is a high demand for technology.”
During the Jan. 11 board meeting trustees were told that administration is considering some minor changes to the division’s inclement weather procedure, and specifically as it relates to cold weather days.
“CESD will continue to work at finding a balance between the safety needs of staff and student while also protecting classroom learning opportunity,” the division said in a press release.
