INNISFAIL - The Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) is establishing an updated firewall to increase the robustness of the division’s network security, according to Jason Drent, associate superintendent of learning services.
The work is taking place in conjunction and partnership with other school divisions, he said.
In his monthly report to trustees presented at a recent board meeting, Drent outlined the work now underway to protect all schools and offices in the 11,000-student Innisfail-headquartered division.
In a follow up interview, Drent told the Albertan the division is working to ensure the protection and support of each division’s computer network.
“We are really proud of the partnerships that we have with other school divisions to ensure that we can get that level of protection that we wouldn’t have on our own,” said Drent.
“We have a number of other jurisdictions that we work with, where we pool our resources, to ensure the security of our network and our students and staff. It’s a good model.”
A firewall is a security device used to monitor and control traffic on a computer network. The division is spending about $93,000 on the current work.
“The firewall allows additional protections for others who are outside the division, who are either domestic or international, to be able to gain access to our networks,” he said.
“It allows us to put protections in place to say, no if you are from another country, you don’t need access to our network. That is something that we can protect ourselves from. We limit the ability for people who have no reason to access our networks to connect to it.
“The best analogy is we just got very good locks on our doors, so that people who need access can get and those that don’t, don’t.”
Meanwhile, the division is also continuing work aimed at educating staff at all schools about cybersecurity threats, he said.
“We’ve partnered with a firm that provides professional development on how to protect yourself from basic email fraud, basic security fraud, and how to identify when someone is trying to gain access to user names and passwords,” he said.
“We educate our staff on how to protect themselves and how to make good decisions and how to communicate if you feel what you are reading an email or the person you think you are connect with isn’t. We train them on that and it is going exceptionally well.”
Drent also told trustees that the division is working to support teachers with the ongoing introduction of artificial intelligence (machine learning) in classrooms.
“Efforts will be made to establish a lead guidance committee related to AI in instruction and assessment, how to guide students on AI use, and recommendations on initial support from Chinook’s Edge policies and administrative procedures.”
The division recently adopted new artificial intelligence policies and procedures.
Drent’s report was accepted as information by the board.
