Today’s children spend a considerable amount of time online and are increasingly exposed to cyber threats such as identity theft, cyberbullying, online fraud, and exposure to content that is inappropriate. It is therefore important that they be made aware of cyber security threats and learn how to use the internet safely. This blog post discusses the multiple advantages of using an integrated cybersecurity solution, as well as its effectiveness in combating changing cyber threats.
The Importance of Cybersecurity Education in today’s digital age
Cybersecurity education can empower students to use technology in a responsible manner and
protect their privacy and online identity. Students, while they enjoy the benefit of the internet, are made aware of the associated threats and risks associated with using the internet. They become aware of cyber security threats and are able to safeguard their data. Cybersecurity education is therefore recommended for schools so that students are able to ward off cyber security threats.
The state of Cybersecurity Education in Schools: Challenges and Opportunities
With the growing number of cyber security threats that students face it is important that cyber security education be made integral to every school’s mandate. It is imperative that administrators, teachers, and students have access to the learning tools that would help them recognize, detect, and avoid cyber security threats that they might encounter on a day-to-day basis. Cyber security education for students involves teaching them and encouraging them to follow or use a set of practices that would help protect their devices and educate them on the potential risks they might be facing while using internet communication platforms such as social media, online gaming, instant messaging, and chat. There are many cybersecurity career opportunities for students that they can take advantage of once they develop an interest in cybersecurity.
There are many challenges that cybersecurity education faces that hinder and cause problems for its implementation in schools. One of the main challenges that schools face is ensuring that the teachers are well trained and equipped with the latest information that would help them identify the various cyber threats that one may encounter. They not only have to be able to identify the threats but should also know how to combat them. Schools therefore must appoint IT experts who can educate children on cyber security threats and not all schools may have the bandwidth to hire such professionals who come at a high price. Cyber security career opportunities for students are a plenty and the demand for such professionals is more than the supply.
One other challenge that educators face is that they find it extremely difficult to keep a track of the students activities on their phones and computers while at home. Therefore, despite the best efforts made to implement cybersecurity education for students in schools, the students are still exposed to various cyber threats while at home. Cybersecurity education can to some extent make students aware of what to do and what not to do while using their phones and laptops at home.
Cybersecurity education for students is important as it teaches them to stay safe from malicious cyber-attacks. Students become aware of computer threats such as malware, phishing scams, and ransomware. Thus, the students can stay safe from malicious attacks. They use technology in a responsible manner and can detect cyber threats
Cybersecurity threats faced by Schools and Students
Cyber Security criminals can worm their way into school systems in myriad ways and cause a lot of destruction, some of the most common include:
- Phishing Scams: Here the attacker sends the recipient an email that seems legitimate and tricks the student to disclose information that is legitimate. Such mail also contains malware and ransomware that might inflict damage. Cyber security threats such as these affect schools easily as children may unknowingly open these links and emails.
- Cyber Bullying: This type of bullying may include sharing negative or false content about some person. This may cause him humiliation or embarrassment. Sometimes such bullying may also include criminal or unlawful behaviour.
- Inappropriate content: Even though there are ways to filter inappropriate content, students very often find such content on their devices.
- Online Predation: Online predators win their victims’ trust by manipulating their emotions.
- Data Breach: Very often schools are targeted and confidential data about students, teachers and staff is stolen.
Therefore, cybersecurity education for students is a must.
Best Practices for Teaching Cybersecurity in Schools
Cybersecurity education can be introduced in schools by following some best practices. Students should be encouraged to avoid sharing their passwords and creating passwords that are secure. Using a password manager could also be an option. Links from sources which are untrustworthy should not be opened. Sensitive data should not be shared.
Cybersecurity education should include the hands-on methodology. Just dry lessons on cybersecurity will not interest the students. Ensure that it is made a hands-on subject that will engage the students. It is also important to empower students and not create anxiety and fear among them. Ensure that you when specific cyber-attacks are discussed they are walked through the steps that could have been taken to prevent them. Also students should be educated on the ethical aspects of hacking and how it can be used to uncover any kind of software vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity Careers: Opportunities and Paths for Students
Pursuing a career in cybersecurity can be extremely lucrative for students as the available jobs far outnumber the number of qualified candidates. In fact, there are more specialized roles that are emerging in the market today and if one starts as a cybersecurity analyst the sky is the limit if one wants to follow their interest in the world of cybersecurity.
Future trends in Cybersecurity Education in Schools
It is important that schools are prepared for any kind of cyber risks that they might face from hackers who are constantly looking for vulnerabilities that may have not been exploited. Cybersecurity will therefore be a top priority in schools especially with the increase of online learning. There is going to be an increasing demand for cyber security analysts who would need to come up with creative solutions to prevent cyber attacks on schools. The focus of schools will be on designing a security architecture that focuses on endpoint protection, and cloud access.