As October and Cybersecurity Awareness Month come to a close, it’s important for everyone in Westminster Public Schools to recognize their role in protecting the districts’ critical information and ensure that student education continues uninterrupted. 

According to Brady Mills, the district’s Chief Technology Officer, the stakes couldn’t be higher. While most employees are aware of the risks of financial fraud and the impact on personal credit and banking accounts, many don’t think about the risks for a school district. 

“A single breach can shut down essential systems, halt instruction, and disrupt the vital services families rely on every day.” Mills said. “It’s about safeguarding our ability to educate our students.”

The district regularly sends out training modules for employees to complete, but not everyone takes the time to complete them, and Mills says that is a mistake. “A cyber incident in a school doesn’t just affect screens, it can close classrooms, delay payroll, interrupt nutrition services, and even stop buses. These training modules provide much needed protection to keep our district running.”

The message: Training is something all of us need to take seriously.