Cyberattacks on schools are becoming more common. However, with the right planning, schools can respond quickly and reduce damage. This Daily news highlight covers how several U.S. school districts used incident response plans to protect data and restore services after being hacked.
Agua Fria School District Responds Fast to Cyberattack
In January 2024, the Agua Fria Union High School District in Arizona discovered that its systems had been hacked. The school’s IT Director, Brandon Gabel, acted fast. He shut down the network and called the district’s outside security experts.
Together, they checked logs, removed the hackers, and confirmed that backup files were safe. Within 24 hours, all important systems were working again.
“We just ran with it. We had a plan and followed it,” Gabel said.
What the Attack Looked Like:
- Hackers stole a service account login.
- They used ransomware to lock the school’s virtual servers.
- The IT team stopped the attack and found that no personal data was stolen.
- District leaders informed staff and parents with clear updates.
What Is an Incident Response Plan and Why Is It Important?
An incident response plan helps schools act fast during cyberattacks. It outlines who does what, how to shut down systems, and how to recover data. These plans also include how to communicate with parents, staff, and law enforcement.
According to Amy McLaughlin from CoSN, schools should:
- Assign roles like response leader and communications officer.
- Keep contact details for staff and vendors up to date.
- Store backup info like network maps and server lists in an easy-to-find place.
- Write after-action reports after every incident to improve next time.
“Don’t plan for every scenario — keep the plan flexible and simple,” McLaughlin advises.
How Agua Fria Prepared Before the Attack
When Brandon Gabel became the district’s network operations manager, there was no plan in place. So, he created a one-page response chart explaining each team member’s role.
By September 2023, he shared the plan with district leaders and trained his team.
“It’s very important that everyone knows their role before a crisis happens,” he said.
Because of their strong teamwork and planning, the IT staff acted quickly during the ransomware attack. They worked with CrowdStrike security software, shut down the VPN, and called the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.
By that evening, the district:
- Restored servers using cold backups.
- Changed passwords across all schools.
- Avoided serious financial loss.
Other Districts Prepare With Practice and Backup Systems
Oak Park District 97 – Illinois
Oak Park hasn’t had a major cyberattack yet, but they are ready. IT Director Will Brackett uses small incidents like email scams (phishing) to practice responses.
“You can’t wait for a big attack to practice,” he said.
His team:
- Responds to real-time incidents.
- Updates staff and parents.
- Files after-action reports to improve.
In one case, hackers pretended to be an administrator and asked for money. A staff member double-checked the email and flagged it. The IT team confirmed it was a scam and used the experience to train others.
Township of Union Schools – New Jersey
In May 2024, this district faced a ransomware attack. Their backup server was also hit, so they had to rebuild it before restoring data.
New Chief Technology Officer John Sousa joined after the attack and is now:
- Writing a strong response plan.
- Using Cohesity to back up data in the cloud and on-site.
- Preparing for tabletop drills to test team responses.
“Now we know we can recover our data from anywhere,” Sousa said.
He also brought in a 24/7 response team and aims to strengthen people, processes, and technology in the next year.
How Schools Can Protect Themselves
To fight growing cyber threats, schools need strong response plans. Here are the top lessons:
1. Make a Simple Plan
- Assign roles.
- Practice often.
- Keep it short and flexible.
2. Use Secure Backups
- Store data both on-site and in the cloud.
- Use “air-gapped” backups that hackers can’t reach.
3. Report and Learn
- Write after-action reviews.
- Update plans based on what worked and what didn’t.
4. Work With Experts
- Build relationships with outside cybersecurity firms.
- Be ready to call law enforcement and your insurance company.
This Breaking News shows that quick recovery from cyberattacks is possible with planning and teamwork. As digital learning grows, schools must stay one step ahead to keep students and data safe.
Stay tuned for more Daily news highlights on school security and technology trends.
