Educational Institutions

Report a Cyber Issue
Organizations should report anomalous cyber activity and/or cyber incidents 24/7 to report@cisa.gov or (888) 282-0870.

CISA is committed to enhancing school security and student and staff safety. Educational institutions face a wide range of digital and physical threats, ranging from targeted violence to cyberattacks. CISA partners with educational institutions and other organizations throughout government, law enforcement, and communities nationwide and offers a variety of resources, programs, and tools to make our schools safer for students, staff, and parents.

CISA also manages the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse and its corresponding website, SchoolSafety.gov, which offers resources from CISA and other federal agencies to help schools prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergency situations. Schools can use this information to develop comprehensive school security plans and create safe and supportive learning environments. 

Featured Content

Partnering to Safeguard K-12 Organizations

Learn more about resources, tools, and strategies to improve the physical security of schools. 

School Safety

Discover how CISA collaborates with other agencies to support K-12 schools and districts in their efforts to improve school safety and security. 

Cyber and IT Interns

This site provides a one-stop access point for information, resources, guidance, and evidence-based practices on a range of school safety topics and threats.

Featured Articles

Back to School Safety: Resources to Support Our Nation’s Students and Schools

AUG 29, 2022 | BLOG
This article emphasizes students' rights to access a safe school environment, while also highlighting several resources that indicate CISA's commitment to maintaining the safety and security of our nation’s schools.

CISA Releases Updated K-12 School Security Guide and Assessment Tool

FEB 23, 2022 | PRESS RELEASE
CISA released its third edition of the CISA K-12 School Security Guide and School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT), which include new products to support K-12 schools and communities in their efforts to strengthen security and protect against a range of threats.

Infrastructure Security Month: Keeping the Nation’s Schools Safe, Secure, and Resilient

NOV 10, 2021 | BLOG
As CISA celebrates Infrastructure Security Month each November, we want to recognize the vital role critical infrastructure, including the more than 130,900 elementary and secondary schools comprising our K-12 educational system, plays in the nation’s wellbeing.

National School Safety Summit

The National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security brings federal, state, and local school leaders together to share actionable recommendations that enhance safe and supportive learning environments in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools.

Alerts & Directives

Cyber Actors Target K-12 Distance Learning Education to Cause Disruptions and Steal Data

DEC 10, 2020 | CYBERSECURITY ADVISORY | AA20-345A
The FBI, CISA, and MS-ISAC assess malicious cyber actors are targeting kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) educational institutions, leading to ransomware attacks, the theft of data, and the disruption of distance learning services.

#StopRansomware: Vice Society

SEP 06, 2022 | CYBERSECURITY ADVISORY | AA22-249A
This joint CSA is aimed at assisting organizations to implement the recommendations to reduce the likelihood and impact of ransomware incidents.

Contact Your Regional Office

CISA Region 1

Region 1

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
CISA Region 2

Region 2

New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
CISA Region 3

Region 3

Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
CISA Region 4

Region 4

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
CISA Region 5

Region 5

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
CISA Region 6

Region 6

Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
CISA Region 8

Region 8

Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
CISA Region 9

Region 9

Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Services

CISA has compiled a list of free tools and services to help educational institutions further advance their security capabilities. This living repository includes services provided by CISA, widely used open-source tools, and other free tools and services offered by private and public sector organizations. 

View Services

Cyber Resilience Review (CRR)

Contact: iodregionaloperations@cisa.dhs.gov
An assessment that evaluates an organization's operational resilience and cybersecurity practices.

Crossfeed

ASSESS YOUR RISK LEVEL
Contact: vulnerability@cisa.dhs.gov
CISA conducts limited, passive scanning to alert Federal agencies, SLTT entities, and critical infrastructure operators across the nation of any serious vulnerabilities.
Cyber Hygiene Services
Intermediate

CISA Tabletop Exercise Packages

INCREASE YOUR RESILIENCE
Contact: cisa.exercises@cisa.dhs.gov
CISA Tabletop Exercise Packages are a comprehensive set of resources designed to assist stakeholders in conducting their own exercises and initiating discussions within their organizations about their ability to address a variety of threat scenarios.
Foundational
View Services

Publications

Cyber Threats to K-12 Remote Learning Education

DEC 17, 2020 | PUBLICATION
CISA has seen an increase in ransomware attacks against K-12 educational institutions with malicious cyber actors targeting school computer systems.
Download File (PDF, 729.16 KB)

K-12 School Security Guide (3rd Edition) and School Security Assessment Tool

PUBLICATION
This Guide provides a doctrine to support schools in conducting vulnerability assessments and planning to implement layered physical security elements. The guide is designed for schools to employ in conjunction with the SSAT, a web-based tool that provides further guidance.
View Files

CISA Cybersecurity Awareness Program Student Resources

NOV 29, 2021 | PUBLICATION
Resources and materials to help you learn about safe cyber behavior. Stop before you post, share, or send.
View Files

Cybersecurity Awareness Program Parent and Educator Resources

NOV 29, 2021 | PUBLICATION
Resources and materials to help you start the discussion with your kids or students about rinternet usage and cybersecurity awareness.
View Files