The K-12 Tech Experience

ManagedMethods

Welcome to the K-12 Tech Experience, the show that explores the latest trends in K-12 cybersecurity and talks with the IT leaders helping make schools safer. In this bi-weekly podcast, each episode will discuss topics related to technology, cybersecurity, and cyber safety in K-12 schools. With the goal of sharing advice, tips, stories, and wisdom for K-12 IT leaders and those who are on a mission to protect students, teachers, and staff in schools. Hosted by Jake Kasowski, communications manager at ManagedMethods. read less
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Episodes

The State of Data Privacy in K-12 Schools
Feb 28 2022
The State of Data Privacy in K-12 Schools
Resources mentioned in this episode:Future of Privacy ForumLearnPlatform 2021 EdTech Top 40 ReportNew York Education Law Section 2-DIllinois Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA)California Consumer Privacy Act (CPPA)Virginia Consumer Data Protection ActColorado Privacy ActIn this episode of The K-12 Tech Experience, Jake Kasowski is joined by Jim Siegl, Senior Technologist at The Future of Privacy Forum, to discuss the current state of data privacy in K-12 schools. Data Privacy Month just wrapped up in January, but that doesn't mean we should stop discussing it.Jim shares his thoughts as to why 2021 was a more challenging year for K-12 education than 2020, what the Future of Privacy Forum is focused on looking ahead, and Jim gives a few predictions on where privacy in schools is heading.Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @managedmethods @jakasowski or on LinkedIn.Learn more about ManagedMethods.(03:13) - Jim's key takeaways from 2021 surrounding data privacy in K-12 schools(09:56) - Jim's thoughts on the applications used in schools and the potential privacy risks(14:23) - Looking ahead into 2022 and Jim's predictions on where data privacy is headed(19:28) - What K-12 district administrators need to be mindful of as more edtech apps are used in schools(23:46) - How Jim's thinking around data privacy and security in schools has changed(27:32) - Jim's advice to administrators when it comes to storing sensitive data and securing it(31:11) - What is ahead from The Future of Privacy Forum
Managing Google Workspace for Education Storage Limits
Jan 31 2022
Managing Google Workspace for Education Storage Limits
Resources mentioned in this episode:Google Workspace for Education storage policy changesGoogle Workspace for Education storage utilization toolManagedMethods demo: Managing Google Drive FilesIn this episode of The K-12 Tech Experience, Jake Kasowski is joined by ManagedMethods Product Specialist, Charles Mogen, to discuss Google's new policy changes for Workspace for Education customers. The policy changes go into effect for existing customers on July 1, 2022, and are already in effect for new Google for Education customers starting January 1, 2022.Take a listen to hear tips on how you and your school district can better manage your Google Workspace for Education storage. You will also hear how ManagedMethods helps school districts manage files and storage in Google Workspace in Education.Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @managedmethods @jakasowski or on LinkedIn. Learn more about ManagedMethods.(03:15) - Charles discusses the nuances of the storage limits for each edition of Google Workspace for Education (Fundamentals, Standard, Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Plus)(06:28) - Do suspended users count toward your storage limit?(08:33) - The file types within Google Workspace contribute toward the storage limit.(10:09) - What happens if school districts do exceed their storage limits?(12:08) - The license of Google Workspace for Education that K-12 school districts are using most.(13:08) - Other options K-12 school districts have if they need more storage but want to stay at the Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals edition.(14:10) - How K-12 school districts can see how much storage they are currently using.(15:16) - The file types Charles sees K-12 school districts store that should be removed from their Google Drive / Shared Drives storage?(17:38) - How the ManagedMethods platform helps K-12 school districts augment what can be done in Google Admin Console.(20:19) - Charles's demo of the ManagedMethods platform.
An Inside Look at a K-12 Ransomware Incident (Part 2)
Jan 5 2022
An Inside Look at a K-12 Ransomware Incident (Part 2)
Resources shared by our guests this episode:ACPEnw Conference | Darknet Diaries | Slashdot | Microsoft Security Alerts | SANS InstituteIn this episode of The K-12 Tech Experience, Jake Kasowski is joined by Northshore School District's Senior Systems Engineer, Jon Biggerstaff, and Lead Unix Server Support, Ski Kacoroski. This episode is a follow-up to an earlier episode with Northshore School District's Network Operations Manager, Jon Wiederspan, discussing the district's October 2019 ransomware incident. Jon Biggerstaff and Ski join to share their experience dealing with ransomware and what each had to do technically to help the district recover.Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @managedmethods @jakasowski or on LinkedIn.Learn more about ManagedMethods.(04:21) - Jon and Ski share what it was like when the team first discovered the ransomware, what was happening, and what they wish they would've done in hindsight.(08:30) - The first steps Northshore's tech team did in response to the ransomware.(10:52) - Rebuilding Active Directory and using LDAP mapping to help recover.(15:17) - Prioritizing which systems get brought back online first.(19:51) - How the rest of the district administrative staff outside of technology felt the impact of ransomware.(22:08) - The unexpected challenges Jon and Ski had to overcome during recovery.(26:29) - The changes Northshore's team has made as a result of the district's ransomware incident.(32:27) - The indicators for school districts to watch for before (and during) an attack and what districts can do proactively to improve their security posture.(39:16) - How Jon and Ski's outlook on cybersecurity has changed in the past 2 years since the ransomware incident.(40:32) - Resources Jon and Ski use to stay up-to-date on news and trends.
ManagedMethods Survey Identifies Gaps in K-12 Cloud Security
Dec 8 2021
ManagedMethods Survey Identifies Gaps in K-12 Cloud Security
Resources shared in this episode:ManagedMethods & EdWeek Research Center report: What You Don't Know Can Hurt YouManagedMethods Infographic: What You Don't Know Can Hurt YouIn this episode of The K-12 Tech Experience, Jake Kasowski is joined by ManagedMethods colleagues David Waugh, ManagedMethods chief revenue officer, and Senior Account Executive, Michael Summer. The three discuss the latest report from ManagedMethods, What You Don't Know Can Hurt You, based on a survey of district-level administrators by EdWeek Research Center, and the findings that came from it.Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @managedmethods @jakasowski or on LinkedIn.Learn more about ManagedMethods.(02:51) - Michael and David share their reactions to the results of the survey.(07:40) - Michael talks about the state of cybersecurity and data privacy in K-12 schools.(09:44) - David discusses why district IT administrators have not been keen to cloud security.(16:31) - Michael shares why district IT administrators are confident in the security of their data, despite not having cloud security platforms implemented.(19:58) - David talks about the lack of concern by district IT admins of data breaches and leaks in K-12.(23:54) - Michael and David discuss the growing attention cyber safety is receiving, but the lack of concern among administrators overall.(28:59) - David and Michael talk about the lack of resources and budget school districts allocate to cybersecurity.(34:35) - David and Michael share what district administrators need to know about their Google and Microsoft cloud environments to be protected moving forward.(39:31) - Michael shares his thoughts on how his thinking on cybersecurity, safety, and privacy has changed—being a former technology director.
A Conversation on Mental Health in K-12 IT
Nov 24 2021
A Conversation on Mental Health in K-12 IT
Resources shared in this episode:National Alliance on Mental IllnessOvercoming Information OverloadVideo: Habit Loops w/ Judson Brewer, MD, PhDCalmIn this episode of The K-12 Tech Experience, Jake Kasowski is joined again by David Mendez, the Information Security Lead and Technical Project Manager at Region 10 Education Service Center. Jake and David have a conversation about mental health in K-12 IT and David shares some of his own personal experiences when it comes to maintaining a good state of mental health.Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @managedmethods @jakasowski and on LinkedIn.Learn more about ManagedMethods.(03:33) - David speaks to the topic of mental health and why it needs to be discussed more often, especially in the IT sector.(08:05) - How the information age has created anxiety, mental health issues, depression, etc. in today's society.(14:12) - How social media impacts mental health.(21:42) - How the past two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic exposed mental health issues.(28:35) - David shares a personal experience of his in regards to mental health and the expectations he put on himself that impacted him.(36:50) - David and Jake discuss imposter syndrome, social media, and disconnecting.(52:54) - David and Jake offer up some good habits to help improve mental health.*Disclaimer: This episode features anecdotal experiences and conversations on mental health. This is not professional medical advice.
Securing Family Devices with SANS Institute
Nov 10 2021
Securing Family Devices with SANS Institute
Resources shared in this episode:SANS InstituteSANS Institute's #SecureTheFamily CampaignIn this episode of The K-12 Tech Experience, Jake Kasowski is joined by Domenica Lee Crognale, a Certified Instructor and Author at SANS Institute. Jake and Domenica discuss SANS Institute's #SecuretheFamily campaign and how families can be better protected online.Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @managedmethods @jakasowski and on LinkedIn.Learn more about ManagedMethods.(03:20) - Domenica shares more about the classes offered at SANS Institute.(04:09) - Domenica discusses the SANS Institute #SecuretheFamily campaign and its mission.(05:16) - The key issues that the #SecuretheFamily campaign aims to address and help educate families on.(05:59) - The importance of separating work and school from the personal items of parents and kids.(09:08) - What school districts and organizations need to be aware of as employees and students bring personal devices into their networks.(12:04) - The reasons hackers are after data and what to be mindful of as different types of devices are used in organizations and schools.(14:02) - The risks that families and school districts need to be mindful of.(16:58) - How to balance privacy and safety when protecting devices.(20:45) - What IT staff can do to help educate parents and students who log into school accounts on personal devices.(24:47) - How families can help better protect school-issued devices at home.(27:13) - The school online safety risks that parents should be mindful of and look out for.(29:46) - What can families do to make sure their home networks are secured.(31:45) - How the past 18 months has changed Domenica's thinking on cybersecurity, safety, and data privacy.
Cybersecurity Maturity in K-12 Schools
Oct 27 2021
Cybersecurity Maturity in K-12 Schools
Resources discussed in this episode:SANS InstituteMS-ISACCybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)FlipboardIn this episode of The K-12 Tech Experience, Jake Kasowski is joined by Chris Johnson, the Director of Technology at Mount Pleasant Community School District in Iowa. Jake and Chris discuss how cybersecurity across K-12 has changed and how mature school district cybersecurity is when it comes to the ability to protect against emerging threats. Listen to Chris Johnson's podcast MSP 1337 and his episode on K-12 vulnerabilities.Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @managedmethods @jakasowski and on LinkedIn.Learn more about ManagedMethods. (06:54) - Chris shares how his role has changed as a technology director in a school district(10:11) - Chris' lessons learned from the past year that he has continued to implement at Mount Pleasant CSD.(12:20) - What cybersecurity maturity means and how it applies to K-12 schools.(18:00) - How the increased cyberattacks toward K-12 has impacted cybersecurity maturity.(20:19) - Why smaller school districts need to assume they are as big of a target as larger districts and organizations.(23:38) - The types of cyber threats school districts face, especially from the students and staff internally.(25:49) - The direction that government and K-12 education are moving when it comes to cybersecurity.(28:12) - The vulnerabilities school district technology directors need to be mindful of.(31:16) - How Chris' outlook on cybersecurity, online safety, and privacy has changed during the past year.(36:53) - How technology departments can balance cybersecurity and accessibility to learning resources in school classrooms.
An Inside Look at a K-12 Ransomware Incident
Sep 1 2021
An Inside Look at a K-12 Ransomware Incident
In this episode of The K-12 Tech Experience, Jake Kasowski interviews Jon Wiederspan, a Network Operations Manager at Northshore School District in Washington state. Jon gives an inside look at the ransomware attack against Northshore School District back in October 2019, and shares more about the recovery process and what the early warning signs are that district IT teams need to be aware of. Jon discusses how his role has changed since March 2020 and the start of the 2020 school year (04:16); the lessons Jon and his team learned during the 2020 school year (05:53); the ransomware incident that Northshore School District experienced in October 2019 (08:15); the unexpected issues experienced during the incident (12:27); how Jon and his team went about informing district leadership at the start (15:13); the list of priorities that needed to come up first during the recovery process (16:49); the experience working with cyber insurance and government agencies (18:55); key changes Northshore School District has made to help protect against potential future incidents (25:05); what IT teams can be doing to catch ransomware and the warning signs as early as possible (30:11); how the ransomware incident and the past year in K-12 education changed Jon's thinking on cybersecurity (34:08). Resources Jon uses to stay up to date on the latest news and trends: The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), FBI Newsletters, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the K12 Security Information Exchange (K12 SIX). Share us your thoughts on Twitter @managedmethods @jakasowski and on LinkedIn. Learn more about ManagedMethods at https://managedmethods.com/