Empowering the Next Generation: Cybersecurity Skills at K-12 Levels in the National Cybersecurity Strategy, Insights from Cyber.org Executive Director

“Cybersecurity Education for K-12 Schools: Insights from Cyber.org Executive Director on the Importance of National Cybersecurity Strategy”. Learn from Laurie Salvail how Cyber.org is helping schools build a stronger cybersecurity workforce and how students can acquire the necessary cybersafety skills as early as kindergarten, in response to the recent federal attention paid to online security.

What impact is the National Cybersecurity Strategy having on K–12 schools?

The National Cybersecurity Strategy is providing clear approaches and guidelines for schools to follow to protect student data. IT directors must balance convenience and security by implementing best practices like regular password updates. By teaching students to protect themselves, we can create a culture of cybersecurity awareness that will benefit them as they move between schools and states.

Why is it so important to teach these cybersecurity skills at the K–12 level?

To use technology safely and become active citizens, students need to learn cybersecurity skills, even if their future job title does not include “cybersecurity”. These skills are important for protecting the US and ourselves, so it’s a real-life skill for students. By integrating cybersecurity into every classroom in small ways, such as 10-minute discussions periodically, we can help students develop this skill.

As teachers integrate these skills into every classroom, how can they teach cybersecurity to very young elementary students?

Even kindergarteners are using devices now, so it’s important to teach them age-appropriate cybersecurity skills to protect them from malware attacks and phishing scams. As they interact with avatars and cartoon characters, they often see them as computers or friends from their games, so we need to help them understand what information they should or should not share. By teaching these skills in a way that gets them excited about technology, we can prepare them to become our future cybersecurity workforce.

How can schools maintain this excitement about cybersecurity with older students and teach them age-appropriate skills?

Salvail explains that cybersecurity topics are very concrete and students can practice these skills safely through virtual environments like Cyber.org Range. By analyzing what makes a good password and running password strength testers, students can see how easy it is for malicious actors to get access to their personal information. Schools can also allow students to earn industry certifications at an early age, giving them a head start in their future careers.

Will the National Cybersecurity Strategy lead to more funding for K–12 cybersecurity training and solutions?

SALVAIL explains that by raising awareness about cybersecurity, we can prioritize its importance and provide funding for it. However, the cost of implementing cybersecurity education can be a barrier for some school systems. Luckily, Cyber.org offers grants to schools so that they can provide professional development and resources for cybersecurity education at no cost. This removes the cost barrier and helps diversify the future cybersecurity workforce.