The high-tech revolution that has occurred in edtech required an equal evolution in the way schools manage student data. Data management is at the forefront of every district’s responsibility, and the only sure way to offer the best possible protection is through zero trust.
What Is Zero Trust?
Leo Brehm, Senior Vice President of Technology and Innovation at GG4L, explains Zero Trust: “A zero-trust model assumes that all network traffic is potentially malicious and requires verification before it can be trusted. In a zero-trust data exchange platform, every access request is treated as if it were coming from an untrusted source and is subject to multi-factor authentication and authorization checks. This approach provides a high level of security while also improving the user experience.”
Why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Matters
Cybercriminals can break into networks using only usernames and passwords with ease. Most people, whether they know better or not, reuse passwords, save passwords to their browsers, and otherwise introduce vulnerabilities. But by treating every access request as a potential threat and acting on that with the requirement of MFA, it can make networks virtually impenetrable. Microsoft has stated that up to 99.9% of network attacks could be prevented with MFA.
Schools are trustees of student data. It’s not uncommon for districts to contract with 1500 or more different edtech vendors, many requiring access to student information including roster data and beyond. Schools must develop and enforce strict data protection policies with their edtech vendors. One way to ensure the necessary student data protection is by using a zero-trust data exchange solution like School Passport.
Schools Must Adopt a Zero-Trust Data Exchange Platform to Protect Student Data
As Brehm explains, “Zero-trust data exchange platforms are an essential component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy for educational institutions. By providing a high level of security without sacrificing user experience, these platforms can help institutions reduce the risk of data breaches, protect sensitive information, and meet the unique security needs of their organizations.”
School Passport is a zero-trust data exchange platform by GG4L, which offers PII Shield. It is designed to help protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) through data encryption, role-based access control, and audit logs to help ensure the secure handling of sensitive information.
For more information on how School Passport’s PII Shield from GG4L can help your district build and maintain a zero-trust data exchange, visit www.gg4l.com/learnmore.
