Security remains a paramount concern for educators, governors, students, and politicians in US educational institutions. While traditional security measures offer a degree of protection, the surge in cybersecurity threats presents a formidable challenge, especially for schools lacking the necessary resources and expertise.
The combination of growing student populations and increasingly complex security threats points to the need for smarter, more cost-effective solutions, particularly those leveraging the power of AI.
Understanding the K-12 cyber threat landscape
Sophisticated cyberattacks are an ever-present danger to modern schools. Between 2022 and 2023, ransomware attacks on K-12 schools more than doubled, with school districts experiencing an average of five cyber incidents per week.
As schools become more reliant on digital technologies and internet connectivity, securing digital landscapes and protecting students from cyber threats must become a top priority.
However, many school administrators struggle to allocate sufficient budget to hire dedicated cybersecurity professionals. With schools spending less than 8% of their IT budget on cybersecurity, vulnerabilities are becoming increasingly apparent.
AI surveillance, inspired by its growing adoption in business and government, offers a potential solution.
Given the budgetary constraints faced by schools, AI tools provide an attractive and relatively inexpensive way to monitor networks and devices for modern security threats, alerting staff to anomalous and suspicious activity.
Making a case for AI cyber surveillance
AI-enhanced security cameras, already in use in many corporate environments and schools, provide real-time, intelligent security monitoring. Powered by machine learning and smart analytics, these systems can detect both repeat and evolving threats.
This same principle can be applied to K-12 cyber surveillance. The parallels between physical and cyber security offer an opportunity for IT leaders to demonstrate the potential of AI to those less familiar with cybersecurity. Linking the benefits of AI to tangible security practices can help secure buy-in from school boards.
AI is rapidly evolving to combat crime and fraud, with criminals and students using AI to breach systems. AI is proving effective in identifying AI-generated fake videos, identity cards, voice traces, and other risks, helping to combat social engineering in schools.
To encourage adoption, it’s crucial to help administrators understand the growing political importance and overall success of AI, particularly in surveillance. While some parents and students may be wary of AI-powered cyber surveillance, highlighting the links to crime and assault reduction can better communicate the benefits of these tools.
Consider the 2030 AI security landscape
Investing in AI-powered security systems today, like cloud services and SaaS applications, means the product will continually improve over time, adding new features and enhancing your investment.
Focusing on today’s practical benefits, such as identifying anomalous network activity, detecting phishing attacks, and investigating suspicious attachments, AI serves as an ever-present observer and responder.
In the coming years, AIs will be trained to detect and automatically respond to more complex threats across wider digital systems. When coupled with workflows that continuously enhance cybersecurity infrastructure, schools can significantly optimize their cybersecurity surveillance efforts.
As algorithms advance, AI will become even more perceptive. Considering cybercrimes have grown at a rate of 15% per year over the last five years, potentially costing $27 trillion by 2027, demonstrating the benefits of AI surveillance now may help to mitigate severe impacts in the future.
Wrapping up
Education boards should consider adopting AI sooner rather than later to guide stakeholders through digital transformation effectively. The more comfortable people are with AI’s capabilities and guiding principles, the easier it will be for users to leverage the powerful features it provides.