CISA Releases New K-12 Cybersecurity Guides

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released two new guides to help K-12 schools and districts strengthen their cybersecurity programs.

Released in August 2026 as part of CISA's K-12 Cybersecurity Foundations Resource Package, the resources include a Getting Started Guide for schools beginning to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and a more detailed Implementation Guide for districts looking to build or improve their cybersecurity programs.

The guidance also emphasizes the connection between cybersecurity and overall school safety and operations, including the potential impact of cyber incidents on physical security systems.

Getting Started Guide Prioritizes 4 Cybersecurity Objectives

CISA's 23-page K-12 Cybersecurity Foundations: Getting Started Guide is intended as an easy-to-use resource for K-12 administrators, including those with limited cybersecurity expertise.

CISA recommends that schools and districts begin with four objectives:

1. Protect login credentials for students and personnel, beginning with multi-factor authentication and strengthening account security.
2. Safeguard student and personnel devices and other assets, including keeping software current and identifying vulnerabilities.
3. Perform, verify, and test backups so critical data and systems can be restored following ransomware or other damaging incidents.
4. Establish an initial incident response capability, including clearly identifying roles and responsibilities and regularly practicing the district's response.

Once those areas are addressed, CISA recommends expanding cybersecurity efforts using the more comprehensive Implementation Guide.

Implementation Guide Expands to Eight Objectives

The 57-page K-12 Cybersecurity Foundations: Implementation Guide is primarily designed for cybersecurity leaders and practitioners in districts that are building or improving their cybersecurity programs.

It expands the four initial priorities into eight objectives:

1. Protect login credentials for students and personnel.
2. Safeguard student and personnel devices and other assets.
3. Perform, verify, and test backups.
4. Develop and exercise a cyber incident response plan.
5. Use cybersecurity training and awareness campaigns at all levels.
6. Protect sensitive data.
7. Prioritize additional near-term investments using applicable CISA Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals.
8. Develop a customized long-term cybersecurity plan using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.

The guide breaks down the objectives into individual practices and categorizes recommendations as either "Quick Fix" or "Long-Term Solution." It also identifies potential implementation challenges, relevant stakeholders, and connections to established cybersecurity standards and frameworks.

CISA notes there is no single approach appropriate for every school district because resources, organizational structures, technology, and risk vary significantly.

CISA Highlights the Connection Between Cyber and Physical Security

The guidance also reinforces why cybersecurity planning should involve more than a district's IT department.

CISA identifies administrators, human resources, physical security, cybersecurity and IT personnel, data owners, and other stakeholders as potential participants in managing cyber risk.

The Getting Started Guide also encourages districts to consider how a cyber incident could affect physical security systems. For example, CISA asks schools to consider whether magnetic door locking systems or video surveillance systems would continue functioning as expected if an IT system were affected by ransomware or a denial-of-service (DoS) attack.

When developing incident response capabilities, CISA recommends integrating physical security and cybersecurity response plans to better prepare staff for incidents involving both physical and cyber components.

Where to Find the New CISA Resources

Both guides are available through CISA's new K-12 Cybersecurity Foundations Resource Package, which also includes a six-part video series and additional quick-reference materials.