Corpus Christi ISD’s Office of Technology Services recently earned a Texas Cyberstar Certificate from the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR). The certification is good for one year and recognizes public and private entities in Texas that implement best practices for cybersecurity. CCISD is one of six organizations and the first school district in the state to qualify for this certification.
“Earning the Cyberstar Certificate is a result of CCISD’s continued commitment to focus on and prioritize cybersecurity,” said CCISD’s Chief Technology Officer Sean Babcock. “I am proud of all district staff’s cybersecurity efforts as we all play a vital part in our success and earning this award.”
CCISD met the following requirements to qualify for the certification:
- Adopt a cybersecurity risk management program.
- Provide cybersecurity training and information to employees.
- Consistently follow the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards for cybersecurity.
- Incorporate public service announcements to encourage cybersecurity awareness.
- Coordinate with local and state governmental entities.
According to CCISD’s Information Security Officer, Thomas Molina, students should be especially vigilant about protecting their personally identifiable information. Bad actors commonly target students, steal their data, and sell it on the dark web for profit. Criminals can then use the stolen information to open credit card accounts in the unsuspecting student’s name and cause the student to acquire a bad credit score by the time they turn 18. That’s why CCISD’s Technology team works to improve student, parent and staff cybersecurity awareness.
“We care about protecting the personally identifiable information (P.I.I.) of our students and staff,” said Molina. “We consider it a very important topic because cyberattacks come from around the world, not just from Corpus Christi.”
To learn more about cyber security, visit the District's resource page and newsletters below: