In September 2025, South Lyon Community Schools in Michigan suspended classes for three consecutive days following a ransomware attack that disrupted the district’s systems. The closure, which impacted all 12 schools in the district, was necessary due to a lack of communication systems, including E911.
According to the Center for Internet Security, more than 82 percent of K-12 schools suffered a cyber incident between July 2023 and December 2024. When ransomware attacks occur, they typically result in three days to three weeks of learning loss, according to CyberNut’s 2026 threat analysis. Full recovery typically takes two to nine months and costs as much as $9 million.
Cyberattacks against K-12 schools have soared in recent years, causing disruption and serious financial losses. Threat actors exploit the open nature of school networks and limited IT resources to launch attacks. At the same time, educational environments have grown increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, making them more likely to pay a ransom or negotiate with attackers.
Ransomware Is a Major Threat
Ransomware attacks in the K-12 sector increased 23 percent year over year in 2025. These attacks can paralyze entire districts by locking essential files. K-12 schools have the highest recovery costs among all industries, with an average of nearly $1 million.
Schools store sensitive records, including student grades, health info and Social Security numbers that are attractive to attackers. In recent years, ransomware has evolved from simple encryption into a multilayered extortion model, with data exfiltration often the most critical phase. An estimated 96 percent of ransomware incidents involve data theft before encryption. Attackers threaten to leak sensitive information unless the ransom is paid, giving them leverage even if a school has backups.
Many of these attacks start with phishing or social engineering campaigns. Hackers often impersonate trusted officials to trick staff and students into revealing credentials. Users may also click on malicious links that steal their credentials or download malware.
Outsourcing Helps Stretch Budgets
Schools have limited resources to combat these attacks. A survey by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) found that approximately 61 percent of U.S. school districts lack a dedicated cybersecurity budget. Instead, they rely on general funds to manage rising digital threats. Because of this funding gap, 78 percent of cybersecurity spending is focused on monitoring and reactive measures rather than prevention.
Almost half (44 percent) of districts outsource security to manage costs — a smart alternative for cash-strapped schools. A qualified managed security services provider (MSSP) can help schools adopt an expert, disciplined approach to security for a predictable monthly fee. Many MSSPs also provide advanced security tools that can be bundled into the service.
Centralized monitoring and device management are key features of managed security services. Schools have a large attack surface created by growing numbers of tablets and notebooks. They also utilize hundreds of third-party apps that can be potential entry points for hackers. For example, a major breach of the PowerSchool student information system compromised the personal data of millions of students and their families.
Managed Security Services Reduce Risk
Centralized device management allows the MSSP to spot vulnerabilities and potential threats and take action before they escalate into full-blown attacks. If an attack occurs, the MSSP can identify and isolate affected devices. Centralized management also streamlines the process of patching operating systems and pushing out application updates to eliminate known vulnerabilities.
Qualified MSSPs can help schools implement multifactor authentication to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. This is critical given that compromised credentials are a primary entry point for attackers.
Cerium Networks has an experienced team of security experts who can help schools manage and secure thousands of devices and user accounts. We customize our managed services packages to meet the needs of each district. We can work independently or in partnership with in-house IT teams. Contact us to schedule a confidential consultation.
