The education sector is in the midst of a sweeping digital transformation. Modern learning environments are increasingly dynamic and digitally enhanced, driven by the rise of remote education, AI integration and personalized learning platforms.
As learning environments modernize, establishing a strong cybersecurity foundation is essential. Education is uniquely vulnerable, facilitating communications and collaboration among users of all ages, roles and levels of technical proficiency. To protect your school network, you must deploy advanced cybersecurity solutions purpose-built to support education’s distinct workflows and requirements.
Technology: Catalyst for Educational Innovation
New technologies are fueling educational innovation and reshaping how education is conducted. Here are some examples of key tools creating opportunities for your school today:
- Hybrid Classrooms—Hybrid learning environments were critical during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain invaluable today. They empower your students to attend class and access learning resources anytime, anywhere.
- AI Tutors—AI-enabled learning technologies deliver personalized education, tailored to your students’ individual needs. These systems can also support your teachers by providing automated, data-driven feedback.
- Immersive Learning—Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) allow your students to engage with learning materials in immersive 3D environments, helping them understand complex, high-stakes subjects.
- Gamification Platforms—Popular platforms like Kahoot!, Quizlet and Duolingo gamify learning, offering your students an engaging, interactive and motivating way to study.
Today’s students expect flexible, tech-enabled learning experiences. According to Educause’s 2025 Students and Technology Report, 85 percent of students who viewed their school as a tech leader reported high satisfaction with tech services and support—compared to 68 percent when rated as average and just 34 percent when behind the times. These students reported feeling more confident in the value of their education and more prepared for their careers.
Secure Networks: The Backbone of Education Technology
Digital systems are outpacing security efforts, according to the 2025 Cyber Hard Problems report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The report warns that the rapid adoption of new technologies, paired with increasingly complex systems and more sophisticated cyberattacks, is overwhelming current efforts to keep systems secure and resilient.
Your education systems may be particularly vulnerable. With large attack surfaces, limited cybersecurity budgets and highly sensitive student and research data, schools are prime targets for cybercrime. To defend against evolving threats, you must implement robust, purpose-built cybersecurity defenses.
Sensitive information unique to education, including personal credentials, identifying details about minors, grades, individual feedback and student chats, carries a high risk if compromised. If you serve underage users, especially those too young to navigate digital spaces safely, your institution bears an even greater responsibility to defend against malicious actors and protect vulnerable users from digital exploitation.
The most effective defenses rely on layered solutions that include multifactor authentication (MFA), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Identity and Access Management (IAM), next-generation firewall (NGFW) and content filtering. Each plays a vital role in protecting your school’s users, data and networks. If your institution is looking for comprehensive cybersecurity and expert support, you should consider managed solutions like Security as a Service (SECaaS) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) to streamline and strengthen protection across your environments.
Partnering for a Safer Digital Future
As you navigate the shift to digital learning, the demand for secure, resilient networks grows more urgent. Cox Business is your trusted partner in delivering next-generation cybersecurity. We’re here to help you protect your school community with advanced security solutions and dependable network infrastructure, so you can focus on educating students, not defending against cyberthreats.
