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K12 Tech Talk

Episode 140 - Ransomware Story with Eric @ OKC Public Schools

Oct 20, 2023
Eric Hileman, Executive Director for IT Services at Oklahoma City Public Schools, recounts their experience with a ransomware attack, discussing mistakes made, luck involved, and the message that 'it can happen to you'. Topics include compromised devices, media communication, and lessons learned.
45:46

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Open communication and collaboration played a crucial role in successfully handling the ransomware incident, with the IT department maintaining a transparent relationship with local media outlets and receiving support from the community.
  • The ransomware incident highlighted the need for better cybersecurity infrastructure and tools, leading the district to invest in next-gen AV endpoint tools, log aggregators, and a transition to a zero-trust network security model with multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Deep dives

The Importance of Open Communication and Collaboration

Open communication and collaboration played a crucial role in the successful handling of the ransomware incident. The IT department had a good relationship with local media outlets, allowing them to communicate transparently with the community throughout the crisis. The community responded with support and solidarity, understanding that cybersecurity incidents can happen to anyone. The district's IT staff also demonstrated high collaboration, working together to recover from the incident and receiving appreciation from teachers and staff.

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