Nova Scotia's Education Department is investigating a cybersecurity breach involving PowerSchool, a widely used student information system across North America. The breach has compromised sensitive data, including social insurance numbers collected before 2010, potentially affecting the financial security of current and former teachers and staff.

Approximately 250 current and former employees have been advised to monitor their bank accounts for suspicious activity. The provincial government will directly contact those impacted to offer credit protection services.

The breach, which occurred between December 22 and December 28, also impacted schools in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. In Ontario, several school boards, including those in Toronto, Peel, and Durham, have notified stakeholders of the incident linked to PowerSchool's U.S.-based service provider. Reports suggest that school boards in Alberta, Manitoba, and multiple U.S. states were also affected.

PowerSchool stated that the breach has been contained. The platform serves 18,000 customers across more than 80 countries, managing data for around 60 million K-12 students globally. The company emphasized its commitment to safeguarding student data and maintaining responsible data processing practices.

While PowerSchool typically does not store financial data or medical information, it does house critical personal details such as birth dates, addresses, allergy alerts, health card numbers, emergency contacts, and records of student accommodations. This type of information can be exploited for identity theft and other malicious activities.

Educational institutions like schools are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals due to the sensitive nature of the data they manage. Schools store vast amounts of personal and demographic information on students and staff, while hospitals maintain detailed patient health records. Often, these organizations operate with limited cybersecurity budgets and aging digital infrastructure, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to exploit security vulnerabilities. Enhanced cybersecurity measures and proactive risk management strategies are crucial to protecting these essential institutions from future breaches.

Jenny is a business insurance broker with Waypoint Insurance. She can be reached at 604-317-6755 or jhansen@waypoint.ca. Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-holly-hansen-365b691b/.  Connect with Jenny at BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jennyhollyhansen.bsky.social

Jenny Holly Hansen is a cohost with Chris Sturges of the Langley Impact Networking Group. You are welcome to join us on Thursday’s from 4pm to 6pm at: Sidebar Bar and Grill: 100b - 20018 83A Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 3R4

Tags: #Protect Your Business #Insurance Solutions #Business Support #Risk Management #Technology #Data Privacy #CRM #Cyber Security #Jenny Holly Hansen

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