Cyber Stronger Together: Districts of All Sizes, One Mission

In today’s digital world, cybersecurity is essential, but for many school districts, especially those in rural or high-poverty areas, building a strong program can be a major challenge. This session shares how several Minnesota public school districts, ranging in size and demographics, joined forces eight years ago to launch a collaborative cybersecurity initiative. What began as a cost sharing solution to hire a dedicated cybersecurity expert has grown into a sustainable, multi-district network focused on shared frameworks, accountability, and innovation.

Participants will hear directly from educational leaders who built and now lead this model. Learn how these districts developed shared policies, improved cyber hygiene, exchanged threat intelligence, and supported professional development across roles and experience levels. This approach is adaptable for charter, parochial, and independent schools alike. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to build or scale cybersecurity programs through regional collaboration no matter their district’s size or resources.