Insights

Earlier this year, we released our 2023 Impact Report, highlighting Cambium Learning Group’s collective work to drive improved outcomes for the people, communities, and groups we serve. The report details the current state of Cambium’s reach and our momentum over the last year, including real-world case studies from the Cambium brands. In this blog series, we will take a deeper dive into those featured case studies and the transformative impact of the Cambium family. Read on to learn more about how Learning A-Z is protecting schools with robust cybersecurity protocols.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It’s a time dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of cybersecurity, with hopes of generating discussion and encouraging action from organizations across industries and verticals.

For the education community, the need for cybersecurity awareness and implementation is at an all-time high, as schools across the globe have become a prime target for cybercrime. In fact, a 2024 Hybrid Security Trends Report found that 77% of K-12 and higher education institutions have experienced a cyber attack within the past 12 months, an 8% increase from 2023. According to another recent study from cybersecurity firm Zscaler, ransomware attacks against education are up 25% year-over-year.

In Cambium’s 2024 K-12 Educator + AI Survey, surveyed teachers and district administrators identified “data privacy and security” as one of the top barriers to AI adoption in education settings.

This worsening problem underscores the importance of cybersecurity practices for education leaders and institutions, including edtech companies. Regardless of your role, you can play a part in ensuring your company is implementing safety protocols to mitigate risks. 

Learning A-Z’s ISO 27001 Certification

Recently, Cambium brand Learning A-Z obtained ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification for its solutions. (Learning A-Z’s products are the most recent addition to the long list of Cambium products from Lexia, ExploreLearning and Cambium Assessment that currently meet these top security protocols.) 

ISO 27001 is a security system standard published in October 2013 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission and provides a universal framework for enacting and maintaining effective information security controls.  

For edtech vendors, adhering to these standards plays an important role in ensuring users and customers are able to have a safe, secure experience. 

Aaron Ingold, president of Learning A-Z, said of the certification, “With threats to schools growing more sophisticated, upholding their trust by consistently investing in security is imperative. This certification reflects our continued promise to implement the highest information security standards and our ongoing commitment to worthy stewardship of the data entrusted to us by schools and districts.” 

Having an Eye for Cybersecurity Year-Round

Most Cambium products are audited annually by a third party, iKeepSAfe, to ensure compliance with COPPA and FERPA data privacy laws, in addition to achieving ISO certification. For edtech vendors who are lacking similar tools for upholding the privacy of your partners, I encourage you to use Cybersecurity Awareness Month as a time to bring that discussion to the table. With cyber attacks continually rising, you won’t regret it. 

To learn more about Learning A-Z’s ISO certification to protect schools and other #CambiumImpact stories, read our 2023 Impact Report.