Enhancing K-12 cybersecurity: Clever unveils Classroom MFA

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital education, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern, especially for K-12 schools. Today, Clever, a leading platform that ensures secure digital learning for over 100,000 schools, has taken a significant step forward by announcing the launch of Classroom MFA. This innovative multi-factor authentication solution is uniquely tailored to meet the specific needs of K-12 education environments.

Addressing cybersecurity challenges in schools

The increasing reliance on digital tools in education has unfortunately been matched by a rise in cyberattacks targeting student and teacher accounts. These attacks not only jeopardize sensitive data but also disrupt the educational process. Recognizing these threats, Clever’s Classroom MFA offers a timely and robust solution. Unlike traditional MFA solutions that often rely on secondary devices like smartphones, Classroom MFA eliminates this requirement, acknowledging the classroom’s unique needs and constraints.

Practical security for schools

Schools often face challenges with existing cybersecurity solutions. Smartphone-based authentication is impractical as students are either not allowed to use phones during school hours or simply do not possess them. Additionally, biometric solutions, while secure, are often cost-prohibitive for many school districts. Classroom MFA tackles these issues head-on by providing a secure, cost-effective, and easy-to-implement solution.

The rising numbers of cyberattacks on students nationwide highlighted the need for an effective MFA solution that protected our students. An attack would be extremely costly for us. The cost-effective MFA solution from Clever significantly reduces the risk of cybercriminals exploiting our students.

Joel Thurman-Williams

Director of IT, Pioneer School District 402

Tailored features for K-12 education

Classroom MFA is designed with age-appropriate and user-friendly features:

• Age-Appropriate Second Factors: Young students can use login pictures, middle schoolers can use physical badges, and high school students can utilize more traditional second-factor options.
• Comprehensive Protection: The solution secures Clever SSO federated applications, Google Workspace, and Google Chromebook logins.
• Customizable Policies: Schools can create unlimited unique policies to cater to different student grades, user groups, or special statuses like IEP/ELL.
• Context-Based MFA Prompts: Automatic prompts are triggered in unfamiliar networks or countries, enhancing security without constant manual intervention.
• Delegated Administration: Teachers can directly support student logins and resolve access issues in the classroom, minimizing downtime and disruptions.

A commitment to secure education

“Our goal is to secure access for everyone in education, regardless of a school’s size or cybersecurity resources,” said Mohit Gupta, Director of Product at Clever. “The attacks are already happening and increasing in volume. Safeguarding our classrooms now is essential to stopping bad actors.” With Classroom MFA, Clever builds on its successful deployment of Clever Badges, which millions of students already use, aiming to further enhance and secure the authentication process for schools of all sizes.

Availability and pricing

Classroom MFA is now available for setup at an accessible price of just $1.50 per user, per year. This pricing reflects Clever’s commitment to making robust cybersecurity solutions affordable for all educational institutions.

For more information on Classroom MFA, visit here and to get started with enhancing your school’s cybersecurity, book a call with a Clever cybersecurity specialist.