5 Common Cybersecurity Myths, Debunked by Experts

School districts are facing an escalating cybersecurity crisis, yet decisions based on common myths continue to create gaps in their defenses. From misconceptions about Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to the false sense of security in on-premise solutions, many who believe in outdated cybersecurity myths could put student accounts and sensitive data at risk.

In this post, leaders in K–12 cybersecurity—including experts from Clever, Microsoft Education, InnovateEDU, and public school systems, debunk five common cybersecurity misconceptions and provide actionable steps for school leaders to improve their security posture.

Myth: Only the IT team has to worry about Cybersecurity

Fact: Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT responsibility—it’s a shared duty across every level of a school community. 

You are the first line of defense. Kristin Bowling, a technology leader at Enterprise Elementary School District, reminds educators, administrators, and staff of their responsibilities to protect against cyber threats. “We all need to be diligent about where we’re entering our district emails and what links we’re clicking—no more falling for free pizza coupons!” 

4 Tactics to Begin Using Today:

• Lock computers when unattended to prevent unauthorized access.
• Use strong, unique passphrases instead of reusing passwords across multiple accounts.
• Utilize password managers like LastPass or KeePass to securely store and manage passwords.
• Protect both personal and professional information by adopting strong cybersecurity habits.

Cybersecurity isn’t just about work anymore—it’s about protecting all areas of our lives

– Former Director of Technology Services, Enterprise Elementary School District

Actionable step: Train all staff members on cybersecurity best practices and phishing awareness. 

Do it with Clever: Clever users can access quickstart guides in Clever Academy to support cybersecurity in your school as a teacher and/or administrator.

Myth: External Hackers are the Only Threat to Student Accounts

Fact: External hackers are an increasing risk to student accounts, but internal threats also remain a daily concern for schools. 

Sriram Seshadri, Clever’s Head of Security, explains that while 29% of schools report an increase in student-to-student security incidents, external actors are also actively targeting student identities due to their high value on the black market. (Source: Cybersecure 2025 Report)

Take this example. In a recent breach at a public school conducted by “SingularityMD”, a student account was compromised and used as an access point to internal systems. Because many school environments trust logged-in student accounts, the attacker was able to move laterally, gaining access to sensitive files and systems. This incident highlights the growing risk of external hackers using student accounts as an entryway, reinforcing the need for strong authentication measures like MFA.

Protecting student accounts from external threats is an underestimated risk. Schools must bolster their defenses with multi factor authentication—using different factors to mitigate both internal and external risks—so they can stay ahead of evolving threats and safeguard student data.

– Sriram Seshadri, Head of Security, Clever

Actionable step: Implement MFA for all student and staff accounts. Read this story of an Arizona’s district journey to implementing MFA for their students, and check out their playbook for success. 

Do it with Clever: Clever users can view a demo of Clever’s classroom-friendly MFA solution in Clever Academy. 

Myth: Multi-Factor Authentication is Too Hard and Too Expensive

Fact: Multi-factor prevents breaches and has cost-saving benefits for schools.

Many people assume implementing multifactor authentication (MFA) for students is overly complex or costly, —often because they’re thinking of the cumbersome rollouts seen in adult settings, which rely on complicated change management and personal devices that don’t fit well in schools. There’s also a common misconception that age-appropriate MFA options simply don’t exist for younger users. As a result, schools may hesitate, assuming the process will disrupt learning or be too challenging to manage.

But that doesn’t have to be the case. One Arizona district successfully rolled out MFA for 9,000 students without interrupting classroom instruction. See how they did it—and grab their step-by-step guide: Securing Student Accounts: An Arizona District’s MFA Success Playbook. 

When schools require MFA for students, staff, and community partners, they can reduce their risk of data breaches by 61%—a major win for both security and budget-conscious planning. (Source: 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report)

This isn’t just about cybersecurity—it’s about long-term cost savings. Over time, MFA can lower cyber insurance costs, making it a smart investment for schools and districts

– Erin Mote, CEO of InnovateEDU

Keeping student and staff information safe is more important than ever. MFA is a great way to add extra protection. While phones are often used for MFA, there are also easy options that don’t require a phone—like YubiKeys, ID badges, or login pictures with Clever Classroom MFA. If your district hasn’t set up MFA yet, now is a great time to get started with one of these simple and secure options.With the widespread availability of smartphones and secondary devices, implementing MFA is now easier and more affordable than ever. If your district hasn’t yet made the move, now’s the time to take action.

Actionable step: Learn more about classroom-friendly multi-factor authentication solutions in Pg. 5 of our Cybersecure Action Plan.

Myth: Zero Trust Doesn’t Work for Most Schools

Fact: A Zero Trust approach in K-12 schools significantly improves cybersecurity.

Zero Trust is a cybersecurity approach based on a simple idea: never automatically trust anyone or anything, even if they’re inside the school network. Instead, always verify identity and activity to make sure data stays protected.

Some believe that Zero Trust is too complex or unrealistic for schools—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The CTO of Microsoft Education, Corey Lee, explains that Zero Trust isn’t about buying a fancy product or overhauling everything at once. It’s a strategic mindset that helps schools stay ahead of cyber threats by focusing on where risks are highest and putting protections in place—like secure logins, device monitoring, and identity checks.

Zero Trust isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about knowing where the risks are and ensuring the right protections are in place.”

– Corey Lee, CTO of Microsoft Education

Corey also highlights the role of AI in strengthening security frameworks, helping schools respond to threats more efficiently. As cyber threats evolve, implementing measures like MFA and endpoint detection remains critical to securing student data and school infrastructure.

Actionable step: Look for simple ways to start using Zero Trust principles in your school’s current cybersecurity plan.

Myth: On-Premesis Solutions Are More Secure Than Cloud-Based 

Cloud-based solutions are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for school systems, despite initial change management concerns. 

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) serves as a key example of this shift, as they transitioned away from their outdated and costly on-premises data center to a more secure and scalable cloud-based infrastructure. 

Chanzera Allen, IPS Director of Digital Strategy, highlighted how their on-prem system was no longer meeting the school system’s needs, emphasizing that maintaining physical data centers can be both expensive and difficult to scale—especially for schools already struggling with infrastructure demands. 

By moving to the cloud, IPS is building a more flexible foundation to support equitable and effective education for their 30,000 students. (Source: Edtech Magazine)

Actionable step: Evaluate the long-term benefits of moving to the cloud for your school.

From Myth to Action: Strengthen Your School’s Security Today

Cybersecurity in education is more critical than ever, and outdated beliefs and practices can leave schools misaligned on what’s important and vulnerable to cyber threats. By debunking these common myths, schools can take proactive steps to protect student data, staff accounts, and school infrastructure. Implementing strong security measures like MFA, Zero Trust, and cloud-based solutions can make a significant impact.

Download our Cybersecure 2025 Action Plan to get expert insights and actionable recommendations for securing your school’s digital environment.

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