April 19, 2024

• CISA

  • Apple 

  • Adobe 

  • Microsoft 

  • Cisco 

  • Fortinet, Ivanti, Linear 

  • Microsoft SharePoint 

  • Summary for Week of 3/18/24 

  • Cisco Updates 

  • Summary for Week of 3/25/24 

  • Android 

  • Ivanti 

  • Summary for Week of 4/1/24 

  • Microsoft 

  • Adobe 

  • CISA Emergency Directive 

  • D Link 

  • Citrix 

  • Summary for Week 4/8/24 

  • Akira Ransomware 

• Cybersecurity Summit May 8, 2024

  • NCSR Tabletop Exercises

  • NCSR Services

  • 8:30-3:30

• Challenges you are facing in your schools

• IU1 Discussion

• Presentation by Toshiba

• Cyber Security Summit on May 8

• Governor Shapiro announced on 4/18/24 that all PA standardized testing will take place online in 2026. 

• His slogan is "Less Testing, More Learning"

• Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, all state testing will be done online

• Free Benchmarking System for all schools using the same platform

• Reduce the burden and time spent managing the administration of state testing

• Accommodations will be available

• Schools will get results faster (Before the end of the school year)

• More realistic,authentic , and modern questions

• More interactive questions that will take less time to answer.  This will include dragging, sorting, ranking, etc..

• Less multiple choice and open-ended items

• Reduce the time of each test by 30 minutes.

• Training is forthcoming

• The following email was sent to your superintendents

IU1 wants to bring to your attention an important development announced today by Governor Josh Shapiro regarding the "Less Testing, More Learning" initiative. As part of this initiative, it has been mandated that all schools will be required to administer online state assessments beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.  Please be assured that Intermediate Unit 1 is committed to supporting our districts during this transition period. Over the next few months, we will be collaborating closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to determine the most effective ways to provide assistance and resources to ensure a smooth implementation process.

To learn more about the upcoming changes and how they may impact your district, we encourage you to click on the following link to access today's announcement:

Today’s announcement

Should you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

• CISA has published a new dedicated High-Risk Communities webpage comprised of cybersecurity resources to support civil society communities at heightened risk of digital security threats, including cyber hygiene guidance, a repository of local cyber volunteer programs, and free or discounted tools and services.

Despite their vulnerability to advanced cyber threats, many civil society organizations operate on lean budgets and cannot significantly invest in cybersecurity. CISA’s 

High Risk Communities webpage provides resources specifically for civil society organizations, such as:

• Project Upskill, a suite of cyber hygiene guides designed to arm individuals of high-risk organizations with simple steps to meaningfully improve their cyber hygiene.

• Cybersecurity Resources for High-Risk Communities, which offers a wide selection of free or steeply discounted tools and services.

• Cyber Volunteer Resource Center, a repository of cyber volunteer programs across the country that provide free, hands-on cybersecurity support to under-resourced organizations.

For more information on the initiative, read Associate Director Clayton Roman’s blog post, JCDC Working and Collaborating to Build Cyber Defense for Civil Society and High-Risk Communities. Visit Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative to learn more about the planning effort that aided in developing these valuable resources.

Read more…