D20 students learn how to prevent cyber incidents, network outages [Video]

COLORADO SPRINGS — October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This month, Academy School District 20 (D20) is helping students keep personal data secure.

With more than 26,000 devices like laptops across the district, cyber incidents can happen easily.

Compromised passwords or unauthorized software downloads could cause the network to shut down.

That means no one has internet access.

“[Compromises and downloads happen] averaging anywhere from 5 to 10 per day,” said D20’s Chief Information Officer, Shelley Kooser.

Every week this month, students have been learning the importance of having a strong password and how to not fall for phishing scams.

“The goal is to make sure we can continue learning, we don’t want to shut down the network,” said Kooser.

Kooser said there have been fewer password compromises and unauthorized downloads since the beginning of the month.

Two Pine Creek High School seniors use their laptops at school and back home every day.

“I always do background …