EHAa- Technology security policy

Date Adopted: 10 April 2024

Current Review / Revision: 10 April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the secure use and handling of all district data, computer systems and computer equipment by District students, patrons, and employees.

Policy

Technology Security:

It is the policy of the Emery School District to support secure network systems in the district, including security for all personally identifiable information that is stored on paper or stored digitally on district-maintained computers and networks. This policy supports efforts to mitigate threats that may cause harm to the district, its students, or its employees.

The district will ensure reasonable efforts will be made to maintain network security. Data loss can be caused by human error, hardware malfunction, natural disaster, security breach, etc., and may not be preventable.

All persons who are granted access to the district network and other technology resources are expected to be careful and aware of suspicious communications and unauthorized use of district devices and the network. When an employee or other user becomes aware of suspicious activity, he/she is to immediately contact the district’s Information Security Officer with the relevant information.

This policy and procedure also covers third party vendors/contractors that contain or have access to the Emery School District data sharing agreement. All third party entities will be required to sign the Restriction on Use of Confidential Information Agreement before accessing our systems or receiving information.

It is the policy of Emery School District to fully conform with all federal and state privacy and data governance laws. Including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S. Code
§1232g and 34 CFR Part 99 (hereinafter “FERPA”), the Government Records and Management Act U.C.A. §62G-2 (hereinafter “GRAMA”), U.C.A. §53A-1-1401 et seq and Utah Administrative Code R277-487.

Professional development for staff and students regarding the importance of network security and best practices are included in the procedures. The procedures associated with this policy are consistent with guidelines provided by cyber security professionals worldwide and in accordance with Utah Education Network and the Utah State Office of Education. Emery School District supports the development, implementation and ongoing improvements for a robust security system of hardware and software that is designed to protect Emery School District’s data, users, and electronic assets.

Procedure

Definitions:

• Access: Directly or indirectly use, attempt to use, instruct, communicate with, cause input to, cause output from, or otherwise make use of any resources of a computer, computer system, computer network, or any means of communication with any of them.
• Authorization: Having the express or implied consent or permission of the owner, or of the person authorized by the owner to give consent or permission to access a computer, computer system, or computer network in a manner not exceeding the consent or permission.
• Computer: Any electronic device or communication facility that stores, retrieves, processes, or transmits data.
• Computer system: A set of related, connected or unconnected, devices, software, or other related computer equipment.
• Computer network: The interconnection of communication or telecommunication lines between computers, or computers and remote terminals, or the interconnection by wireless technology between computers, or computers and remote terminals.
• Computer property: Includes electronic impulses, electronically produced data, information, financial instruments, software, or programs, in either machine or human readable form, any other tangible or intangible item relating to a computer, computer system, computer network, and copies of any of them.
• Confidential: Data, text, or computer property that is protected by a security system that clearly evidences that the owner or custodian intends that it not be available to others without the owner's or custodian's permission.
• Encryption or encrypted data: The most effective way to achieve data security. To read an encrypted file, you must have access to a secret key or password that enables you to decrypt it.
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Any data that could potentially identify a specific individual. Any information that can be used to distinguish one person from another and can be used for de-anonymizing anonymous data, can be considered protected data
•  Security system: A computer, computer system, network, or computer property that has some form of access control technology implemented, such as encryption, password protection, other forced authentication, or access control designed to keep out unauthorized persons.
• Sensitive data: Data that contains personally identifiable information.
• System level: Access to the system that is considered full administrative access. Includes operating system access and hosted application access.
• Security Responsibility: Emery School District shall appoint, in writing, an IT Security Officer (ISO) responsible for overseeing District-wide IT security, to include development of District policies and adherence to the standards defined in this document.

Training:

• Emery School District, led by the ISO, shall ensure that all District employees having access to sensitive information undergo annual IT security training which emphasizes their personal responsibility for protecting student and employee information. Training resources will be provided to all District employees.
• Emery School District, led by the ISO, shall ensure that all students are informed of Cyber Security Awareness.

Physical Security:

• Computer Security
• Emery School District shall ensure that any user’s computer must not be left unattended and unlocked, especially when logged into sensitive systems or data including student or employee information. Automatic log off, locks and password screen savers should be used to enforce this requirement.
• Emery School District shall ensure that all equipment that contains sensitive information will be secured to deter theft.
• Server/Network Room Security
• Emery School District shall ensure that server rooms and telecommunication rooms/closets are protected by appropriate access control which segregates and restricts access from general school or District office areas. Access control shall be enforced using either keys, electronic card readers, or similar method with only those IT or other staff members having access necessary to perform their job functions are allowed unescorted access.
• Telecommunication rooms/closets may only remain unlocked or unsecured when because of building design it is impossible to do otherwise or due to environmental problems that require the door to be opened.
• Contractor access
• Before any contractor is allowed access to any computer system, server room, or telecommunication room the contractor will need to present a company issued identification card, and his/her access will need to be confirmed directly by the authorized employee who issued the service request or by Emery School District’s Technology Department.

Network Security:

• Network perimeter controls will be implemented to regulate traffic moving between trusted internal (District) resources and external, untrusted (Internet) entities. All network transmission of sensitive data should enforce encryption where technologically feasible.
• Network Segmentation
• Emery School District shall ensure that all untrusted and public access computer networks are separated from main district computer networks and utilize security policies to ensure the integrity of those computer networks.
• Emery School District will utilize industry standards and current best practices to segment internal computer networks based on the data they contain. This will be done to prevent unauthorized users from accessing services unrelated to their job duties and minimize potential damage from other compromised systems.
• The use of RF (Radio Frequency) readers and hacking devices is strictly prohibited within Emery County School District. This includes, but is not limited to, any device capable of intercepting, emulating, manipulating, or accessing electronic data transmissions without proper authorization. Such activities pose serious security risks and are in direct violation of this policy, as well as local and federal laws governing data privacy and protection.
• Any individual found in possession of RF readers, hacking devices, or engaging in activities associated with their use will face immediate disciplinary action. Students may face disciplinary action up to and including suspension/expulsion with the possibility of legal prosecution. 
• Employees may face disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment with the possibility of legal prosecution.
• We emphasize the importance of maintaining the integrity and security of our systems and data. Any concerns regarding potential security threats or breaches should be reported to the IT department or administrator immediately.

Wireless Networks:

• No wireless access point shall be installed on Emery School District’s computer network that does not conform with current network standards as defined by the Network Manager. Any exceptions to this must be approved directly in writing by the Information Security Officer.
• Emery School District shall scan for and remove or disable any rogue wireless devices on a regular basis.
• All wireless access networks shall conform to current best practices and shall utilize at minimal WPA encryption for any connections. Open access networks are only permitted on a temporary basis.

Remote Access:
Emery School District shall ensure that any remote access with connectivity to the District’s internal network is achieved using the District’s centralized VPN service that is protected by multiple factor authentication systems. Any exception to this policy must be due to a service provider’s technical requirements and must be approved by the Information Security Officer.

Access Control:

• System and application access will be granted based upon the least amount of access to data and programs required by the user in accordance with a business need-to-have requirement.
• Authentication
• Emery School District shall enforce strong password management for employees, students, and contractors.

Password Creation

• All server system-level passwords must conform to the Password Policy posted on the Emery School District Website.

Password Protection

• Passwords must not be shared with anyone. All passwords are to be treated as sensitive, confidential information.
• Passwords must not be inserted into email messages or other forms of electronic communication.
• Passwords must not be revealed over the phone to anyone.
• Do not reveal a password on questionnaires or security forms.
• Do not hint at the format of a password (for example, "my family name").
• Any user suspecting that his/her password may have been compromised must report the incident and change all passwords.

Authorization:

• Emery School District shall ensure that user access shall be limited to only those specific access requirements necessary to perform their jobs. Where possible, segregation of duties will be utilized to control authorization access.
• Emery School District shall ensure that user access should be granted and/or terminated upon timely receipt, and management’s approval, of a documented access request/termination.

Accounting

• Emery School District shall ensure that audit and log files are maintained for at least ninety days for all critical security-relevant events such as: invalid logon attempts, changes to the security policy/ configuration, and failed attempts to access objects by unauthorized users, etc.
• Administrative Access Controls
• Emery School District shall limit IT administrator privileges (operating system, database, and applications) to the minimum number of staff required to perform these sensitive duties.
• Incident Management
• Monitoring and responding to IT related incidents will be designed to provide early notification of events and rapid response and recovery from internal or external network or system attacks.

Business Continuity:

• To ensure continuous critical IT services, IT will develop a business continuity/disaster recovery plan appropriate for the size and complexity of District IT operations.
• Emery School District shall develop and deploy a district-wide business continuity plan which should include as a minimum:
• Backup Data: Procedures for performing routine daily/weekly/monthly backups and storing backup media at a secured location other than the server room or adjacent facilities. As a minimum, backup media must be stored off-site a reasonably safe distance from the primary server room.
• Secondary Locations: Identify a backup processing location, such as another School or District building.
• Emergency Procedures: Document a calling tree with emergency actions to include: recovery of backup data, restoration of processing at the secondary location, and generation of student and employee listings for ensuing a full head count of all

Malicious Software:

• Server and workstation protection software will be deployed to identify and eradicate malicious software attacks such as viruses, spyware, and malware.
• Emery School District shall install, distribute, and maintain spyware and virus protection software on all district-owned equipment, i.e. servers, workstations, and laptops.
• Emery School District shall ensure that malicious software protection will include frequent update downloads, frequent scanning, and that malicious software protection is in active state (real time) on all operating servers/workstations.
• Emery School District shall ensure that all security-relevant software patches (workstations and servers) are applied within thirty days and critical patches shall be applied as soon as possible.

Internet Content Filtering:

• In accordance with Federal and State Law, Emery School District shall filter internet traffic for content defined in law that is deemed harmful to minors.
• Emery School District acknowledges that technology based filters are not always effective at eliminating harmful content and due to this, Emery School District uses a combination of technological means and supervisory means to protect students from harmful online content.
• In the event that students take devices home, Emery School District will provide a technology based filtering solution for those devices. However, the District will rely on parents to provide the supervision necessary to fully protect students from accessing harmful online content.
• Students shall be supervised when accessing the internet and using district owned devices on school property.
   

Data Privacy:

• Emery School District considers the protection of the data it collects on students, employees and their families to be of the utmost importance.
• Emery School District protects student data in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and privacy Act, 20 U.S. Code §1232g and 34 CFR Part 99 ( “FERPA”), the Government Records and Management Act U.C.A. §62G-2 ( “GRAMA”), U.C.A. §53A-1-1401 et seq, 15
• U.S. Code §§ 6501–6506 (“COPPA”) and Utah Administrative Code R277-487 (“Student Data Protection Act”).
• Emery School District shall ensure that employee records access shall be limited to only those individuals who have specific access requirements necessary to perform their jobs. Where possible, segregation of duties will be utilized to control authorization access.
• Security Audit and Remediation
• Emery School District shall perform routine security and privacy audits in congruence with the District’s Information Security Audit Plan.
• District personnel shall develop remediation plans to address identified lapses that conforms with the District’s Information Security Remediation Plan Template.
• Employee Disciplinary Actions shall be in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and District policies. Any employee found to be in violation may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment with the Emery School District.