Highline Public Schools Details

    Organization Logo

    Highline Public Schools

    Burien, Washington • 2000 employees • Education

    https://www.highlineschools.org/
    United States

    Industry

    Education

    Security Incidents

    1

    Highline Public Schools is a public school district based in Burien, Washington. Established in 1941, the district serves a diverse student population from several communities including Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac. The district operates numerous elementary, middle, and high schools, offering a broad range of educational programs including advanced placement courses, technical education, and extensive support services for students with special needs.

    Throughout its history, Highline Public Schools has focused on providing equitable education opportunities to its students. Not...
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    Security Incidents

    Highline Public Schools Breach of Sep 2024
    Severity Score
    Significant to High

    Type

    Ransomware Attack

    Summary

    On September 7, 2024, Highline Public Schools, a district near Seattle, Washington, experienced a significant cyberattack. The attack was identified as a ransomware incident after investigations revealed unauthorized activities on its network. Following the breach, the school district was forced to shut down operations and cancel all school-related activities and meetings to protect its infrastructure and data.

    The district immediately engaged third-party cybersecurity experts and coordinated with state and federal authorities, including notifying the FBI, to manage the response effort and be...
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    Severity

    The Highline Public Schools cyberattack illuminated a significant vulnerability within the education sector, highlighting the growing trend of ransomware incidents targeting schools. The attack forced the closure of this Washington state district, impacting over 17,500 students and 2,000 staff members, disrupting educational activities for an extended period. While specific details about the attackers or data breaches remain undisclosed, the widespread effects necessitated the involvement of third-party specialists and law enforcement, emphasizing the serious nature of the breach.

    Despite the...
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    Impact

    Highline Public Schools experienced a significant ransomware attack in September 2024, which led to the abrupt cancellation of all school activities and the shutdown of their systems. This incident created a notable disruption, affecting the district's over 17,500 students and 2,000 staff members, prompting the involvement of third-party cybersecurity experts and collaboration with state and federal authorities for system recovery. Due to the ransomware attack, critical school systems were isolated, leading to an extended unavailability period, and although efforts are ongoing to restore these...
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