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District outlines two‑factor authentication rollout after sector hacks; hardware token option offered
Summary
Following recent sector cyberattacks elsewhere, Laconia School District staff described a planned two‑factor authentication rollout, an optional hardware token (YubiKey) solution and a targeted timeline that aims for completion by February vacation.
District IT and leadership briefed the school board on Jan. 21 about plans to roll out two‑factor authentication (2FA) for district accounts to improve cybersecurity.
Superintendent Chaplin said the PowerSchool hack elsewhere prompted a renewed focus on security, though the district is not a PowerSchool customer. The district has published help materials and is offering support to staff who need assistance setting up 2FA. “The 2 factor system will make things safer for our district,” Chaplin said.
An IT staff member explained alternatives for staff who do not wish to use personal phones for 2FA. “There’s some alternate hardware devices you can use like YubiKeys...it essentially allows you to generate codes using one of our devices instead of using their personal cell phone,” the IT staff member said. The district aims to reach a district‑wide baseline during February vacation and scheduled follow‑up support for staff and individual questions.
Board members asked operational questions — whether authentication is required each sign‑in and whether 2FA works on public Wi‑Fi — and staff said prompts are infrequent unless users sign in from new locations and that typical 2FA options do not send credentials over public networks.
No formal action was required; staff will continue the rollout and provide help materials and one‑on‑one support.
