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Tyler ISD reports no cyberattacks, plans zero-trust rollout after 3.2 security score
Summary
Tyler ISD staff told the board the district reported zero cyberattacks in recent years, held a 3.2/5 cybersecurity assessment last year and is expanding microsegmentation and monitoring tools; district expects its score to improve after a new assessment.
Joseph Jacks, Tyler ISD chief technology officer, told the board that the district has had no reported cybersecurity attacks in recent years and maintains required policies and annual training. He said the district’s last complete assessment produced a 3.2 out of 5 score and that the vendor, Signatory Cybersecurity, ranked Tyler ISD among higher-scoring districts they serve.
Jacks described routine monitoring by a partner platform that reviews network traffic for students and staff and escalates flagged events to the district’s safety and security team and campus principals. He said events classified at the highest level prompt immediate phone calls to the district’s safety leadership — for example to Jeff Destry — for rapid follow-up on possible self-harm or violence.
“We report cyberattacks to TEA,” Jacks said, and noted the district is 100% compliant with annual cybersecurity training. He said the district upgraded its wireless network last year and has improved speeds and security as a result.
The district is rolling out a network microsegmentation project to move toward a zero-trust model, Jacks said, and has implemented it at three campuses so far. He cautioned that zero trust improves control over access but requires more administration and a phased rollout over multiple years.
Board members asked whether flagged events come from student Chromebooks. Daryl Kisasande, cybersecurity coordinator, said most flagged activity originates from district-provided Chromebooks or Windows devices tied to Tyler ISD accounts; the same monitoring may apply off-campus if students are logged into their district accounts.
On the assessment score, a board member asked whether a 3.2 equates to about 70 percent. Jacks and other presenters clarified the vendor uses norm-referencing: a score in the low threes is intentionally balanced to allow access to instructional resources while securing the network. The district has improved from roughly a 2.2 score several years ago and expects a modest increase after the upcoming annual assessment.
The district also noted a forthcoming bus-camera deployment approved at prior meetings and said staff will coordinate with transportation when the equipment arrives.
The presentation concluded with staff offering to share prior assessments and follow up on technical questions.
