At Microsoft, we recognize the evolving needs of educators and institutions—and we see them as opportunities to provide meaningful support through a secure, high-performing platform. Windows 11 helps you simplify IT, support equity, and unlock future-ready learning.

Let’s explore how Windows 11 is built to securely support today’s educational needs and deliver AI-powered experiences. We’ll also highlight your upgrade paths to Windows 11 as Windows 10 approaches end of support (EOS) on October 14, 2025.

Secure by design, ready for the modern classroom

As learning continues to become more connected and digital-first, having a secure technology foundation is more important than ever. Windows 11 was built with this in mind—combining modern protections with performance and usability.

Microsoft Defender provides real-time protection that updates automatically, helping you stay ahead of evolving digital risks with less manual work. Hardware-level security features like Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 are built in, helping safeguard student and school data at every level—from classroom to district.

These capabilities don’t just protect—they help you simplify. With centralized management through Microsoft Intune, your IT teams can more easily promote consistency across devices and reduce time spent on maintenance and troubleshooting.

Performance matters too. Windows 11 provides practical enhancements to the classroom experience, including faster boot times, improved multitasking capabilities, extended battery life, and accessibility tools such as voice typing and live captions—all designed to empower every student to participate and succeed.

Explore how Windows 11 can help you save time, track progress, and support diverse learning needs in the classroom.

Scale digital learning

Ceibal, a government agency in Uruguay, was founded to universalize access to digital technology in the Uruguayan public education system and is the largest education Microsoft tenant in Latin America. In 2023 they adopted Windows 11 as the main operating system and more than 240,000 students and teachers across Uruguay were using Windows 11 PCs. Their learning management system (LMS) CREA saw usage rates increase from 55% in 2019 to 86% in 2024.¹ The migration also delivered practical benefits: maintenance and update costs decreased, and compatibility between software and hardware improved significantly.

Prior to moving to Windows 11, maintenance and update costs were higher because each device model had its own OS version. Additionally, compatibility between software and hardware made things even more difficult. By integrating Windows 11, everything became much quicker and simpler with added security.

Mateo Pérez, Product Coordinator at Ceibal

Forward-looking platform for personalized learning

Windows 11 is built to support not just today’s educational needs, but tomorrow’s innovations. As AI continues to become an integral part of teaching and learning, schools need tools that are both powerful and practical—helping educators adapt without requiring them to overhaul their workflows.

One example is Microsoft Learning Zone, a Windows app designed to save educators time while enhancing student engagement. Built for Copilot+ PCs, Learning Zone uses on-device AI to help educators create personalized, interactive lessons from the materials they already use—turning a worksheet or slide deck into student-ready activities in minutes.

Whether introducing new concepts, reinforcing key ideas, or tailoring practice to individual learners, Learning Zone puts AI directly into the teaching workflow—responsibly and privately. Because it runs on the device, educators stay in control of both content and student data.

Available in public preview, Learning Zone shows how Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs can support modern instruction while preserving privacy and empowering educator creativity. Educators can also use built-in trusted content from world-class partners—from NASA’s hands-on exploration and OpenStax’s Rice University-backed curriculum to Minecraft Education’s immersive game-based learning and Kahoot!’s AI-powered instant quiz generation—all seamlessly integrated and ready to inspire student curiosity from day one.

Planning your upgrade to Windows 11 Education

With Windows 10 support ending on October 14, 2025, you have several options to keep your learning environments secure and AI-ready. Every institution is in a different place with budgets and timelines, so the transition doesn’t have to happen all at once. Microsoft offers three flexible paths to help institutions transition based on their budget and readiness.

Option 1: Upgrading eligible devices

Many existing devices are compatible with Windows 11. Microsoft offers a free tool called PC Health Check that tells you if your device meets the requirements for Windows 11. Schools can use Microsoft Intune to upgrade at no additional cost—unlocking immediate security, performance, and accessibility improvements without investing in new hardware.

Option 2: Making the most of device transitions

When it’s time to purchase new Windows 11 PCs, to help ensure older devices are responsibly recycled or repurposed whenever possible, we encourage the use of trade-in and recycling programs available through our retail and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners. To help schools stretch their budgets, eligible devices can be securely recycled with cashback to offset new purchases through select programs. For devices that don’t qualify for trade-in, Microsoft’s end-of-life management programs support sustainability goals through responsible recycling.

You can also explore Shape the Future, a Microsoft discount program that helps K–12 education institutions access affordable Windows 11 PCs and promote digital equity.

Free planning tools to support your Windows 11 upgrade

Microsoft offers resources to help assess and plan your upgrade to Windows 11. These tools are designed to give you clear insights and support confident decision-making.

• Windows EOS Devices Calculator: Estimate the benefits and costs of upgrading or understand what it takes to maintain Windows 10 devices securely after support ends.
• Windows 11 Migration Assessment: Evaluate your institution’s readiness for Windows 11 and get practical recommendations for your transition.

Option 3: Phase your rollout

If replacing all devices at once isn’t possible, consider a hybrid plan. For eligible devices, upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and enroll in the Extended Security Update (ESU) program for licenses on a per device basis until you’re ready to fully transition. The ESU program allows covered devices to continue to receive security updates for up to three years. ESU pricing for Microsoft Education customers will be $1 per device for the first year, $2 the following year, and $4 the third year to help institutions receive the support they need.² This offer is extended to all education customers, including K-12 and higher education.

Invest in AI-powered learning

Schools ready to enhance productivity through AI can consider Copilot+ PCs. These Windows 11 PCs, in comparison to traditional devices, deliver faster performance, longer battery life, and on-device AI experiences that support a long-term investment in educational innovation. Copilot+ PCs are the fastest, most intelligent, and secure Windows 11 PCs ever, optimized for AI-powered experiences like Learning Zone.

No matter your timeline, Microsoft is committed to helping your school move forward confidently—keeping learning secure today while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities.

The transition to Windows 11 doesn’t have to happen overnight—but planning should start now. A well-managed move can lead to stronger security, reduced maintenance, improved compatibility, and higher engagement.

Windows 11 offers every school a high-performance foundation for learning today—and innovation tomorrow. Whether your district is ready to upgrade or just starting to plan, Microsoft is here to help every step of the way.

Explore Windows 11 today and see how your school can reimagine teaching and learning.

¹ Ceibal LMS usage statistics, 2024

² All prices are in US dollars and accurate as of October 2025. Regional prices will vary based on foreign exchange rates at the moment of ordering SKUs.

The post Build secure, future-ready learning experiences with Windows 11 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

With these advances in AI, institutions now have a powerful new opportunity: to use agents that can automate routine tasks, assist faculty and staff, and provide real-time, contextual insights to support teaching and learning. As more institutions begin their journey to this next frontier, AI agents will support individuals and teams by automating tasks and delivering instant, contextual insights.

This means that with data-focused AI tools from Microsoft, your institution can:

• Develop scalable, intelligent agents using Azure AI Foundry, trusted by enterprises and customized for higher education compliance and innovation.
• Turn data insights into action with AI-powered analytics, addressing challenges in student success, research productivity, and operational agility.

Accelerate agentic AI with Azure AI Foundry

Azure AI Foundry Agent Service empowers institutions to securely design, deploy, and scale agents with ease. Enhance your team’s efficiency with agents that simplify academic and operational workflows with robust security and trust features built in. This provides key tools and resources to help you:

• Create domain-specific agents to automate complex tasks.
• Use enterprise-grade identity for agents and built-in trustworthy AI.
• Deploy and scale agents quickly with managed infrastructure.

Create and scale domain-specific agents

With Azure AI Foundry Agent Service, your team can create domain-specific agents tailored to your unique needs. It helps you design, deploy, and scale agents that are ready for real-world use. This fully managed service handles infrastructure and orchestration. It includes ready-to-use templates, actions, and connectors for more than 1,400 enterprise data sources, including SharePoint, Microsoft Fabric, and third-party systems. For instance, you can design and deploy agents to help onboard new students with personalized guidance and support administrative teams with instant responses to common questions.

Institutions like Stanford Medicine are already using the healthcare agent orchestrator in Azure AI Foundry alongside Microsoft Copilot Studio. This integration enhances the efficiency of tumor board meetings through customized clinical workflows.

Secure and manage your agents

Creating agents is just the beginning—managing them responsibly plays a critical role in their effective use. With Microsoft Entra Agent ID, you can:

• Gain complete visibility and control over agents’ actions.
• Assign unique identities for each agent.
• Share identity management with your team members.
• Define access controls and permissions for each agent.

Trustworthy AI is a foundational commitment for Microsoft and for our customers. We’ve introduced new capabilities to help institutions discover, protect, and govern AI systems from the start.

On the security side, Azure AI Foundry integrates with Microsoft Defender for Cloud to provide real-time alerts and insights when threats arise. For compliance, out-of-the box integration with governance tools like Credo AI, Saidot, and Microsoft Purview, helps institutions monitor model performance, assess fairness, and track regulatory requirements.

By using Azure AI Foundry’s built-in tools for safety, security, and governance, institutions can design and deploy AI systems with greater reliability from the start.

Powering the next AI frontier with Microsoft Fabric

Strong data is foundational to effective AI. Microsoft Fabric helps unify your data to power analytics and agents—without the burden of managing complex infrastructure. As a SaaS solution, Fabric offers seamless integration of data tools and can reduce the need for manual service connections.

At its core is Microsoft OneLake, an open and unified data lake that supports any format, from any cloud. This flexibility allows developers to access and analyze all types of data efficiently.

Fabric also transforms how you manage and interact with data. With natural language capabilities, you can explore insights that drive student success, enhance research, and boost operational agility—empowering everyone to make informed, data-driven decisions.

Find the right data when you need it

Education leaders need tools that turn insights into action. That’s why we’re focused on making data more accessible through conversational experiences. With Copilot in Power BI, users can now ask questions in natural language and receive instant insights—no technical training needed to get started. Whether it’s enrollment trends, retention risks, or alumni giving, faculty and staff can explore data directly within Microsoft Teams to streamline their workflow.

Empower everyone to interact with their data

With enhanced interaction capabilities in Power BI and Copilot Studio, transforming data into actionable insights can now be faster and more intuitive. You can explore data through natural, conversational experiences, removing complexity, and making analysis more accessible. This shift empowers you and your teams to break down data silos and uncover valuable insights with ease. Power BI chat simplifies the exploration of complex datasets, offering quicker, more confident decision-making.

Uncover deeper insights with data agents

Finally, connecting Fabric data agents to Copilot Studio can help uncover deeper insights. These agents expertly analyze complex datasets, uncovering valuable insights from OneLake and driving informed action. By automating tasks like email sending and workflow triggering, they streamline your interactions with enterprise data, enabling confident decision-making.

Embrace the future of data-driven higher education with Microsoft Azure and Azure AI Foundry. Discover how innovative data agents and AI-powered insights can enhance your approach to learning and operations. Start your journey today and uncover the limitless possibilities that await you.

The post Discover the potential of agentic AI in higher education appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Aligned with Microsoft’s mission to empower every person on the planet to achieve more, we’re thrilled to announce the Microsoft Student SOC initiative. This initiative includes the Microsoft Student SOC Toolkit and implementation guide as free resources, along with training and certification to assist leaders at high schools and universities in addressing the cybersecurity challenges faced in education.

The Microsoft Student SOC initiative aims to bridge the significant skills gap in the cybersecurity sector and education. These resources provide in-depth training on top-tier AI-powered security products such as Microsoft Security Copilot, Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Sentinel, and more. These free resources and training can help educators, school staff, and students understand the importance of cybersecurity and how to defend against cyberthreats.

Bridging the cybersecurity skills gap

Two weeks after graduating with a computer science degree in 2024, Cothren started a position as a cybersecurity analyst at Regions Bank, a job he says his SOC experience “absolutely” helped him get. In the SOC, participants work alongside full-time cybersecurity employees on tasks like reviewing incident reports, hunting for cyberthreats, and investigating suspicious online behavior. Student SOC programs like Cothren’s can give students an edge in a competitive job market by providing them with valuable hands-on experience in cybersecurity before they enter the workforce.

Companies really don’t look for students fresh out of college, because cybersecurity is about protecting billion-dollar corporations—their data, their reputation, their integrity… I am very lucky for having had three years of experience.

George Cothren, Auburn University Graduate

Moreover, student SOCs help address a critical need in the job market. With more than 400,000 unfilled cybersecurity roles in the US alone, students can leave their programs well-prepared to combat a nationwide shortage.

Student SOCs provide opportunities for students and universities

Student SOCs are becoming increasingly popular nationwide, largely because of the need for an extra set of hands on security teams. Because institutions handle highly sensitive data and intellectual property, they’re prime targets for cyberthreats.

In fact, cyberattacks on universities are increasing, with a recent Microsoft report finding that the education sector is now the third-most targeted industry for cybercrime globally. While attacks are increasing, IT teams’ budgets remain constrained—making it difficult to combat threats effectively.

That’s where student SOCs can help. With a student SOC, educational institutions can strengthen their cybersecurity defenses while also offering students invaluable hands-on training that equips them with the skills to step confidently into the workforce.

Jay James, the senior cybersecurity operations lead at Auburn University, realized the power of student SOCs early on and established one at Auburn in 2019. “As a higher-ed institution, our number one priority is empowering students for whatever they plan on doing next,” he says. “It’s a win where the students have the opportunity to get hands-on experience and we’re able to utilize those students to help secure the university.”

Students in action

Student SOCs function as educational hubs and operational cybersecurity monitoring units. The centers are typically located on campus, with staffing arranged around student schedules, and participants use the same tools they’re likely to encounter in their careers.

Grace Parrish, a senior at Oregon State University (OSU), gained hands-on experience working with industry-standard automation tools to help the university more efficiently combat cyberattacks. “I like getting to put my hands on some nice enterprise-grade security solutions,” says Parrish. “And I really enjoy working on automation projects. They’re like little puzzles to me.”

Of course, students aren’t thrown into mission-critical tasks alone but rather work alongside full-time staff members for mentorship and oversight. With guidance, they learn to monitor, intercept, and solve real-time cyberattacks. If a serious threat occurs, students escalate it to professional staff while resolving lower-risk incidents independently. Sometimes, they even identify vulnerabilities that professionals might miss.

At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students uncovered “slow burn” issues, seemingly random low-priority incidents that when grouped together point to an emerging problem. According to Chief Technology Officer Matthew Williams, that type of analysis didn’t happen before employing students.

“We unfortunately just used to look at alerts in isolation because of staffing,” he says. “Now we have the resources to look at things at more of a high level and in aggregate that could point to issues that we have otherwise just not paid attention to.”

The Microsoft Student SOC initiative takes student SOCs a step further

In a Microsoft Student SOC, students and schools get access to resources like the Student SOC Toolkit and training tools—while learning industry-leading cybersecurity tools like Security Copilot. Security Copilot can lower the barrier to entry for students interested in joining a SOC by providing a plain language interface. Students can learn on the job while still being a productive member of the SOC team. But Security Copilot isn’t just for beginners. As students become more proficient in their role, Security Copilot grows with them, helping them take on more complex cybersecurity tasks.

[We] are all really excited about using Copilot… A lot of the academic curriculums at OSU, and seemingly everywhere, aren’t really including AI type tools yet, but it’s something that is so forefront to [student’s] careers.

Emily Longman, SOC Manager, Oregon State University

What’s more is that students are guided by a curriculum that helps learners deepen their cybersecurity knowledge while getting hands-on training. The program starts with a course on the foundations of security operations, with students getting an opportunity to earn the Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate once completed.

Then, they delve into the foundations of modern SOCs and focus on Threat Protection Engagement and Security AI. To apply their skills, they study core Microsoft security solutions and cloud security, which also prepares them to earn the MS Learn Applied Skills Badge: Configure SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) security operations using Microsoft Sentinel and the Microsoft Sentinel Training LinkedIn Learning Badge.

Gaining real-life experience

After earning the requisite badges, it’s time for hands-on labs with the Microsoft Security Unified SOC Platform and a gamified immersion experience featuring real-world security challenges. The program then culminates with an opportunity for participants to earn Microsoft Certifications like Security, Identity, and Compliance Fundamentals (SC-900) the Microsoft SOC Analyst Certification (SC-200). They can even obtain ACE (American Council on Education) college credit, helping them demonstrate their knowledge to future employers.

Longman notes that students feel their SOC experience is excellent preparation for the workforce. “They’re so glad they’re working with us because it’s such a good learning opportunity. It’s a really good compliment [sic] to the academics that they’re getting here. They’re really excited about… using tools like Microsoft Security Copilot. It’s definitely going to be something that will be used in industry and continue to grow throughout their careers.”

In addition to supporting a school’s core mission to prepare students for the future, the program benefits the institutions’ security posture. With training and certifications from Microsoft, high schools and universities can stay current with modern cyberthreats, ensuring their student SOC remains agile and responsive to an ever-evolving cyber landscape. They can also collaborate with experienced security partners specializing in student SOCs for expert guidance in setting up a SOC program that’s right for their institution, minimizing missed alerts, and providing an extra layer of security oversight.

Join us in shaping the future of cybersecurity

Reflecting on her experience, student Emily MacPherson is grateful she joined the student SOC at OSU. “I feel like I’m ahead compared to the average sophomore in college,” she says. “You should definitely do it.”

If you’re a university leader who’s interested in empowering the next generation of cybersecurity leaders, learn more about the Microsoft Student SOC initiative. Get started with the implementation guide and initial training paths by downloading them for free into your learning management system (LMS). Learn more about Microsoft Student SOC certifications by downloading the PDF. For additional information, you can also email Microsoft Student SOC support or contact your Microsoft Account Representative.

If you’re a student who’s interested in starting a student SOC at your school, share this blog with your university’s IT team and join the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors LinkedIn group.

The post Student SOCs turn college experience into career readiness appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Around the world, the education sector is increasingly targeted by cyberthreats. In fact, education was the third-most targeted industry by cybercriminals in Q2 2024, and the second-most targeted sector by nation-state threat actors in 2024. These attacks often carry devastating consequences, from identity theft to severe breaches across education networks and systems. With the rise of digital learning and the proliferation of connected devices—alongside continually evolving threats—IT departments face a greater challenge to secure digital environments in education.

In the modern threat landscape, it’s important to consider whether your cybersecurity strategy is equipped to help you navigate these challenges. Deploying the most up-to-date devices, software, and operating systems can help close security vulnerabilities and build proactive protection. Windows 11 helps you strengthen your overall security posture, drive greater productivity, and build safer communities for learning, working, and teaching.

Unlock greater productivity while maintaining robust and comprehensive protection

Today, organizations around the world are rethinking their security approaches down to their hardware. Cybersecurity software alone is no longer enough to protect systems as bad actors leverage new technologies and tactics to bypass defenses and access critical resources.

Designed to address education’s most critical cyberthreats, Windows 11 is the most secure version of Windows to date, designed with security built into each level, including:

• Cloud
• Identity
• Application
• Operating system
• Hardware

The default security features of Windows 11 were created based on threat intelligence, global regulatory requirements, and Microsoft Security expertise. Through partnerships with original equipment manufacturers and silicon manufacturers, Windows 11 is designed for greater security starting at the chip level—enabling hardware and software to work together to shrink the organizational attack surface, protect system integrity, and secure institutional data.

To simplify deployment for IT teams, Windows 11 comes with key out-of-the-box features enabled, including:

• Credential safeguards
• Application protection
• Malware shields

It’s also designed to integrate with Microsoft Security Copilot, which leverages generative AI capabilities to provide greater insights and efficiency to help improve security at scale. Windows 11 Pro devices drive a 62% drop in reported security incidents and are shown to accelerate workflows by 50% on average, helping you and your organization achieve more with less time and effort. Let’s take a deeper look at how Windows 11 helps you tackle cybersecurity challenges across different environments.

Application safeguards help keep critical data safe

Windows 11 offers a complete platform for educational institutions to house and protect critical applications such as learning management systems (LMS), administrative software, and productivity tools. Attackers often target poorly secured applications, which is why Windows 11 provides you with built-in capabilities such as preemptive application and driver control to isolate breaches quickly. Robust application safeguards help you maintain governance of your sensitive data, including:

• Student records
• Financial information
• Access credentials
• Research data

Windows 11 is designed to support Zero Trust strategies, which play a key role in helping you strengthen application and operating system protection. This approach is centered around the principles of “verify explicitly, use least privilege access, and assume breach,” meaning that you and your team can verify each access request as though it originated from an uncontrolled network—instead of assuming that everything behind the firewall is safe.

To that end, Windows 11 enables you to more easily find and detect cyberthreats, respond to them, and prevent or block undesired events across your education institution. In the case of a presumed breach, you can combat common application attacks from the moment a device is provisioned. When it comes to network security, granting access within a trust-by-exception policy versus a trust-by-default policy helps better protect the digital security, privacy, and compliance needs of your educational community.

Deliver end-to-end protection with Windows 11 cloud-based device management

With the introduction of more tech solutions, many education institutions face new challenges in managing cybersecurity. Having more devices across school and home environments creates more access points for potential attackers. To get ahead of potential breaches, get started with proactive, end-to-end device management strategies that help protect privacy and security.

Windows 11 helps empower you and your IT team by offering comprehensive cloud services for identity, storage, and access management. Adhering to Zero Trust principles, enforcing compliance, and granting conditional access helps verify that Windows 11 devices connected to an organization’s networks are trustworthy and safe. With more than 90% of ransom-stage cyberattacks leveraging unmanaged devices in a network, interoperable cloud-based device management solutions enable you to secure the digital estate and quickly respond to threats.

Managing and enabling secure use of devices at scale can also be a challenge for IT departments at education institutions. To give you and your team greater visibility and control over their digital estate, Windows 11 offers an integrated management suite. This suite supports comprehensive endpoint management solutions such as Microsoft Intune that help secure, deploy, and manage users, apps, and devices.¹ Intune can further integrate with Microsoft Entra ID to manage security features and processes, including multifactor authentication.

Additionally, Windows Hello enables you to deploy passwordless authentication for a safer and simpler sign-in experience. Thanks to the addition of passkeys, students can enjoy even greater security and convenience by using their face, fingerprint, or PIN to sign in to websites and apps. Enhanced threat detection on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint helps shield devices against phishing and malware and empowers IT teams to thwart attacks before they cause harm.¹ By adding Security Copilot, IT staff can leverage natural language queries to get holistic insights on the security and safety of their organization, which can help drive better decision-making and strategic planning.

Start preparing now for future security protections

In planning your security approach, your institution has an opportunity to adopt modern, secure, and highly efficient computing solutions that help your organization tackle the cybersecurity challenges of today and tomorrow. Windows 11 offers powerful, hardware-backed protection that provides a foundation for implementing new technology solutions as they’re developed, such as AI that helps accelerate workflows and supercharge efficiency of operations.

Now is the time to identify devices in your organization that are due for upgrades and start improving your institution’s security and your IT team’s efficiency today. Get started with these resources:

• Evaluate which of your devices are eligible for updates by reviewing the Windows 11 hardware requirements.
• Join the Windows Insider Program for Business to evaluate your readiness and explore new features.
• Start developing a plan for your organization’s upgrade to Windows 11.

¹ Sold separately from Windows 11

The post Building resilient digital security in education with Windows 11 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

For Safer Internet Day, we invite school IT professionals to explore tools that create safer online experiences. Start by discovering tools and strategies to create a safer internet for your school community.

Teach students the fundamentals of safe online behavior

We recognize that everyone has a role to play in cybersecurity and online safety. To get started, begin discussing internet safety with students, educators, and families with help from these resources from Microsoft Education:

• K-12 Cybersecurity Conversation Guide – Get practical tips and conversation starters for discussing safe online practices and cyber hygiene with students.
• K-12 Cybersecurity Infographic – Use visual examples of phishing links and scam ads to help everyone learn how to identify online threats.

As students develop essential digital skills, they’ll become more aware of the threats that often target schools, social media apps, and the communication tools they use daily. Help them understand the cause and effect, so they can learn how to protect themselves and recognize the importance of staying vigilant.

A suite of products that work together

Every student deserves a secure technology environment that maximizes learning, but cyberthreats continue to jeopardize cyber safety in schools and institutions. With more than 15,000 malicious messages targeting the education sector daily, this year’s Safer Internet Day theme of “together for a better internet” comes at a critical time for schools and institutions.

With Microsoft 365 Education A3 and A5 plans and security add-ons, you can deliver innovative protection through a single, cost-effective platform. Tools like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students and Microsoft Purview provide seamless, integrated solutions to protect students and educators.

Dedicated protection for student devices

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students offers enhanced device protection that shields students’ devices from phishing, malware, and other attacks. With Defender for Endpoint, you can:

• Identify and neutralize cyberthreats in real time using advanced detection technology.
• Disrupt in-progress cyberattacks by automatically containing compromised assets early, minimizing impact and recovery time.
• Protect student data with industry-leading encryption protocols.
• Remotely track, lock, or wipe devices to safeguard sensitive information in case of a lost or stolen device.
• Monitor and update devices to protect against the latest vulnerabilities.
• Ensure safe browsing for students by blocking harmful or malicious websites with robust web content filters.

Web filtering is a core component of Defender for Endpoint. You can use it to block adult content, criminal activities, and social networking sites so that students are unable to access inappropriate content while they browse the web. Web content filtering also blocks harmful content before it reaches devices.

For example, a middle school student conducting research for a class project would be less likely to stumble on a website with malware because it would be blocked through Defender for Endpoint. The student would be able to continue their work without disruption—and educators and IT teams can continue devoting their time to engaging learning experiences, instead of managing a security incident.

Defender for Endpoint also sends alerts of suspicious activities and threats. If a bad actor tries to attack a student device on a compromised, public Wi-Fi network, your school IT team is alerted to suspicious activity and Defender for Endpoint automatically blocks the threat before any sensitive information is compromised.

Our commitment to safe online experiences includes providing you with the tools you need to protect student devices. With Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence analyzing more than 78 trillion daily signals, Defender for Endpoint safeguards learning environments from emerging online threats.

Addressing cyberbullying with Microsoft Purview

Preventing cyberbullying requires proactive strategies and effective tools. In schools around the world, educators teach students to be upstanders who “say something if they see something” and report bullying and harassment in their classrooms. Good digital citizenship practices like reporting, coupled with security solutions like Microsoft Purview, can go a long way to creating a safe space for all.

Microsoft Purview is a comprehensive set of solutions in Microsoft 365 Education A5 plans that helps your institution secure and govern your entire data estate. You can use Microsoft Purview as a part of a systematic approach to cyberbullying by leveraging some of its solutions in unique ways:

• Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance: Monitor harmful messages and images in Microsoft Teams for Education with policies that flag disparaging or self-harm remarks. Machine learning detects intent behind messages, empowering administrators to act quickly.
• Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention: Protect records by preventing students from deleting files or data that’s a part of a cyberbullying incident. Set up alerts when someone attempts to delete data so that you can have a complete record for investigation and compliance requirements.
• Insider Risk Management: Detect instances when students or staff send hateful messages or make harmful threats across Microsoft and third-party platforms. Integrated tools enable IT, human resources, and legal departments to collaboratively investigate incidents.
• Microsoft Purview eDiscovery: Create policies that maintain records of cyberbullying incidents so that your school can stay in compliance with laws like the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Use this solution to discover, preserve, and analyze sensitive content in email and instant messages on Microsoft systems and third-party platforms like learning management systems (LMS).

Both Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students and the Microsoft Purview compliance suite are a part of our ongoing commitment to creating secure learning experiences. For Safer Internet Day 2025, take the opportunity to bolster your school’s cybersecurity defenses and foster a secure technology environment for all.

The post Adopting cybersecurity solutions and strategies for a safer internet appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

As AI technologies advance, a new world of possibilities emerges in K-12 and higher education. Educators and administrators around the world who attended Bett UK in London this year learned firsthand about these advancements, particularly the transformative power of agents. Designed to work alongside you, agents will have a particular expertise in areas such as instructional design or individual student preferences. And they can leverage institutional data to offer relevant insights for educators and administrators in real-time.

At Microsoft, we’re excited to help faculty, staff, and students achieve greater impact with AI and agents through our recently announced Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat—the chat experience you can use every day—powered by broad knowledge from the web, built on the latest AI models, and designed to be safe and secure.

Understanding the impact of AI in education to empower educators and students

Understanding how the use of generative AI impacts learning outcomes is key to creating effective guidelines for and usage of AI in education. Our latest insights emphasize the need to position AI as a complement, not a substitute for established practices that are essential for learning. By integrating AI thoughtfully with traditional methods, we may achieve enhanced learning outcomes that neither approach can deliver alone.

A study conducted by the World Bank with students using AI at Edo Boys High School in Nigeria saw remarkable learning gains in their after-school program with preliminary findings improving learning by “about 0.3 standard deviations, equivalent to nearly two years of typical learning in just six weeks,” illustrating the potential for AI. We look forward to sharing the full report and continuing to understand the long-term effects, role of educators, benefits extended to other disciplines, and more.

Microsoft Research and Cambridge University Press & Assessment conducted one of the first large-scale investigations into the impact of large language models (LLMs) on the foundations of learning: understanding and retaining information. The preliminary research findings reveal the continued importance of traditional learning approaches. They also demonstrate the benefits of combining AI with traditional learning resources over AI alone and point to the AI skills that students need to maximize those benefits.

Through a “snapshot in time” study of AI in higher education, Microsoft Research sought to understand how practices and norms are developing around practical and policy realities. Both students and educators prefer AI to be further integrated as a complement to other learning methods, but to do so they need training. The study suggests involving students and educators in guidance and development, empowering students to use AI to support learning, providing training with exposures to errors in AI output, and encouraging collaboration between students and educators.

Defending at the speed of AI

As educational institutions harness the power of AI, it’s essential campus environments remain secure, reliable, and compliant. Designing a strategy that balances innovation and security with policies and practices to support AI is critical. Microsoft principles of Responsible AI—fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability—help institutions prepare for AI implementation. A robust framework of tools from Microsoft can guide you through successful implementation. World class security tools like Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Entra, Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft Intune, can play an important role in protecting sensitive data and securing AI applications.

Planning your implementation with the AI Toolkit

Start your AI journey with the Microsoft Education AI Toolkit, a comprehensive guide for educational organizations to plan AI implementations. The toolkit introduces a variety of technologies—Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and more—and showcases successful implementations through AI Navigators—institutions leading the way with research, experimentation, testing, and deployment of generative AI solutions. It’s easy to implement these tools with step-by-step instructions to offer educators, technology coordinators, and policy makers practical guidance to support deployment, usage, and best practices.

Teaming up with Pearson on AI workforce skilling

The same IDC study mentioned above also shows that the demand for training in AI-based skills has never been higher.¹ To help meet this demand, Microsoft is teaming up with Pearson to bring world-class learning and assessment expertise with cutting-edge AI and cloud technologies. Microsoft Cloud and Office certifications are now more accessible to help organizations realize the full value of AI through reskilling.

Learn more about the advancements in AI

Don’t miss out on the latest announcements to learn about new AI-powered products and features designed to support your educational organization. We’re thrilled to announce these new AI solutions:

• Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat – a new offering that adds pay-as-you-go agents to our existing free chat experience for Microsoft 365 education customers.
• Copilot+ PCs – the fastest, most intelligent and secure Windows PCs ever, featuring enhanced security, optimized performance, and AI-integrated experiences. Now with code name Project Spark—our first education-focused Windows 11 app for Copilot+ PC—to bring on-device intelligence to your classroom.
• Microsoft Education AI Toolkit – designed for education leaders, access these updated tools and support you need for your institution’s AI implementation.
• Khanmigo for Teachers – offers over 20 free, AI-powered tools to help streamline class prep with no prompting required.
• Khanmigo Writing Coach – designed by educators, using AI to make essay writing dynamic, interactive experience and provide students with step-by-step guidance from outline to final draft without ever writing a word for them. 
• Learning Accelerators – new tools like Reading Coach and Math Progress bring personalized learning to students and are available in over 80 languages.
• Minecraft Education – the newly expanded AI skills program, AI Foundations, offers a new student credentialing pathway in AI offered through Prodigy Learning. Educators can also use the free AI-powered Lesson Crafter tool to build new Minecraft lessons and practice prompting.²

Follow me on LinkedIn to stay up to date with new ways to use Copilot Chat in education through my “Prompt of the Week”.

¹ IDC InfoBrief: Sponsored by Microsoft, 2024 Business Opportunity of AI, IDC# US52699124, November 2024

² Requires sign in with a faculty account from your school.

The post Advancing education with AI to prepare the workforce of tomorrow appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

The principles of Trustworthy AI—fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability—are central to Microsoft Security’s approach. Security teams can use these principles to prepare for AI implementation. Watch the video to learn how Microsoft Security builds a trustworthy foundation for developing and using AI.

Microsoft runs on trust, and trust must be earned and maintained. Our pledge to our customers and our community is to prioritize your cyber safety above all else.

Charlie Bell, Executive Vice President Security, Microsoft

Gain visibility into AI usage and find associated risks

Introducing generative AI into educational institutions offers tremendous opportunities to transform the way students learn. With that comes potential risks, such as sensitive data exposure and improper AI interactions. Purview offers comprehensive insights into user activities within Microsoft Copilot. Here’s how Purview helps you manage these risks:

• Cloud native: Manage and deliver protection in Microsoft 365 apps, services, and Windows endpoints.
• Unified: Enforce policy controls and manage policies from a single location.
• Integrated: Classify roles, apply data loss prevention (DLP) policies, and incorporate incident management.
• Simplified: Get started quickly with pre-built policies and migration tools.

Microsoft Purview Data Security Posture Management for AI (DSPM for AI) offers a centralized platform to efficiently secure data used in AI applications and proactively monitor AI usage. This service includes Microsoft 365 Copilot, other Microsoft copilots, and third-party AI applications. DSPM for AI provides features designed to help you safely adopt AI while maintaining productivity or protection:

• Gain insights and analytics into AI activity within your organization.
• Use ready-to-implement policies to protect data and prevent loss in AI interactions.
• Conduct data assessments to identify, remediate, and monitor potential data oversharing.
• Apply compliance controls for optimal data handling and storage practices.

Purview offers real-time AI activity monitoring, enabling quick resolution of security concerns.

Protect your institution’s sensitive data

Educational institutions are trusted with vast amounts of sensitive data. To maintain trust, they must overcome several unique challenges, including managing sensitive student and staff data and retaining historical records for alumni and former employees. These complexities increase the risk of cyberthreats, making a data lifecycle management plan critical.

Microsoft Entra ID enables you to control access to sensitive information. For instance, if an unauthorized user attempts to retrieve sensitive data, Copilot will block access, safeguarding student and staff data. Here are key features that help protect your data:

• Understand and govern data: Manage visibility and governance of data assets across your environment.
• Safeguard data, wherever it lives: Protect sensitive data across clouds, apps, and devices.
• Improve risk and compliance posture: Identify data risks and meet regulatory compliance requirements.

Microsoft Entra Conditional Access is integral to this process to safeguard data by ensuring only authorized users access the information they need. With Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, you can create policies for generative AI apps like Copilot or ChatGPT, allowing access only to users on compliant devices who accept the Terms of Use.

Implement Zero Trust for AI security

In the AI era, Zero Trust is essential for protecting employees, devices, and data by minimizing threats. This security framework requires that all users—inside or outside your network—are authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated before accessing applications and data. Enforcing security policies at the endpoint is key to implementing Zero Trust across your organization. A strong endpoint management strategy enhances AI language models and improves security and productivity.

Before you introduce Microsoft 365 Copilot into your environment, Microsoft recommends that you build a strong foundation of security. Fortunately, guidance for a strong security foundation exists in the form of Zero Trust. The Zero Trust security strategy treats each connection and resource request as though it originated from an uncontrolled network and a bad actor. Regardless of where the request originates or what resource it accesses, Zero Trust teaches us to “never trust, always verify.”

Read “How do I apply Zero Trust principles to Microsoft 365 Copilot” for steps to apply the principles of Zero Trust security to prepare your environment for Copilot.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint work together to give you visibility and control of your data and devices. These tools let you block or warn users about risky cloud apps. Unsanctioned apps are automatically synced and blocked across endpoint devices through Microsoft Defender Antivirus within the Network Protection service level agreement (SLA). Key features include:

• Triage and investigation – Gain detailed alert descriptions and context, investigate device activity with full timelines, and access robust data and analysis tools to expand the breach scope.
• Incident narrative – Reconstruct the broader attack story by merging relevant alerts, reducing investigative effort, and improving incident scope and fidelity.
• Threat analytics – Monitor your threat posture with interactive reports, identify unprotected systems in real-time, and receive actionable guidance to enhance security resilience and address emerging threats.

Using Microsoft Intune, you can restrict the use of work apps like Microsoft 365 Copilot on personal devices or implement app protection policies to prevent data leakage and limit actions such as saving files to unsecured apps. All work content, including that generated by Copilot, can be wiped if the device is lost or disassociated from the company, with these measures running in the background requiring only user logon.

Assess your AI readiness

Evaluating your readiness for AI transformation can be complex. Taking a strategic approach helps you evaluate your capabilities, identify areas for improvement, and align with your priorities to maximum value.

The AI Readiness Wizard is designed to guide you through this process. Use the assessment to:

• Evaluate your current state.
• Identify gaps in your AI strategy.
• Plan actionable next steps.

This structured assessment helps you reflect on your current practices and identify key areas to prioritize as you shape your strategy. You’ll also find resources at every stage to help you advance and support your progress.

As your AI program evolves, prioritizing security and compliance from the start is essential. Microsoft tools such as Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Entra, Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft Intune help ensure your AI applications and data are innovative, secure, and trustworthy by design. Get started with the next step in securing your AI future by using the AI Readiness Wizard to evaluate your current preparedness and develop a strategy for successful AI implementation. Get started with Microsoft Security to build a secure, trustworthy AI program that empowers your students and staff.

The post Get ready for AI: How education institutions can secure and govern AI appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

As an IT professional, your role is vital in protecting sensitive school data, securing devices, and maintaining safe learning environments. Microsoft cybersecurity solutions like passwordless multifactor authentication (MFA), Defender for Endpoint P2-Students, and Copilot for Security are designed to help you defend your school’s devices and data. Additionally, information from the latest Cyber Signals report can assist in creating a secure environment that persists through any cybersecurity challenges that might arise.

Assessing the cyber signals in K-20 education

The latest edition of Microsoft’s Cyber Signals report covers cybersecurity challenges facing classrooms and campuses everywhere and the urgent need for robust defenses and proactive security measures. The digital footprint made by schools, colleges, and universities has multiplied exponentially—from virtual classes to classified research stored in the cloud—requiring IT professionals to remain vigilant and focused on emerging cyberthreats.

Education continues to be one of the most targeted industries for cyberattacks and social engineering exploits that trick people into disclosing personally identifiable information (PII). According to the report:

• Education was the third most targeted industry for cybercriminals over the past three months. The US had the greatest threat activity.
• Over 15,000 phishing messages with malicious QR codes were sent each day to people in the education sector.
• Higher education institutions encounter an average of 2,507 cyberattacks each week.

These signals reinforce what you already know: the education community is the “tip of the spear” for cybercriminals because of its data-rich environments, legacy infrastructure, and the security risks created by people who are often extremely busy. Despite these hurdles, there are steps you can take to strengthen your institution’s security posture. Discover a few tips that you can implement today.

1. Secure all accounts with passwordless MFA

K-12 schools, colleges, and universities are increasingly adopting passwordless MFA as a more secure way to protect accounts when people like young students don’t have a phone or secondary device. The solution uses MFA techniques and a temporary access pass (TAP) for verification, eliminating the chance of a weak, overused password becoming compromised.

Passwordless authentication also helps create efficiencies and saves you time. Your students, faculty, and staff don’t have to remember complex passwords, and you spend less time resetting passwords when they are forgotten.

PII, such as social security numbers (SSNs) in the US, are attractive for cybercriminals to steal from K-12 school districts because the relatively little-used SSNs of a child might be usable for widespread fraud well before the identity theft is detected.

Cyber Signals Issue 8, October 2024

Microsoft Entra ID can enable passwordless MFA for everyone at all education levels using device-bound services like Windows Hello that aren’t transmitted or stored on outside platforms. This type of MFA involves sharing a TAP that onboards students to passwordless sign-in methods. Even if a cybercriminal steals a TAP, they can’t access the account on another device because of the device-bound requirements.

By adopting passwordless MFA, your school or institution can enhance overall security and also meet the stringent requirements for cyber insurance. K-12 schools can also take advantage of funding opportunities like the FCC’s $200 million Cybersecurity Pilot Program for schools in the US.

To get started using passwordless MFA for students, check out these resources:

• Empowering secure and seamless learning: Learn more about using MFA without a smartphone and leveraging passwordless device access instead.
• Passwordless authentication options: Explore the different methods available for Microsoft Entra ID.

2. Secure student devices with Defender for Endpoint P2-Students

Students face cyberthreats when they use a connected device, browse the Internet, or check their messages—even if the cyberthreats aren’t apparent to them. Cybercriminals are pivoting to new attack methods like using QR codes to deliver malware through email and even campus fliers. This opens new security loopholes because QR codes are often scanned with unprotected personal devices.

Recently the United States Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert on the rising threat of malicious QR codes being used to steal log-in credentials or deliver malware.

Cyber Signals Issue 8, October 2024

You can ensure secure learning experiences with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2-Students. This highly discounted, comprehensive solution secures endpoint devices with industry-leading, multiplatform threat detection and response. It works in concert with Microsoft 365 to stop phishing, ransomware, and malware even if the attacks originate from a nontraditional method like a QR code image. With Defender for Endpoint P2-Students, you’ll be able to:

• Detect and prevent threats.
• Disrupt attacks automatically.
• Offer more secure web browsing.
• Encrypt device data and protect privacy.
• Maintain security with continuous updates.

By implementing Defender for Endpoint P2-Students, your school can significantly enhance its cybersecurity posture while giving students the protection they need to learn in a safe digital environment.

Explore this tool in more depth in Defend against threats with Microsoft 365, a learning path designed to help you use Microsoft Defender to the fullest.

3. Extend your threat-fighting capabilities with Copilot for Security

Cybercriminals often target sensitive financial, health, and personal data stored by schools and institutions alike. The consequences of a data breach in higher education are particularly worrisome—many universities handle federally funded research and sensitive intellectual property that’s valuable to nation-state actors. Unauthorized access not only puts institutional security and reputation at risk, but it also can have implications for our nation’s security when the data is part of a defense contract or when the research involves intellectual property from a company sponsor.

The types of threats that we’re seeing, the types of events that are occurring in higher education, are much more aggressive by cyber adversaries.

David McMorries, Chief Information Security Officer at Oregon State University

Copilot for Security can help you discover, analyze, detect, and remediate your organization’s cyberthreats. Simply ask Copilot a question, and it will return an actionable response in seconds that helps you tackle common security tasks. Copilot for Security allows you to effortlessly and seamlessly:

• Analyze threats.
• Learn about security incidents.
• Generate profiles of threat actors.
• Summarize threat intelligence.
• Create policies and configure devices.
• Discover users who might be at risk for data exploitation.

By integrating Copilot for Security into your daily operations, you receive customized guidance based on signals from each of your security tools and Microsoft’s industry-leading threat intelligence. It also minimizes much of the research and legwork that goes into investigating and remediating cybersecurity issues which saves you time so that you can focus on other IT responsibilities.

Use the Get started with Microsoft Copilot for Security learning path on Microsoft Learn to discover how Copilot for Security helps IT professionals address end-to-end cybersecurity scenarios.

For Cybersecurity Month 2024, explore Microsoft solutions like passwordless MFA, Defender for Endpoint P2-Students, and Copilot for Security to help you stay ahead of emerging threats. To build practical skills, dive into learning paths for IT professionals to gain in-depth knowledge about all of our cybersecurity, compliance, and identity solutions. These tools and resources can support you in securing your school’s digital infrastructure and creating a safer learning environment one step at a time.

The post Three tips for IT professionals for Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Over the last few years, schools underwent tremendous change by adopting hybrid learning and new tech tools for teaching, learning, and working. However, schools face increasing challenges with outdated software and ever-increasing cyberattacks that threaten the security of sensitive and important data, targeting student personal information, login credentials, school operational data, and more. It’s a daunting security landscape as the education sector is the third-most attacked industry and second-most targeted by nation-state threat actors.

Let’s take a deep dive into some of the real-life challenges that primary and secondary education institutions have faced and learn how they solved them.

Harnessing secure AI tools to transform education

Bad actors are constantly testing the fences of educational IT networks looking for vulnerabilities. Because of this, the Fulton County school district in Georgia, US, put plans in place to monitor, detect, and mitigate these potential cybersecurity threats. The district also wanted to modernize data collection to showcase student performance and operational efficiency data in near real time.

The district’s plans involved advanced Microsoft security features through a Microsoft 365 A5 educational license, which gave them the tools to address cybersecurity risks. They also transformed their data-driven decision-making with dynamic analytic insights using Microsoft Power BI. Additionally, the district maximized its existing Microsoft licenses and migrated to an end-to-end platform that spans on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, which suited the institution’s complex needs.  

Newington College, a primary and secondary-level boarding school in Australia, experienced a cybersecurity incident that catalyzed their need to improve the security and management of education technology while revolutionizing the way students and teachers engage and collaborate. For Newington, the greatest success lay in the efficiencies gained and benefits realized across the Microsoft stack by simplifying the deployment and support model across the environment. This process has become a catalyst for enhanced engagement, collaboration, and student success—helping the IT team stay on the front foot of opportunities.

Many school districts are embracing technologies they deem beneficial for educating students and supporting how faculty work. In fact, 68% of educators and 95% of education leaders have already used AI for school-related purposes. Wichita Public Schools in the US is one such example. Because no two students learn in precisely the same way, Wichita Public Schools started looking into the many ways Microsoft Copilot with enterprise data protection can help educators bring a greater diversity of tailored learning experiences into the classroom.

Students are also using AI-powered tools to enhance their learning and literacy. The Stour Academy Trust, located in Southeast England, tested two powerful Microsoft Education tools—Reading Progress and Reading Coach—to boost literacy and help readers succeed. Features in Reading Progress leverage AI to generate and personalize reading passages and assessments, which significantly reduces an educator’s workload while addressing student’s specific needs.

The Stour Academy Trust beta-tested AI-enabled Reading Coach to further enhance student reading fluency. When added to Reading Progress assignments, Reading Coach identifies words that are most challenging for each student and gives them a supported opportunity to practice the words again. One of the most exciting features of Reading Coach is the ability for learners to co-create their own personalized reading experiences utilizing responsible AI. Due to their success, Reading Coach and Reading Progress continue to be introduced across the Stour Academy Trust so that all educators can see how these tools fit into their classroom practices.

Our final case study takes us back to Australia, where the South Australia Department for Education is empowering students and teachers with responsible AI in the classroom. The Department has harnessed the power of AI to build and trial a chatbot that has been designed specifically for teaching and learning. ‘EdChat’ is the first chatbot of its kind in Australia and one of the first in the world to be introduced in an educational setting.

The chatbot was designed in partnership with Microsoft and uses Azure OpenAI Service, powered by the same technology as ChatGPT. Students can enter prompts to get information on a topic, ask for creative suggestions or analyze complex ideas. EdChat proved extremely helpful in allowing students to access vast amounts of information quickly, and have this information synthesized into simple, easy-to-understand language.

These are just a few real-life examples of how specific Microsoft products have helped in primary and secondary education. However, there’s something even bigger that Microsoft offers that every school should consider for meeting their needs.

The most comprehensive value for education

The Microsoft 365 A5 license offers a comprehensive solution tailored for schools, blending essential security, management, productivity, and learning tools. There are three highlights that separate Microsoft 365 A5 from others. The first is the ability to implement a Zero Trust approach across your entire digital estate with Microsoft’s suite of security products. The second is simplified endpoint management that gives you the power to deploy endpoints from the cloud and streamline support of student devices. The third is that Microsoft 365 A5 offers AI-powered instructional tools and advanced accessibility features, enabling new patterns of working and learning in today’s environment.

In a Forrester report from 2023, the composite education organization using Microsoft 365 A5 licenses saw a 118% return on investment or $4.2M over 3 years, $1.7 million reduced downtime for educators and IT staff, and a 30% reduction in licensing costs with vendor consolidation.

Microsoft 365 A5 empowers you to support your school community—from enhanced security and access control, comprehensive cyber threat protection, and streamlined data governance and security, to efficient classroom management and collaboration. Microsoft 365 A5 is one of the best choices that every school should consider when looking to enable secure teaching, learning, and working for all.

Reimagine education with AI

Microsoft is committed to security, privacy, and compliance across everything we do, and our approach to AI is no different. Microsoft’s approach to Responsible AI is grounded in a set of core principles and practices that we believe should guide AI development and use. With that in mind, perhaps the most exciting application currently is Microsoft Copilot, allowing you to leverage AI to provide personalized suggestions, accelerate routine tasks, offer real-time feedback, and more. Additionally, Copilot also offers enterprise data protection to help safeguard your information. Simply tell Copilot what you want to create, and it will help you generate new content in seconds.

Additionally, Microsoft Teams for Education leverages AI to enhance learning outcomes and streamline collaboration. Educators can leverage AI to help draft rubrics, assignment instructions, learning objectives, and more. With Reading Coach—a popular Learning Accelerator available in and outside of Microsoft Teams—learners can create unique AI-generated stories by choosing characters and settings from a curated collection of options.

There are additional ways that Microsoft can help meet your school’s needs. You can protect against student endpoints through the recently released student Defender for Endpoint. You can also step up your security by leveraging AI and machine learning to provide real-time threat detection and response with Microsoft Sentinel.

Overall, from productivity and learning to security, Microsoft is ready to help provide the most value to you and help you realize transformative benefits for your school.

Now is the time to transform your school

Microsoft 365 Education is a significant step toward meeting the demands of your school and empowering students and teachers to do more. By leveraging Microsoft’s robust tools and resources, educational institutions can create more secure and connected learning environment.

• For an overview on Microsoft 365 licensing, see the Microsoft product licensing page.
• Visit the Microsoft Education Cybersecurity solutions page to learn how our solutions help protect your school’s information.
• Empower everyone in your organization to be a cybersecurity champion with cybersecurity awareness resources and training.
• Learn how you can get started with free AI tools from Microsoft Education.
• Learn more about Microsoft Copilot and ways you can use it to save time and energy.
• Explore cybersecurity resources and training to help keep your school and data safe with Microsoft Security solutions.

The post Transforming education in the age of AI with a unified solution appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Microsoft Education prioritizes providing solutions and tools to help you be cybersafe. Learn five ways that you can prioritize cybersecurity—from using AI for school cybersecurity reports to implementing role access—to help keep your school and users safe during the school year.

• Assess vulnerabilities with Microsoft Defender XRD and Defender Vulnerability Management.
• Generate complex security reports with Microsoft Copilot for Security.
• Manage threats with Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, and SecOps.
• Implement role-based access with Microsoft Entra ID.
• Safeguard student devices with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students.

1. Assess vulnerabilities

It’s critical to regularly evaluate systems for vulnerabilities and security risks in addition to strategically setting up proactive controls and resilient infrastructure. Because school cyberthreats like phishing, malware, and data exfiltration deliberately seek and target known vulnerabilities, prioritize closing existing security gaps with vulnerability and risk assessments.

Microsoft Defender XDR offers various features to identify risks and vulnerabilities, complementing your existing Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution, based on your subscription including Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management. Play the video to learn how you can gain real-time insights for threat discovery.

2. Generate complex security reports with custom promptbooks

Microsoft Copilot for Security helps you increase your defense efficiency, capabilities, and outcomes at machine speed and scale, while remaining compliant with responsible AI principles. 

This natural language, assistive experience can support you in end-to-end scenarios such as incident response, threat hunting, intelligence gathering, and posture management. Watch the video for a more comprehensive understanding of how Copilot for Security can help you use AI for cybersecurity in your school.

Copilot for Security includes built-in promptbooks—predefined sets of prompts that automate common, repeatable workstreams that generate complex security reports—and includes these time-saving features.

• Suspicious script analysis: Analyze the intent, intelligence, threat actors, and impacts of a suspicious script.
• Microsoft Defender incident investigation: Learn about a specific incident, with related alerts, reputation scores, users, and devices.
• Threat actor profile: Profile a known actor with suggestions for protecting against common tools and tactics.
• Vulnerability impact assessment: Summarize the intelligence for a known vulnerability and how to address it.
• Microsoft Sentinel incident investigation: Explore a specific incident, along with related alerts, reputation scores, users, and devices.

Explore the Get started with Microsoft Copilot for Security learning path on Microsoft Learn to discover prompting tips and more.

3. Manage threats

Schools must identify and mitigate known threats and vulnerabilities. A cybersecurity framework (CSF) assists in managing risks, identifying threats, safeguarding infrastructure, and communicating initiatives. You can rely on Microsoft’s security solutions like Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, and SecOps platform to meet these needs.

• Microsoft Defender XDR: Secures endpoints, identities, workloads, and data, and protects against cyberthreats.
• Microsoft Sentinel: Responds to cyberthreats through data analysis, automation, and machine learning.
• SecOps platform: Unifies XDR and SIEM capabilities for real-time threat detection, exposure management, and AI-driven response.

4. Implement role-based access

Access control is a vital component of security strategy because it helps keep sensitive information from falling into the hands of bad actors. It’s one of the best tools that you can use to minimize the security risk of unauthorized access to data—particularly data stored in the cloud.

As schools use more endpoints, the risk of unauthorized access increases, highlighting the need for comprehensive access control policies. Identity and access management solutions, like Microsoft Entra ID, can simplify the administration of these policies. Recognizing the need to govern how and when data is accessed is the first step.

• Connect on goals: Align with stakeholders on the importance of access control solutions.
• Set strong policies: Design policies to grant, limit, or block access as needed.
• Follow best practices: Set up emergency accounts, apply policies to all apps, test before enforcing, standardize naming, and plan for disruptions.

Explore ways that you can use Microsoft Entra ID for app management, authentication, and more.

5. Secure student devices

Safeguarding student devices against malicious activity has never been more crucial, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students is here to help. Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students delivers enhanced cybersecurity for students, including device protection that shields students’ devices from phishing, malware, and other attacks. Microsoft integrates advanced cybersecurity measures with Microsoft 365 and other classroom applications to mitigate risks and ensure a secure learning environment for everyone.

Read our blog post about Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students to learn more.

In today’s rapidly changing landscape, embracing cybersecurity innovation is crucial. Microsoft is committed to making cybersecurity accessible and affordable for schools by assessing vulnerabilities, generating security reports, managing threats, implementing role-based access, and safeguarding student devices. Learn more with the Secure K-12 school IT practices and systems with Microsoft tools training module on Microsoft Learn.

Join us in creating a safer, more resilient learning environment for students, educators, and staff everywhere.

The post Five tips for IT teams to enhance school cybersecurity this summer appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Education remains a constant target for bad actors, with nearly 80% of malware encounters occurring in education.¹ While student devices may not always have personally identifiable information (PII) on them, they are critical to protect as they have become a common way attackers can access the broader school community and critical systems. Recognizing the importance of ensuring a safe and secure learning environment, Microsoft is excited to announce a highly discounted, comprehensive endpoint protection solution for students.  

At Microsoft, we understand the critical role that technology plays in education and are committed to empowering educators, administrators, and students with the tools they need to succeed. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students delivers enhanced device protection that shields students’ devices from phishing, malware, and other attacks. By integrating advanced cybersecurity measures that work in concert with Microsoft 365 and other classroom applications, we’re taking proactive steps to mitigate risks and ensure a secure learning environment for everyone.  

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students delivers enhanced device protection that shields students’ devices from phishing, malware, and other attacks.

Build secure and seamless experiences across every device

Safeguarding student devices against malicious activity has never been more crucial and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students is here to help.  

• Comprehensive threat detection and prevention: Our cutting-edge technology employs advanced threat detection algorithms to identify and neutralize potential cyberthreats in real-time. Whether it’s malware attempting to infiltrate the system or a phishing attack targeting sensitive data, our platform is equipped to thwart attacks before they cause harm.  
• Automatic attack disruption: Interrupt an attack in progress by automatically containing compromised assets that an attacker is using. By limiting movement early on, you can reduce the overall impact of an attack, from associated costs to loss of productivity, and keep security operations teams in complete control of investigating, remediating, and bringing assets back online.  
• Secure web browsing: With students accessing a myriad of online resources, it’s essential to provide a secure browsing experience. Our platform includes robust web content filtering capabilities to block malicious websites and prevent students from inadvertently exposing themselves to harmful content.  
• Data encryption and privacy protection: Protecting student data is paramount. That’s why our platform uses industry-leading encryption protocols to safeguard sensitive information stored on student devices. From personal documents to login credentials, rest assured that data privacy is our top priority.  
• Remote device management: In the event of a lost or stolen device, administrators can remotely track, lock, or wipe the device to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. This added layer of security ensures that even if a device falls into the wrong hands, the risk of data breach is minimized.  
• Continuous monitoring and updates: Cyberthreats are constantly evolving, which is why Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students undergoes continuous monitoring and updates to stay ahead of emerging threats. From security patches to software updates, we’re committed to keeping your devices protected against the latest vulnerabilities.  

These advanced device security features are bolstering Microsoft 365 Education A5, a platform that couples future-proof security with tools that simplify the management of devices to maximize the teaching, learning, and work experience for everyone in your organization. We’re empowering schools to create a safe and conducive learning environment where students can thrive without the fear of cyberthreats looming overhead. Moreover, by safeguarding student devices, we’re not only protecting individual learners but also ensuring the overall security and integrity of the entire school ecosystem. Microsoft 365 Education A5 enables you to build secure and seamless experiences across every device with solutions that are optimized to connect across your existing tools, apps, and platforms.

With Microsoft 365 Education A5, you can create safe experiences on every device with solutions that are designed to integrate with your existing tools, apps, and platforms.

Defend devices and data with confidence

In hopes of preventing catastrophic attacks, many schools and districts have devoted extensive time and resources implementing duplicate tech solutions that ultimately interfere with the daily activities of teachers, students, and support staff. With the introduction of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students as an enhancement to the Microsoft 365 Education A5 platform, institutions have the opportunity to simplify their institution’s security solution, with one world-class security platform.   

Confidently defend connected devices and data with industry-leading standards that put the digital security, privacy, and compliance needs of your students, educators, academics, faculty, and staff at the forefront. By reducing the risk of cyberthreats, we enable educators to focus on what they do best: educating. With fewer disruptions caused by security incidents, teachers can devote more time and resources to delivering high-quality instruction, ultimately enhancing the educational experience for students.  

Dedicated protection of student devices is just one example of our ongoing commitment to advancing education through technology. Now more than ever, it’s imperative to embrace the power of innovation while making it as easy and affordable as possible to extend the best protection to our students. Stay tuned for more updates and developments as we continue to evolve our offerings to meet the ever-changing needs of the education community. Together, we can build a safer, more resilient learning environment for students everywhere.  

Ready to go deeper? Build your skills by taking these security training courses on Microsoft Learn: 

• Defend against threats with Microsoft 365 – Training 
• Security, Compliance, and Identity on Microsoft Learn 
• Boost K-12 school cybersecurity leadership with Microsoft tools – Training  

¹ Microsoft Global Threat Activity

The post Ensure secure learning experiences with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – Students appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

The incident exposed vulnerabilities that could no longer be ignored. “It was a wakeup call for all of us here at Oregon State University to make some changes,” says David McMorries, Chief Information Security Officer. “So much of the institution’s business now is dependent on information technology that you must provide an environment that is functional, is available, and is useful.” It was clear the institution needed to explore tools that could provide zero trust capabilities on all staff, faculty, and student devices—ensuring protections on resources on site and in the cloud.  

In response to this incident, OSU meticulously evaluated the latest cybersecurity solutions available, deciding on Microsoft Security tools including:  

• Microsoft Sentinel: Proactive threat detection, response, and threat hunting across the digital estate. Microsoft Sentinel aggregates data from all sources—including users, applications, servers, and devices running on premises or in any cloud—allowing school IT to access millions of records in just a few seconds.  
• Microsoft Defender: Comprehensive, real-time protection against software threats like viruses, malware, and spyware across email, apps, the cloud, and the web.  
• Microsoft Copilot for Security: A new, generative AI-powered assistant for daily security and IT operations that empowers teams to protect at the speed and scale of AI by turning global threat intelligence, industry best practices, and organizations’ security data into tailored insights to outsmart and outpace adversaries.  

With these tools working in concert, OSU has fortified its cybersecurity infrastructure, ensuring a safer and more secure environment.    

Read Oregon State University protects vital research and sensitive data with Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender to learn more.  

Reducing threat response times from weeks to minutes

At OSU, their commitment to open, collaborative research coexists with the imperative to protect sensitive data and maintain the institution’s overall reputation. This delicate balance requires a cybersecurity approach that is both robust and responsive.  

Partnering with Microsoft, OSU was able to widely implement tools such as Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender quite rapidly. These tools enabled the university to detect and respond to incidents rapidly, reducing response times from weeks to mere minutes. It redefined their approach, shifting from a time-consuming and reactive strategy to a more efficient and proactive one.   

“The types of threats that are occurring in higher education are much more aggressive by cyber adversaries,” says Chief Information Security Officer David McMorries. “Since we’ve made this improvement by going to Microsoft Sentinel and deploying Microsoft Defender, we’ve seen a dramatic ability to detect these sorts of events and prevent many of them before they influence our institution. So, the investment that’s been made in our tooling and in our people has really paid off.”   

Protection at machine speed with Microsoft Copilot for Security

Microsoft Copilot for Security is the only generative AI solution that helps security and IT professionals amplify their skillset, collaborate more, see more, and respond faster. It is available both as an immersive standalone portal and natively embedded within the existing and familiar Microsoft Security products in Microsoft 365 A5, such as Defender for Endpoint, Sentinel, and others.   

In a recent research study conducted by Microsoft’s Office of the Chief Economist, experienced security analysts using Copilot were 22% faster at the common security tasks they were given, and they achieved these time savings while also increasing accuracy by 7%. However, perhaps more compelling, 97% of the experienced security analysts said they wanted to use Copilot again next time.  

These gains in speed, accuracy, and sentiment mean that security and IT teams have the power to radically improve not only their work, but also their sense of job satisfaction as they find the time to work on the most critical tasks, vs. being bogged down in the more mundane part of their roles. 

In a recent study conducted by Microsoft’s Office of the Chief Economist, experienced security analysts using Copilot were 22% faster at the common security tasks they were given.

These gains in speed, accuracy, and sentiment mean that security and IT teams have the power to radically improve not only their work, but also their sense of job satisfaction as they find the time to work on the most critical tasks, vs. being bogged down in the more mundane part of their roles. 

View the full research study for Copilot for Security and download the Copilot Speed, Accuracy, and Sentiment infographic for more results from the study.  

Copilot represents the next level in OSU’s cybersecurity evolution. With Copilot, OSU can enhance existing security frameworks, allowing for more efficient threat detection and system management. Emily Longman, manager of OSU’s Security Operations Center (SOC), expressed her optimism about the potential of Copilot, saying, “Our research is a huge priority for the university, but sometimes it can be difficult to secure, and getting vulnerability management can be difficult. But with Copilot, we can find better solutions that are more secure for those researchers and really push the limits of human knowledge and research at OSU.”  

Through their Copilot pilot program, OSU is exploring the tool’s ability to complement and enhance other Microsoft security tools. By integrating Copilot with tools such as Microsoft Sentinel, they anticipate a significant shift towards automation, reducing the time analysts spend on routine incidents. This shift promises to refocus efforts on critical threats, enhancing their ability to quickly respond to and resolve security incidents.   

We are excited to announce the general availability of Microsoft Copilot for Security on April 1, 2024. To learn more about Copilot for Security features and availability, visit the Copilot for Security webpage or read the blog, Microsoft Copilot for Security: General availability details. 

Preparing students for an AI-driven future

The adoption of advanced AI tools like Copilot not only bolsters OSU’s cybersecurity framework but also provides invaluable learning opportunities for students. Many academic curriculums at OSU as well as most other learning institutions don’t typically include AI-type tools, so the students working for OSU’s SOC are eager to make the most of this opportunity. This exposure will significantly benefit students, preparing them for future careers in the evolving cybersecurity landscape.  

“Microsoft Copilot for Security is going to expose our student employees to a cutting-edge security tool that they wouldn’t have gotten access to in any other way,” says McMorries. “So not only will our full-time employees be able to make the Security Operations Center more effective and efficient, but—as Oregon State University’s primary mission is to educate and to produce the next generation workforce—as the students learn how Microsoft Copilot for Security works, I’ll be really excited to see what kind of jobs that they are going to be lining up when they leave us.”  

Learn more about Microsoft Security solutions

Use these resources to explore how Microsoft security tools can support your education institution. 

• Read Oregon State University protects vital research and sensitive data with Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender to learn how OSU uses Microsoft cybersecurity tools to perform more proactive security detection procedures. 
• Watch Microsoft Copilot for Security demo: Defend at machine speed to see how Copilot exhibits an incident response scenario to provide next-level enrichment and context to the security analyst performing the investigation. 
• Explore the Microsoft Defender for Cloud interactive guide to learn how Microsoft 365 Defender for Cloud can help your security team efficiently maintain and protect digitally connected school environments. 
• Get started with the Introduction to Microsoft Sentinel and Introduction to Microsoft Defender XDR threat protection training modules on Microsoft Learn. 
• Watch the Microsoft Secure digital event on-demand and read the blog, Microsoft Copilot for Security is generally available on April 1, 2024, to catch the latest innovations and news from Microsoft Security.  

The post Oregon State University: Taking cybersecurity to the next level with Microsoft Copilot for Security appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.