Greenbush K12 Tech Blog

One misconception in K–12 technology is the belief that once something is installed, configured, or deploye d… it’s done . A switch is installed , a Chromebook fleet is rolled out , a security setting is turned on , and the assumption becomes: “Great — that’s taken care of.” But in reality, there is no such thing as set it and forget it in K–12 IT. Not for devices. Not for security. Not for cloud platforms. And definitely not for user access. Tools like Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra, and Endpoint Manager (Intune) evolve constantly, introducing new features, deprecating old ones, adjusting defaults, updating policies, and changing interfaces. A setting that was “perfect” last month might behave differently today. Technology Is Not a Project — It’s a Living System Behind the scenes, IT teams are constantly working to keep the district safe, stable, and ready for instruction. Most people only see the end result: the Wi-Fi works, devices log in, apps load, and everything looks ...

Many K–12 districts are facing a difficult reality: after years of convenience-first technology use, the time has come to adopt a more secure, structured approach. Cyber insurance requirements are tightening. State and federal regulations are growing. Threats are increasing. And school systems are expected to modernize their security posture quickly and without disrupting learning. But strengthening security in a district that has operated with wide-open access for years isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a cultural renovation. Transitioning from “anything goes” to “secured by design” is one of the hardest shifts for schools to make. Not because people don’t care about security, but because securing things backwards means undoing years of habits, expectations, and legacy decisions. Here’s why it’s so difficult , and how districts can make the transition without breaking what’s working. Why Securing Things Backwards Is Hard 1. You’re Taking Away What People Are Used To When classr...