Aspen View Public Schools recently passed a massive test of its computer networks, scoring near the top of the chart on a strict external security audit.
Ernest Aleixandre, the division’s director of information technology services, shared the results during a comprehensive department update at the regular school board meeting on June 18. He told the board that Aspen View scored 800 out of a maximum 820 points on its latest cybersecurity assessment.
The high score comes after the technology department hired an outside consulting firm late in the winter to run internal and external penetration testing. This means the consultants essentially played the role of hackers. They scanned the outer edges of the school division’s network looking for ways in, and even used a special implanted device to search for deep, hidden weak spots from inside the system.
“While we always have areas to improve, the consulting company gave us high praise,” Aleixandre said. He told trustees that the testing firm actually called Aspen View the most secure school division they had evaluated over the entire past year.
The 800-point score represents a solid step up for the division, jumping 20 points from the 780 rating they earned the previous year.
Trustee Anne Karczmarczyk took time during the meeting to praise the technology team for their hard work and the resulting 20-point increase.
“Aspen View is only two and a half per cent below a perfect score, which is an incredible achievement,” Karczmarczyk said. “It speaks volumes about how well our IT department is run.”
Even with the high marks and praise from the board, Aleixandre warned that the team cannot relax. He noted that online threats are constantly growing and changing. Across the cybersecurity industry, he explained, the common belief is that organizations must assume hackers will eventually find a way to break in.
“It is no longer a matter of if a breach will happen, but when,” Aleixandre said. “The best approach is to prepare thoroughly so we can minimize any potential damage.”
To keep staff on their toes and prevent those breaches, the division regularly sends out fake test emails in continuous phishing campaigns. If an employee is tricked into clicking an unsafe link, the system immediately sends them a follow-up email with a short training video. This helps staff learn how to spot the danger and correct their behaviour for the next time.
Beyond keeping hackers out, Aleixandre’s report also covered the educational side of his department’s work. He highlighted the success of the division’s fifth annual robotics competition, which was held on May 7 at the local multiplex. The event drew a record-breaking turnout of roughly 200 students.
During the competition, students put their skills to the test in several technical challenges. These included driving through a Mars rover course and figuring out how to program a robot to draw geometric shapes using small servo motors and custom 3D-printed parts.
With the school year wrapping up, the technology team is now looking ahead to a busy summer. While the hallways and classrooms are empty, staff will collect computers from across the division for regular servicing. They also plan to set up about 200 new Chromebooks while performing necessary upgrades to the servers and network infrastructure before students return in the fall.
Armaan Khanna
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter