BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
Parents received an update from Wild Rose School Division last week in regards to the PowerSchool data breach.
On December 28, both WRSD and the St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic School Division were part of a cyber security breach through the cloud-based software that is used for sharing student’s marks and assignments with parents. Once they were notified by PowerSchool on January 7, notice of the incident was communicated to parents.
Along with marks and assignments, PowerSchool is used for demographic forms that parents are required to fill out each year. This means the data breach may have also included personal information of students, parents, and staff.
Now, WRSD superintendent Brad Volkman has sent an update out to parents, guardians and staff on January 24.
“We are reaching out to share the following information and next steps that we recently received directly from PowerSchool,” says Volkman in the letter.
PowerSchool has taken steps to provide a measure of security for those families whose information was found. Once the company learned of the incident, they immediately launched a forensic investigation and “engaged cybersecurity response protocols and mobilized senior leadership and third-party cybersecurity experts.”
Volkman says at the time of the letter, PowerSchool was not aware of any identity theft attributable to the incident, and that they are monitoring for signs of information misuse.
To further ease the minds of the victims, PowerSchool is working with TransUnion, a credit reporting agency, to offer two years of complimentary identity protection services for all students and educators whose information was involved..
Volkman says over the next few weeks, PowerSchool will be working with TransUnion to provide notice to those whose information was involved. That notice will also include the identity protection and credit monitoring services offered.
Volkman went on to say that PowerSchool has been working with WRSD and other affected divisions, but going forward all communication about the incident will come from PowerSchool directly.
“We care deeply about the welfare of our Wild Rose School Division families and will continue to do everything we can to support you. Thank you for the important role you play in our community and your shared commitment to putting our students first,” says Volkman.
Anyone looking for more information about the data breach can visit https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/.
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