While the youngest people on our planet are increasingly being described as digital natives, that does not mean they are born with instinctual data security principles. It is the responsibility of the adults in these young people’s lives to teach them how and why to safeguard their digital data.
Teaching Digital Natives Data Security
While Gen Z and Gen Alpha are considered ‘digital natives,’ it is still crucial to teach them about the details of data security. As defined by Tech Target, a digital native is “a person who grew up with the presence of digital technology or in the information age”. Current young adults, teens, and children fall in this category.
Despite being lauded as naturals with technology, kids still require guidance to ensure their protection. While it is true that the youngest in our world may be capable of navigating modern technology, that does not mean that they have the fundamental knowledge of how it works. The risks, such as phishing and data theft, must be taught alongside the basics. Children growing up today benefit from powerful and user-friendly apps and software, and do not necessarily know how digital technology works under the surface. Adults must teach children these practical lessons and ensure they are safe while mastering them!
Parents: Enforce Online Safety
Data privacy and cybersecurity training begins at home. Before a child is able to walk or talk, electronic Personally Identifiable Information (or electronic PII) for him or her can be compromised. Data security must begin before the child is capable of understanding what it is.
- Parents must take proper steps to protect medical portals, school records, and other information that may be specific to their children.
- Use multi-factor authentication when it is available, as it can stop many different forms of cyberattacks (many social media sites, medical portals, and other online services offer this option with a simple click of a button – if it not clearly presented, check for it in your account settings).
- Be careful what is posted. Children deserve privacy, so family and friends should consider what information they share on social media about the kids in their life. This protects the child digitally and physically.
As children get older, age-appropriate safeguards are necessary as internet exploration begins. Protection should aim to secure sensitive information and make sure the child is not exposed to damaging or frightening material. These steps should be implemented at home as soon as the child has access to the internet.
- Teach children the importance of not sharing private information with strangers online. Check out these resources from Stay Safe Online for discussing online safety with children.
- Utilize parental controls on devices and accounts as appropriate.
- According to EY Consulting, younger workers are more likely to reuse passwords across personal and work accounts, so it is never too early to begin forming good password habits. Instruct children on the finer points of password hygiene, such as:
- Creating long passwords with numbers, letters, and symbols.
- Having unique passwords for every account.
- Securely storing passwords (but ensure you also have those passwords when they are young!), as well as the value of a password manager.
Schools: Protect Student Data
Schools also have a responsibility. Not only do schools hold a lot of privileged information about students, but they often have limited budgets that can pose challenges for IT and security teams. This makes schools prime targets for ransomware attacks and data breaches. Schools should utilize all tools at their disposal, including:
- Managing encryption, and keeping data encrypted both in transit and at rest.
- Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication to protect student information within school programs.
- Vetting the apps that students are allowed to use, ensuring they handle data responsibly.
- Maintaining a model of least privilege. Provide the minimum access to information needed to complete a task, to limit risk of accidental or purposeful damage by insider threats.
- Keeping all apps and devices up to date. Regularly updating device protects data by addressing known weaknesses.
- Limiting what information is collected, and destroying it securely when it is no longer needed. This means there is less to be accessed in the event of a breach.
- Utilizing software such as DriveStrike, which offers Mobile Device Management solutions for schools at affordable prices. DriveStrike is an endpoint security software which will help administrators protect school devices with ease through a secure online portal. Administrators can Locate devices, Lock, and Remote Wipe them, to limit risk of a compromise if a device is lost or stolen.
Parents and teachers are responsible to guard children online as they learn how to function in a digital society. Utilize cybersecurity tools and data privacy tips to protect the future of the digital natives in your care!