Zero Breach Zone

Welcome to episode 12 of the Zero Breach Zone! Join hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo as they sit down with Michelle Krieger to explore topics top of mind at the intersection of education and cybersecurity recorded at FETC. In this energetic conversation, Michelle shares her unique journey from Special Education Teacher to Education Innovation to Data Protection Officer, to Director of Technology. Michelle offers valuable insights on the importance of data protection in increasingly digital learning environments. The discussion delves into crucial aspects of differentiating between Director of Technology and data protection officer roles. Everyone emphasizes the importance of "...

Welcome to episode 11 of the Zero Breach Zone! Join us for an enlightening conversation with  Scott Bailey, former superintendent and educational innovator from Desert Sands School District. Through his engaging storytelling, Bailey shares candid experiences from his work across Nevada's largest school districts, including Clark County School District with 314,000 students and Washoe County School District serving the Reno-Tahoe area. His firsthand account of managing the initial COVID-19 outbreak and spearheading the rapid transition to online learning provides valuable insights into crisis management at scale. Drawing from his extensive background in education leadership, Bailey addresses the evolving landscape of digital s...

Welcome to episode 21 of Zero Breach Zone! In this hosts Andy Lombardo and Phil Hintz welcome Itza White, the Director of Cybersecurity for Five Star. The group discusses the unique challenges of cybersecurity in K-12 education, the importance of documentation, and building a culture of security awareness. Itza shares her journey into cybersecurity, two big challenges schools face including the rising significance of cyber insurance, and the need for effective incident response plans. The conversation also highlights the importance of empowering women and girls in technology and the resources available for schools to enhance their cybersecurity posture. 
 
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Welcome to episode 10 of Zero Breach Zone! Join us for our continued FETC 2025 coverage featuring Dr. Joe Phillips, CTO of Fulton County Schools. In this insightful conversation recorded live at the conference, Dr. Phillips draws from his unique background in both education and military service to address the complex challenges facing large school districts. Beyond introducing his innovative PLANT AI model, he shares a compelling perspective on how Moore's Law has given way to an era where technological disruption is actually accelerating the pace of disruption itself. His deep understanding of AI's transformative potential, coupled with his measured approach...

Welcome to episode 20 of Zero Breach Zone! Hosts Andy Lombardo and Phil Hintz sit down with Mindy Fiscus, a 25+ year veteran in the world of education technology and the Director of Government Affairs & E-Rate at the Learning Technology Center of Illinois. Mindy brings a wealth of experience and passion to the conversation, sharing her journey through the evolving EdTech landscape and the pivotal role that E-Rate has played in connecting classrooms across the country.
Together, they unpack the future of E-Rate amidst legal challenges, the urgent need for cybersecurity funding in K-12 schools, and how Illinois has emerged...

Welcome to episode 9 of Zero Breach Zone! Put on your spurs and join us for our first episode in our special FETC 2025 series! Hosts Andy & Phil kick off our conference coverage with master storyteller Dr. Sheryl R. Abshire, a 40+ year education technology pioneer whose deep understanding of policy and government has shaped educational technology across the nation. Her compelling narratives and unique perspectives come from a remarkable journey that spans from implementing the first Apple II computers to leading cybersecurity initiatives as CTO of Calcasieu Parish School System. Through years of advocating at state and federal levels, Dr. Abshire...

Welcome to Episode 19 of Zero Breach Zone. In this episode, hosts Andy & Phil  interview Duane Shaffer, the director of technology services at the Learning Technology Center of Illinois. They discuss the importance of cybersecurity and data privacy in K-12 education, the vision behind the IT summit, and the role of documentation in enhancing cybersecurity practices. Duane shares insights on the Trusted Learning Environment SEAL program and emphasizes the significance of community collaboration among school districts. The conversation concludes with practical tips for technology directors.

Key Takeaways:

Welcome to Episode 18 of Zero Breach Zone. Hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo sit down with Maurice Payne, Director of IT for Decatur Public Schools, to talk about his journey from corporate America to K–12 EdTech.

Maurice shares his approach to leading technology in a school district, what excites him most about tackling cybersecurity challenges, and why moving toward NIST standards is critical for accountability and continuous improvement. He also reflects on his time in the CTO Academy and the powerful mentorship he received from EdTech leaders Sheryl Abshire and Frankie Jackson (both past podcast guests).

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Welcome to Episode 17 of Zero Breach Zone, in this episode hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo are joined by Jennifer Womble, a trailblazer in the EdTech community and the visionary Program Chair of the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC). Jennifer brings her passion for amplifying educator voices and designing meaningful professional development experiences to the table.

Together, they dive into the evolution of FETC from a regional event to a nationally recognized EdTech hub, explore the rise of cybersecurity awareness in schools, and discuss the transformative role of VR and data privacy in the future of...

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Zero Breach Zone ! Join hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo as they sit down with Frankie Jackson, a cybersecurity expert and former CTO of Cypress Fairbanks ISD, to explore the intersection of education and cybersecurity. From NASA to one of Texas's largest school districts, Frankie shares her journey and insights on developing comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks for educational institutions.

As a thought leader in K-12 cybersecurity, Frankie Jackson continues advocating for increased diversity in technology, co-authoring The Savvy Ed Tech Leader alongside Sheryl Abshire, Diane Doersch, and Donna Williamson – a comprehensive roadmap helping te...

Welcome to episode 16 of the Zero Breach Zone. In this episode, hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo are joined by Dr. Adam Phyall, Director of Professional Learning and Leadership at All4Ed and a board member of ISTE. With a career that began as a high school science teacher, Dr. Phyall has served as a Chief Technology Officer and brings a wide breadth of experience in educational leadership and technology integration.

He discusses his journey from the classroom to becoming a leader in educational technology, emphasizing the importance of integrating tech in education while ensuring student safety...

Welcome to episode 15 of the Zero Breach Zone podcast, where hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo discuss their experiences at recent conferences, focusing on cybersecurity strategies in K-12 education. They explore the importance of multi-factor authentication (MFA), the challenges of session timeouts, and the need for continuous improvement in cybersecurity practices. The conversation also highlights the significance of tabletop exercises for incident response and the convergence of physical and cybersecurity measures in schools. The hosts share insights on integrating technology for safety and the necessity of collaboration among various stakeholders. In this conversation, Andy Lombardo and Phil Hintz discuss...

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo welcome Jason Yaw Osei, Tech Director of Technology and Cybersecurity at Campbell ISD in Texas, for a fun and engaging discussion about cybersecurity in education and innovative training approaches.

Yaw's infectious energy and passion for all things tech shine through in this episode packed with laughs, tech talk, and cybersecurity insights. From geeking out about AI innovations to trading cybersecurity war stories, the conversation flows effortlessly between serious security discussions and playful tech banter. Whether you're a cybersecurity pro or...

Welcome to episode 14 of the Zero Breach Zone, in this episode hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo dive into the current state of K-12 cybersecurity, analyzing key findings from the Cisco Talos 2024 report. They explore the concerning rise in ransomware attacks targeting educational institutions, the struggles schools face with limited security budgets, and practical strategies for strengthening cyber defenses. The conversation covers the critical importance of regular system monitoring, vulnerability patching, and addressing MFA weaknesses that leave schools exposed. Phil and Andy emphasize that human factors remain one of the biggest security challenges, highlighting how effective security awareness training...

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, we sit down with Oliver Page, CEO and founder of CyberNut, for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship and cybersecurity in education. Oliver shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, including his experience founding NutKase, a successful K-12 device case manufacturer that protected over 3 million student devices. Through both success and failure, he shares valuable lessons that led him to his current venture. As the founder of CyberNut, he discusses how his company is revolutionizing cybersecurity training in educational institutions with innovative, user-friendly solutions.

Oliver explores the...

Welcome to episode 13 of the Zero Breach Zone! In this episode hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo speak with Jeff McCoy, Associate Superintendent for Academics in Greenville County, South Carolina. Drawing from his 25+ years in education, Jeff discusses the integration of technology in schools, emphasizing the distinction between vendors and solution partners. The conversation highlights cybersecurity as a shared responsibility across all departments, not just technology. Jeff stresses that security training should be continuous rather than annual, using short, clear communications. The discussion covers how data breaches often involve academic software, the importance of evaluating vendors' security practices, and...

Welcome to episode 12 of the Zero Breach Zone! Join hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo as they sit down with Michelle Krieger to explore topics top of mind at the intersection of education and cybersecurity recorded at FETC. In this energetic conversation, Michelle shares her unique journey from Special Education Teacher to Education Innovation to Data Protection Officer, to Director of Technology. Michelle offers valuable insights on the importance of data protection in increasingly digital learning environments. The discussion delves into crucial aspects of differentiating between Director of Technology and data protection officer roles. Everyone emphasizes the importance of "...

Welcome to episode 11 of the Zero Breach Zone! Join us for an enlightening conversation with  Scott Bailey, former superintendent and educational innovator from Desert Sands School District. Through his engaging storytelling, Bailey shares candid experiences from his work across Nevada's largest school districts, including Clark County School District with 314,000 students and Washoe County School District serving the Reno-Tahoe area. His firsthand account of managing the initial COVID-19 outbreak and spearheading the rapid transition to online learning provides valuable insights into crisis management at scale. Drawing from his extensive background in education leadership, Bailey addresses the evolving landscape of digital s...

Welcome to episode 10 of Zero Breach Zone! Join us for our continued FETC 2025 coverage featuring Dr. Joe Phillips, CTO of Fulton County Schools. In this insightful conversation recorded live at the conference, Dr. Phillips draws from his unique background in both education and military service to address the complex challenges facing large school districts. Beyond introducing his innovative PLANT AI model, he shares a compelling perspective on how Moore's Law has given way to an era where technological disruption is actually accelerating the pace of disruption itself. His deep understanding of AI's transformative potential, coupled with his measured approach...

Welcome to episode 9 of Zero Breach Zone! Put on your spurs and join us for our first episode in our special FETC 2025 series! Hosts Andy & Phil kick off our conference coverage with master storyteller Dr. Sheryl R. Abshire, a 40+ year education technology pioneer whose deep understanding of policy and government has shaped educational technology across the nation. Her compelling narratives and unique perspectives come from a remarkable journey that spans from implementing the first Apple II computers to leading cybersecurity initiatives as CTO of Calcasieu Parish School System. Through years of advocating at state and federal levels, Dr. Abshire...

Welcome to episode 8 of Zero Breach Zone!  🚨 Special Early Release Episode: Join hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo as they kick off the New Year and break down critical EdTech security news around the PowerSchool data breach and preview what's heating up at the upcoming Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC)!

In this packed episode, Phil and Andy explore the critical importance of administrative rights management and layered security approaches in modern cybersecurity practices. They tackle the recent PowerSchool data breach, offering valuable insights into incident response and the crucial role of vendor accountability in protecting sensitive stud...

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Zero Breach Zone ! Join hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo as they sit down with Frankie Jackson, a cybersecurity expert and former CTO of Cypress Fairbanks ISD, to explore the intersection of education and cybersecurity. From NASA to one of Texas's largest school districts, Frankie shares her journey and insights on developing comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks for educational institutions.

As a thought leader in K-12 cybersecurity, Frankie Jackson continues advocating for increased diversity in technology, co-authoring The Savvy Ed Tech Leader alongside Sheryl Abshire, Diane Doersch, and Donna Williamson – a comprehensive roadmap helping te...

As we round out the year 2024, we wanted to reintroduce you to our hosts Andy Lombardo & Phil Hintz and remind you why the Zero Breach Zone is a vital resource for K-12 cybersecurity.

Welcome to the debut episode of Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Andy Lombardo and Phil Hintz introduce the podcast, focused on the critical importance of cybersecurity in K-12 education. Drawing from their backgrounds in education and technology, they share their personal experiences with cyber attacks and discuss why striving for a “zero breach zone” is essential, even though complete security isn’t always...

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Phil Hintz and Andy Lombardo welcome Jason Yaw Osei, Tech Director of Technology and Cybersecurity at Campbell ISD in Texas, for a fun and engaging discussion about cybersecurity in education and innovative training approaches.

Yaw's infectious energy and passion for all things tech shine through in this episode packed with laughs, tech talk, and cybersecurity insights. From geeking out about AI innovations to trading cybersecurity war stories, the conversation flows effortlessly between serious security discussions and playful tech banter. Whether you're a cybersecurity pro or...

Welcome to Episode 5 of Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Phil and Andy speak to the core of what this podcast is all about: making cybersecurity accessible and actionable for the entire education technology community. They share key insights from their recent cybersecurity and education technology conference experience at RTM. Phil and Andy dive into their recent cybersecurity concerns with playful banter, with Andy emphasizing his passion for Multi-Factor Authentication as a critical security foundation. They explore AI's expanding influence in education, from classroom applications to administrative tools, while sharing their upcoming speaking engagements at COSN, TETC, and...

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, we sit down with Oliver Page, CEO and founder of CyberNut, for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship and cybersecurity in education. Oliver shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, including his experience founding NutKase, a successful K-12 device case manufacturer that protected over 3 million student devices. Through both success and failure, he shares valuable lessons that led him to his current venture. As the founder of CyberNut, he discusses how his company is revolutionizing cybersecurity training in educational institutions with innovative, user-friendly solutions.

Oliver explores the...

Welcome to Episode 3 of Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Phil and Andy set the stage for what this podcast is all about: making cybersecurity accessible and actionable for the entire education technology community. Starting with the recent AT&T data breach as a springboard, our hosts demonstrate how cybersecurity vulnerabilities affect everyone - from major corporations to local school districts. Through this lens, they dive into the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and its crucial role in education technology. Drawing from their extensive experience, Phil and Andy break down complex security concepts into actionable insights, exploring incident...

Welcome to Episode 2 of Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Andy Lombardo and Phil Hintz recap the latest from the ISTE conference, where education and technology converge to shape the future of learning. We explore the major announcements, including the launch of EdTechIndex.org, a new resource for educators to find vetted educational apps that meet strict privacy and security criteria. The episode emphasizes the need to bridge the gap between technology and education, breaking down silos in school districts, and fostering collaboration to ensure effective implementation of new tools.

Our hosts also tackle the increasing...

Welcome to the debut episode of Zero Breach Zone! In this episode, hosts Andy Lombardo and Phil Hintz introduce the podcast, focused on the critical importance of cybersecurity in K-12 education. Drawing from their backgrounds in education and technology, they share their personal experiences with cyber attacks and discuss why striving for a “zero breach zone” is essential, even though complete security isn’t always achievable.

Key topics include insider threats, student data privacy, and the growing need for cybersecurity insurance in schools. Andy and Phil also highlight BlueMirror, a free SIEM tool for Microsoft 365, which provides alerts...

Welcome to the Zero Breach Zone—the podcast dedicated to fortifying K-12 schools against digital threats like breaches, phishing attacks, and everything in between.

Join hosts Andy Lombardo and Phil Hintz for conversations and interviews with top experts in cybersecurity, education, and technology, as they share crucial insights and strategies to keep our schools safe. From breaking down the latest cyber risks to offering practical solutions, this podcast equips educators, administrators, and parents with the knowledge needed to safeguard students and staff in today's digital world.

Tune in and take the first step toward securing th...