8 K-12 IT Priorities for 2025

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, K-12 IT teams play a critical role in shaping the future of learning. As schools face complex cybersecurity and data protection challenges, they are also juggling issues including equitable access to technology.

Classrooms are increasingly reliant on digital learning tools, and focusing on robust infrastructure, cybersecurity, and effective technology implementation has never been more urgent. Prioritizing these areas allows schools to create safe, inclusive, and future-ready learning environments for all students.

We asked K-12 IT leaders to share their thoughts on IT priorities in the new year. This is what they had to say:

Educational institutions face the unique challenge of needing to modernize their networks while improving the user and employee experience and meeting compliance requirements. This will still be the case in 2025, but these institutions must address these issues in the context of persistent cyberattacks as well as curious and capable students. Between 2023 and 2024, we saw a 35 percent increase In attacks on the education sector, and as ransomware groups continue to target the sector with more sophisticated attacks (leveraging tools such as generative artificial intelligence), the potential impacts could be devastating. Institutions have no choice but to remain prepared and prioritize improving their security posture. Educational institutions should focus on maintaining strong IT security fundamentals and implementing a zero-trust architecture, especially for research projects with federal funding ramifications. These strategies minimize the attack surface, prevent breaches, eliminate lateral movement, and stop data loss. Proactively addressing these evolving threats will allow institutions to remain more resilient in the face of a growing threat landscape in the coming year.
—Hansang Bae, chief technology officer of the public sector, zscaler

Organizations will prioritize internal defenses and post-breach strategies over traditional perimeter security, recognizing that the fight against cyberattacks is shifting inward. Advanced attacks will increasingly target sectors such as education and healthcare, making data encryption and network segmentation essential components of resilient cybersecurity frameworks. As ai-powered attacks become more sophisticated, agencies will focus on limiting attacker movements within networks, accepting that the perimeter can no longer be the only line of defense.
—Gary Barlet, CTO of the public sector, illumio

In the two years since GenAI launched, K-12 leaders have ridden the wave of experimentation and uncertainty about the role this transformative technology should play in classrooms and districts. In 2025 there will be a shift towards developing GenAI strategies, creating clear policies and governance, educational integration, and establishing barriers for educators and students. K-12 districts recognize the need to upskill their teachers, not only to leverage GenAI to personalize learning, but also so they can teach students how to use this technology responsibly. On the back end, IT leaders will have to deal with increased infrastructure demands and growing cybersecurity threats.
—Delia DeCourcy, Senior Strategist, lenovo World Educational Team

With ai literacy in the spotlight, lifelong learning will become the new normal. Immediate need for skills: The role of “individual contributors” will evolve and we will all be managers of ai agents, making ai skills a must. Skills of the future: Quantum skills will begin to be in demand in the job market as quantum development continues to advance over the next year. Skills Always in Demand: The overall increase in cyberattacks and emerging risks such as harvest now, decrypt later (HNDL) attacks will further underscore the continued importance of cybersecurity skills. Upskilling won't end with ai. Each new wave of technology will demand new skills, so lifelong learners will thrive. ai will not be isolated for use among technology professionals. The democratization of ai technology and the proliferation of ai agents have already made ai skills the current priority. Looking ahead, the demand for quantum skills will begin to increase with the constant advancement of technology. Meanwhile, cybersecurity skills are a constant need.
—Lydia Logan, vice president of global education and workforce development, IBM

In 2025, K-12 schools will continue to undergo significant transformations driven by ai, IoT, and biometric authentication. ai will significantly improve school cybersecurity by automating threat detection and response, as well as introducing risks, such as ai-powered cyberattacks. Schools are adopting more advanced ai security tools to manage these threats, balancing real-time protection with privacy concerns. However, IoT adoption will require robust security protocols to prevent vulnerabilities, including network segmentation and careful management of vendors. Biometric technologies, such as facial and fingerprint recognition, will be deployed more widely for security and authentication, streamlining processes such as student registration and building access. As biometrics merge with ai and IoT, privacy and data protection will be critical, requiring schools to ensure compliance with privacy regulations and secure handling of biometric data. Overall, as technologies evolve, K-12 schools must carefully balance innovation with privacy and security to improve security, optimize operations, and create safer, more personalized learning environments for students and staff.
–Jason Martin, chief technology officer, Incident CI

K-12 schools faced an onslaught of cybersecurity attacks in 2024, demonstrating why it is so important to develop the US cybersecurity workforce. Addressing this starts with cybersecurity education from kindergarten to 12th grade. , improving skills and intersectoral collaboration. We have seen firsthand how education systems have forged stronger partnerships with industry partners and workforce development organizations to pool resources and intelligence. In 2025, we will continue to see local law enforcement step up their involvement to curb these types of attacks, working alongside schools to improve security protocols and respond quickly to incidents. This proactive approach has the potential to reshape the cybersecurity landscape in education, fostering a united front against malicious actors and ensuring our students have the skills, knowledge, and real-world experience to enter cybersecurity careers.
—Laurie Salvailexecutive director, CIBER.ORG

Data and technology policies will be tightened amid growing concerns over student privacy. As K-12 schools increasingly rely on digital tools and cloud-based platforms, districts across the United States are implementing strict data protection measures to safeguard student information. The landscape of student privacy regulations continues to evolve at the state and federal level, highlighting how schools are responding to growing concerns about data collection, storage and sharing practices. In 2025, schools will move beyond collecting data to making it truly actionable. Instead of drowning in spreadsheets, educators will leverage predictive analytics to identify students who need support before they fall behind. The most successful districts will be those that can translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for both teachers and families..
—Joy SmithsonData Science Manager, School status

The threat of ai-powered cyberattacks: Experts believe 2025 could be the year cybercriminals go full throttle with ai. Think about it: As technology advances, cyberattacks powered by ai models could start using deepfakes, enhanced social engineering, and ultra-sophisticated malware. If the Trump administration focuses on cybersecurity primarily for critical infrastructure, private companies could face support gaps, leaving sectors like healthcare and finance alone to keep up with new threats. Without stricter regulations, companies will have to be creative (and fast) in fighting these attacks.
–Alon Yamin, co-founder and CEO, Copies

Related:
25 predictions for ai in 2025

Laura Ascione is the editorial director of eSchool Media. He graduated from the prestigious Philip Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

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