Cybersecurity Return on Investment: What K–12 Districts Should Measure

Metrics Tied to Risk Management Frameworks

Meghan Steele, vice president of U.S. public sector at Cisco, says embedding cybersecurity metrics into broader risk management framework allows IT teams to connect security investments directly to operational resilience.

This helps district leaders show that cybersecurity spending protects instructional continuity, reduces downtime and strengthens long-term readiness against evolving threats.

“K–12 districts should connect technical security metrics directly to the outcomes that matter to superintendents and school boards, enabling and supporting their educational missions within the boundaries of the resource constraints they face,” Steele explains. 

For example, dramatically reducing phishing click rates cuts the risk of ransomware attacks that can bring classroom activities to a halt, while faster incident prevention and containment minimize downtime and keep learning environments stable.

RELATED: K–12 districts fight phishing threats.

“Translating technical data into the language of educational impact — such as fewer class interruptions and protected student data — means districts can show that cybersecurity investments actively support uninterrupted teaching and learning,” Steele says.

She explains that this approach creates a shared understanding between senior leaders and security teams — and the educators they both support — that security and resilience are foundational to maintaining safe, reliable and effective educational operations.

“Ultimately, tying metrics to real-world outcomes builds trust and aligns cybersecurity efforts with district priorities,” she says. 

Building a Framework for Cybersecurity Reporting

Steele says districts can build a practical cybersecurity ROI framework by aligning their security investments with recognized frameworks such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, which emphasizes continuous risk management and improvement rather than simple compliance.

“It’s important to focus on measurable outcomes such as reduced incident response times, improved threat detection and enhanced operational resilience,” she explains.

Demonstrating year-over-year risk posture improvement involves integrating tools that complement each other to reduce complexity and enable clear visibility into security maturity. 

“A strategic, framework-driven approach enables districts to show real security value beyond just increased spending,” Steele says.

Multifactor Authentication and Phishing Metrics Show Success

Vermont is using specific operational metrics to measure whether cybersecurity investments are reducing risk across its K–12 school districts, says Lisa Helme, education programs division director at the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE).

The state focuses on indicators that reflect real improvements in security posture, particularly staff training, multifactor authentication adoption and incident readiness. Adoption of MFA has been one of the clearest measures of progress.

“In 2021, 35% of our school districts had MFA in place, compared with 79% today,” Helme says. The increase significantly reduces the risk of compromised accounts, one of the most common entry points for attackers.

The state also tracks whether districts have formal breach response plans, which define how to identify assets, evaluate exposure and respond to incidents. “In 2022 only 26% of our districts had any kind of a breach plan in place,” she says. “Today we’re at 58%.”

DISCOVER: See how K–12 districts can collaborate for greater cyber resilience.

Phishing simulations provide another key metric. Vermont deployed a statewide security awareness platform that allows districts to test and improve staff behavior. After running 214 awareness education campaigns and conducting 300 phishing simulations, the results show measurable improvement.

“When they first started, they had an open rate for these phishing emails of just over 32%, and that’s now dropped to 18%,” Helme says. “But that’s still too high.”

More encouraging, perhaps: The 44% open rate in another case has now dropped to 2%.

Firewalls and Artificial Intelligence–Driven Automation

Steele suggests districts focus on operational improvements such as streamlining security policies, optimizing firewall rules and leveraging AI-driven automation to dramatically enhance security posture.

Simplifying and consolidating toolsets reduces complexity and alert fatigue, allowing security teams to focus on real threats.

Steele also recommends investing in continuous monitoring and proactive policy management for stronger, measurable improvements in real-world security outcomes.

“Rather than simply acquiring more tools, these practical changes can increase protection and operational efficiency,” she says. 

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Cybersecurity Improvement Reduces Cyber Insurance Premiums

Helme says cyber insurance requirements have become one of the most effective ways for IT leaders to demonstrate cybersecurity ROI to superintendents and school boards, because coverage and premiums are directly tied to measurable security practices.

“Cyber insurance is something that works to an IT manager’s advantage,” she says. “A superintendent is looking at the cost of doing business. To get the lowest cyber insurance rates, they understand they must have operational tools in place to protect their school networks.”

Those requirements make cybersecurity investments easier to justify as essential operational costs rather than discretionary spending.

The AOE has also helped districts strengthen their case by supporting formal cybersecurity policy development, giving IT leaders a clearer framework for communicating risks and needs to decision-makers.

“We’ve tried to give districts an example of good policy and facilitate conversations of how they get before their school board,” she says, noting districts that present clear policies and metrics to school boards often see stronger institutional support.