3 essential security tips, latest cyber regulations, positive boardsmanship and more
Cybersecurity starts with your board — Are you prepared?
As Cybersecurity Awareness Month approaches in October, it’s the perfect time for leaders to strengthen their commitment to safeguarding sensitive data and protecting the trust placed in our organizations. Whether you’re guiding a school board or leading local government, knowing and practicing robust cyber principles is essential.
Our featured guides this month, the Guide to a more cyber-savvy school board and Modern cybersecurity for local governments: Best practices and next steps, offer actionable insights, shared security standards and practical steps to create a culture of cyber resilience. By preparing now and aligning everyone with the “rules of the road,” we can reduce risks and ensure continuity in the face of evolving cyber challenges.
New episodes of our Leading with purpose podcast: Financial and risk oversight
Listen to Dr. Chad Bledsoe, President of Montgomery Community College and Scott Bridgen, General Manager, Audit and Risk at Diligent in new episodes of our Leading with purpose podcast talking about financial oversight and risk management and what that means for public facing boards.
Find links to both podcasts here (and wherever you find your podcasts).
Diligent Community: 3 essential security tips
Strengthen your organization's data protection and boost security in Diligent Community by following these best practices:
- Distribute confidential board materials only via Diligent Community. Avoid using email or unauthorized platforms, and ensure critical security features like role-based access controls, single sign-on (SSO), two-factor authentication (2FA), detailed audit logs, and encrypted storage are fully enabled.
- Regularly meet with your IT department to review and align on security policies, including robust password standards and scheduled password resets for all users to safeguard against cyber threats.
- Frequently audit your user list, device connections and credentials. Remember to promptly remove access for board and committee members whose roles have recently changed to maintain a secure environment.
Strengthening security: How Visalia Unified School District elevated protection with Diligent Community
Transitioning to digital board packet management was a game-changer for Visalia Unified School District's information security. By using Diligent Community, the district was able to securely share confidential materials online, eliminating risks tied to physical distribution, and reassuring staff and stakeholders that sensitive data was fully protected.
News & Events
Next Diligent Community webinar: September 25, 2025
Join us September 25th for our next webinar, "Managing budget risk with smart oversight." Panelists in this fireside chat will share strategies and tools needed to manage financial risk effectively with practical insights and actionable steps to ensure your organization’s financial health and stability. Register now!
Upcoming events where you can visit our booth to connect with our team
- 19-21 October 2025: The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) and Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA)
- 20-22 October 2025: The Maryland Association of Boards of Education Annual Conference
- 20-23 October 2025: The New Jersey School Boards Association's (NJSBA) Workshop 2025
- 23-25 October 2025: The 2025 New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) Annual Convention & Education Expo
- 23-26 October 2025: The Michigan Association of School Boards 2025
- 22-26 October 2025: The Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) 69th Annual Fall Conference
More events to attend for the rest of the year.
Upcoming seasonal events to celebrate with your board
- October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Boards play a critical role in protecting their organizations from cyber threats. This month, take time to assess your cybersecurity policies, educate board members on digital risks, and ensure your governance practices support a secure operating environment.
- October 5th is World Teachers’ Day: A moment to honor educators and their vital role in shaping communities. Teachers inspire and guide the next generation, helping create safer, more resilient schools. At Diligent Community, we celebrate those who empower students.
- October 11th is International Day of the Girl: This is an ideal opportunity for boards to champion programs that empower girls through education, leadership and safety. Review your organization’s impact and consider how your board can advocate for greater investment in girls’ futures.
More seasonal events to celebrate with your board.
Celebrating Community Champions
This month’s champion is Melisa Olsen who is Board of Education Specialist at Colorado Springs School District 11. Congratulations Melisa!
Find out more about our champion here.
We would love to hear from you if you think someone should be a Diligent Community Champions. You can nominate them here!
Meet all our Community Champions
Meet Tammy McIvor
This month, for our People of Purpose series, we are excited to highlight a dedicated member of our Diligent Community team who is here to support you.
Tammy McIvor is a Senior Client Advocate on the MDO team. Her story with Diligent began over a decade ago, when she joined iCompass in 2014. When iCompass was acquired by Diligent, Tammy embraced the opportunity to transition into a client-facing role, and she’s been thriving ever since.
What's trending
Our pick of the newest and most popular items on our blog this month:
- Creating a positive board culture in challenging times
- Cybersecurity regulations: What public facing boards need to know
- Beyond BoardDocs: Why and how Diligent is investing in the future of governance for education
- 6 smart ways to use technology to support training for local government council members
Give your feedback and win!
We love to hear what leaders think about issues and key topics that affect mission-driven organizations.
How important is cybersecurity to your board and organization? Take a moment to tell us about this in this month’s survey (and you could win a $50 gift card!).
