I.T. Security

Welcome to the Office of I.T. Security

Computer secured with padlock and defense shield

Our Mission


The mission of the I.T. Security department is to protect and secure the data under the care of the School District of Philadelphia. By enabling staff and students to leverage innovative technology in a safe and secure manner, we hope to empower our community and provide a quality education.

Educational institutions are top targets for cyberattacks, with bad actors looking to exploit schools for their own profit. As one of the largest K-12 Districts in the nation, the School District of Philadelphia users have a responsibility to always practice safe cyber habits to protect their District accounts, the SDP network, the systems they use, and the secure data they access.

Cyber Safety Tips


  • Set strong passwords, change them regularly, and don’t share them with anyone. Consider using a passphrase (an easy to remember sequence of words) for added security.
  • Avoid using the same passwords across multiple accounts. If one account is compromised, all accounts with the same password are affected.
  • Enroll in Multi-Factor Authentication for an added layer of security. Learn about the District’s MFA tool, Duo Security, here.
  • Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software up to date by installing updates. Making sure all software is up to date helps your applications run as intended and can combat new vulnerabilities.
  • Maintain an open dialogue with your friends, family, colleagues, and community about internet safety. Remember, digital citizenship extends beyond the workplace.
  • Use privacy settings and limit the amount of personal information you post online.
  • Be cautious about offers online – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. SDP users should report suspicious emails for security scanning by forwarding the message to abuse@philasd.org.

Consult Google’s policy resources to learn more about cybersecurity best practices for K-12 schools.

Report a Problem


See a suspicious email?

The I.T. Security team utilizes an email security tool which is integrated with SDP Gmail. Report suspected spam or malicious emails by forwarding the message to our Abuse Reporting Mailbox at abuse@philasd.org. This will automatically scan the email to detect any threats, respond with the scan results to you and the SDP I.T. Security team, and take steps if necessary to remove the email from your and any other District user’s inbox.

Need to create an I.T. Help Desk ticket?

The I.T. Help Desk is the central point of contact where employees and District partners can report information technology problems to our prompt, knowledgeable, and courteous technical support team.

Contact the Help Desk by telephone, via email, or through the self-servicing portal.

Hours: 7:30 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Phone: 215-400-5555
Email: HelpDesk@philasd.org

Cybersecurity emergency?

For immediate response during an emergency, contact the Office of I.T. Security directly at 215-400-4480. Please only call this number from a District extension to avoid being flagged as spam.