# Website Design & Communication
Prioritizing Cybersecurity Efforts: What Matters Most for Schools and Municipalities
Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 1 p.m. CT (11 a.m. PT | Noon MT | 2 p.m. ET)
Register to Attend
Schools and municipalities are increasingly targeted by cyber threats, yet most operate with limited budgets and small IT teams. Knowing where to focus your efforts—and how to evaluate vendors—is critical to protecting sensitive data and maintaining community trust.
Join cybersecurity experts, Mike Nowak from CivicPlus and Darien Badillo from Humble ISD, for a practical conversation on how public institutions can take a strategic, resource-conscious approach to prioritizing protections and making informed vendor decisions.
What You’ll Learn
- Why prioritizing cybersecurity is essential for safeguarding public trust and operations
- The most critical protections to implement when resources are limited
- How to assess vendors effectively and ensure they meet your institution’s needs
- Practical steps to maximize impact with limited budgets and staff capacity
Meet Your Speakers:
Security Analyst III
CivicPlus Security Analyst III Mike Nowak has over 15 years of Information Security and Information Technology experience, with concentrations in the public sector. Mike joined CivicPlus in 2021 and has helped CivicPlus ensure compliance and security for our customers and employees. Mike holds multiple security certifications, including but not limited to CompTIA CASP+, CySA+, and CISSP.
Darien Badillo
Director of Cybersecurity, Humble ISD
Darien is an experienced cybersecurity leader with a proven ability to develop and execute comprehensive security strategies. With a unique background that includes over 13 years of service across the military and law enforcement, as well as critical roles in tech and critical infrastructure, he brings a diverse and unparalleled perspective to the field. Dedicated to driving proactive security initiatives, Darien excels at bridging the gap between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders to minimize risk, protect organizational assets, and secure against evolving threats. Darien holds a master’s degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance along with multiple security certifications including CASP+ and CISSP.