Increasing digitization has changed the way educational institutions run today. There is a heightened focus on remote learning and online classes. While online learning brings many benefits to students and teachers alike, it also comes with higher cybersecurity threats.
With networks and infrastructures extending beyond the safe school walls nowadays, cyber-attack threats against educational institutions are on the rise. According to recent Microsoft Intelligence findings, education is the most targeted industry, with nearly 80% of malware encounters in the last 30 days.
Cyber-attacks in educational institutions can not only cause financial loss and disruption but also jeopardize student safety. As such, schools and universities must identify cybersecurity threats and set up a defense mechanism to prevent the threats from materializing.
Critical Cyber Threats to the Education Sector
Here are some common cybersecurity threats plaguing educational institutions in 2024:
Data Breaches
Educational institutions hold a significant amount of sensitive data regarding students, teachers, staff, and parents. These may include their contact information, academic and health records, financial information, social security numbers, etc.
Access to these data without authorization is called a data breach. It is one of the most common cyber incidents.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks
A denial-of-service attack attempts to overwhelm or shut down a network, rendering it unusable to legitimate users. It prevents students from accessing the institute’s network for classes or retrieving educational material or work saved on the cloud.
Such attacks disrupt remote learning, along with affecting the institute’s reputation.
Phishing
Phishing is when attackers send emails or messages, tricking users into revealing personal or confidential information. The malicious messages often appear to come from legitimate sources duping innocent children.
Over 90% of all cyberattacks begin with phishing mail.
Ransomware Attacks
Once cybercriminals get hold of important information or critical files, they exploit the information to make outrageous financial demands as ransom.
Innocent students often fall prey to phishing attacks that can lead to serious ransomware attacks.
Installing Malware
Malware is malicious software designed to infect or damage the system and networks. They can be placed as attachments in phishing emails or viruses inside digital libraries and other unexpected places.
Zoombombing
Zoombombing is a phenomenon in which online video conferencing platforms are interrupted by intruders. They disturb the virtual classes by exposing unwanted and harmful media during ongoing classes or sessions.
How to Combat CyberSecurity Threats in Education Sector?
Conclusion
With attackers getting more sophisticated daily, maintaining the safety and integrity of sensitive data can seem overwhelming. However, educational institutes can deal with security threats by taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity in education.
Robust security policies, access control, constant monitoring of databases and networks, and spreading security awareness can help schools and universities deter cybercriminal incidents.
To know more, please reach out to us now!
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