Securenet Communication Solutions

The education sector is mired in challenges related to staff shortages, lack of funding and resources, and the changing needs of young students. But the most pressing area that requires immediate intervention is security. As technology is gradually becoming an integral part of the way education is delivered, it has made the sector more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. According to official government statistics, half (50%) of higher education institutions and three in ten further education colleges (31%) reported experiencing breaches or attacks at least weekly (Source). Although ransomware is one of the most common types of cyber-attacks, security breaches that compromise student privacy are the most dangerous. Whether it’s schools, colleges, or universities, security must be the prime focus of all educational institutions. 

The Biggest Cyber Threats Against Educational Institutions

An audit conducted by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in 2022 revealed that the most common types of cyber attacks that educational institutes are vulnerable to are ransomware and phishing, malware, and spoofing. Due to staff shortages, teachers and other members of staff do not have time to carefully check their emails and prevent phishing and ransomware attacks. Hackers use false profiles and send genuine-looking emails containing malware, which when opened by anyone in the school system helps them gain access to sensitive information about the school, the teachers, and the students. 

The Best Ways To Prevent Cyber Attacks In Educational Settings

Awareness and education are key to preventing security breaches in schools and colleges. Teachers must encrypt their data, practice good password management, back up their data, and follow all the cybersecurity protocols set out for their institution. Parents of young students also have a critical role to play in reducing the incidence of cybersecurity breaches in the education sector. They must monitor their child’s online activities from time to time and maintain open communication with them. Young students must also be educated about protecting their identity and location online and taught how to create strong passwords. 

Sometimes, despite all the precautions, hackers are still able to breach security measures and gain access to a large pool of sensitive data about the students. This can cost educational institutions thousands of pounds and lead to a loss of reputation. Hence, it is advisable to hire a professional cybersecurity expert who can take care of all aspects of securing the system at school. They can set up multi-factor authentication to restrict access to the system, practice good cybersecurity hygiene by taking care of patch management software, antivirus, and firewall management, and update the network design to keep up with the evolving network requirements.

Cybersecurity in education needs to be a priority and necessity. Educational institutes must work with network security experts to devise tailored cybersecurity plans to prevent the cyber attacks they are most vulnerable to. 

SecureNet Communications is an experienced cybersecurity expert who can help educational institutes with their cybersecurity requirements. Get in touch with our friendly team by calling +44 1442 927002 or emailing us at info@securenetcoms.co.uk.