I am a strong believer that understanding cybersecurity as part of an organization-wide process is of the utmost importance. Cybersecurity awareness professionals are critically aware that to improve the security posture of an organization, one must involve many stakeholders, e.g., management, HR, IT, legal and compliance. Higher education is making important strides in improving cybersecurity readiness, but much is yet to be done.

The education industry is facing a growing threat from malicious cyberattackers, both external and internal. According to the Cyber Attack Trends report by Check Point Research, the education and research industry suffered from 44% more cyberattacks in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Therefore, cybersecurity in the academic industry is of paramount importance now.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, K-12 school districts are harnessing the power of technology to transform education. The widespread adoption of Chromebooks has revolutionized the learning process, providing students with tools for collaboration, research and creativity. However, along with these advancements come unprecedented cybersecurity challenges that demand a comprehensive strategy.

IT administrators and security teams are back to school and busy preparing for new students and new challenges. Technology is now an integral part of K-12 education — since the pandemic, ChromeOS devices like Chromebooks have revolutionized the learning experience, enabling students and educators to access a wealth of resources and collaborate seamlessly from almost anywhere, evolving the way students learn and teachers teach.

Like other under-resourced organizations, schools face cyber attacks from malicious actors that can impact their ability to safely perform their basic function: teach children. Schools face email, phishing, and ransomware attacks that slow access and threaten leaks of confidential student data. And these attacks have real effects. In a report issued at the end of 2022, the U.S.

The University of California, or UCLA, is a public university in Los Angeles, California. The school serves approximately 32,000 students each term and is well-known as a leading public University in the United States. The school was the target of a recent cyber attack linked back to the C10P ransomware gang that likely exposed students and staff members to significant data loss.