Schools and non-profits share the same problem when it comes to cybersecurity budgeting: limited resources which forces a choice between staff with the right expertise and effective tools that work for the organisation.
Although cyberattacks on higher education institutions date back years, there has been a spike in university cyberattacks over the last two years. Cybercriminals had taken advantage of the rapid transition to hybrid learning that higher education institutions have been forced to implement before they had time to strengthen their cybersecurity, which has left most of them exposed. This is yet another example of accelerated adoption of new technologies before security measures are in place.
Higher education institutions, like colleges and universities, often work with dozens of third-party vendors, which can introduce considerable security risks if the school doesn't maintain a proper vendor risk management (VRM) program. Compromised third parties can pose serious risks to universities, which can expose sensitive data, disrupt business continuity, or incur serious financial damages.
Data leaks happen when sensitive data or personally identifiable information (PII) is accidentally exposed on the internet or dark web. Typically, data leaks only occur due to poor cyber hygiene, weak network security, or software misconfiguration that can lead to unintended data exposure. Without proper data leak detection processes, cybercriminals and hackers can exploit the exposed data without the organization’s knowledge using open-source intelligence (OSINT).
While online learning provides many positive opportunities for learners and teachers alike, it is more important than ever to strengthen cybersecurity defenses to deal with new and emerging attacks. As school is back in session, now is a good time to double-check that you’re doing everything necessary to keep your data (and your homework) secure online.
For the education sector, data security ranges from the need to protect devices to safeguarding the sensitive information and privacy of its users, including students, their parents, and the institution's staff. Taking into account the current context in which educational centers operate, which involves combining remote learning and in-person teaching, as well as the use of personal devices, we analyze the most common cybersecurity threats affecting the sector.
Keeping track of your assignments in school isn’t easy, but keeping track of your passwords is even harder. Students could benefit from using a password manager because it makes it easy to create, store and secure their passwords, documents and sensitive data all in one place. Read on to learn why a password manager would be useful for students.
NIST Special Publication 800-171 (NIST SP 800-171 or NIST 800-171) is a set of security controls within the NIST Cybersecurity Framework that establishes baseline security standards for federal government organizations. NIST SP 800-171 is mandatory for all non-government organizations operating with federal information systems.
Much of online education directed at students focuses on internet safety and privacy – and rightfully so. But it’s important that equal attention be directed towards teaching the next generation how to keep their accounts and identities safe online.
