FEATURE

EDUCATION

How to approach cyberthreats affecting the educational sector

Remote learning is here to stay, and it’s time to make cybersecurity an integral part of the classroom.

The current cybersecurity landscape for schools

Unfortunately, schools tend to have less resources to build and maintain robust cybersecurity, making them an attractive target for cybercriminals. Additionally, schools possess valuable information about students and staff, such as personally identifiable information and bank account details. Because of this, it’s no surprise that behind healthcare and financial institutions, schools are the third most targeted victims of hackers.[1] The most prevalent cyberthreats affecting schools include ransomware and phishing. According to the 2021 Landscape Retrospective report, 52% of cyberattacks in the education sector were caused by ransomware.[2] This vulnerability was likely due to outdated IT systems and lack of awareness about phishing emails. Furthermore, 69% of educational institutions were exposed to a phishing attack in 2021.[2] Tips and best practices

So, what does this mean for your school, and how to stay secure? Here are a few tips to get started.

Back up your data

Stay protected against ransomware by backing up important data with a reliable backup solution. Even if you pay the ransom, restoration of your data is never guaranteed. By saving a copy in a safe place, you can easily retrieve and restore your data in the event of a ransomware attack.

Prioritize cybersecurity training

Avoid successful phishing scams by training your students and staff on how to identify malicious emails. These emails typically impersonate senior staff in order to get confidential information, ask for something with unreasonable urgency, and/or contain suspicious links. Always be sure that the email is from a credible source, and make sure your team is aware of basic cybersecurity best practices.

Implement layered security

It’s important to build layers of security, such as antivirus, firewalls, secure gateways, patching software, and more to build a strong defence. If one layer is compromised, additional layers are in place to ensure your data is safe. Moving forward

Although there have been some risks attached to remote learning, there are also new opportunities. With remote learning, more students can have access to more education — it’s just important to ensure that the online environment is a secure one, much like any physical school building. Not sure where to start? Get a free trial of our integrated security solutions, and experience how Avast Business can keep your school powerfully protected.

Article by Emily Winn Emily Winn is the UK SMB Sales Manager at Avast, a FTSE 100 company with over 30 years experience of safeguarding more than 435 million people worldwide, protecting their digital data, identity, and privacy. Having worked in the cybersecurity industry for over 12 years she has a proven track record for building resilient working relationships in a variety of end user sectors, and also within the partner and distribution channels. Sources [1] FE News [2] Stunited