Cybersecurity For Colleges: four Helpful Suggestions
This is how you make sure your school stays cyber-safe
Phishing attacks target professors, teachers, administrators and students more than ever before. 41% [1] of the cybersecurity breaches in the education sector are caused by social engineering attacks, many of which use credible-looking information to mislead individuals. If social engineers and phishers were in Harry Potter, they would undoubtedly be in the Slytherin house.
Where’s the Patronus Charm when you need it? When phishing attacks infiltrate systems, they often result in the installation of malware. This malware can then allow cybercriminals to spy on specific people, spread a computer virus on a network, steal files, or carry out other types of illegal activity. A cyber attack can cost educational groups up to $ 4.77 million [1] in the renovation fees.
The coronavirus has accelerated the number of cyber attacks on the internet. As the pandemic worsened, schools and universities had to switch to large-scale eLearning platforms. As a result, the education sector saw weekly cyberattacks increase by 30% in 2020 and attacks continued in 2021.
Phishing threat prevention now
Up to 30% [1] of those in the education sector have fallen for phishing programs. Will you, your colleague or your student accidentally launch an attack? Create a bright, secure future for your company. From a cybersecurity perspective, here are 4 key starting points:
1. Make sure you have personally received adequate education on cybersecurity for schools
Internet fraud can change. They are constantly evolving. Do you know the latest hacking tricks? MOOCs can provide basic cybersecurity information, and reputable websites can present updated information on the latest cybersecurity email hoaxes and scams.
Cyber security podcasts can also be a great way to stay up to date on the latest cyber programs. You can listen on the way to work or over dinner in the evening. And if you’re really ambitious, you can get a safety certificate before trying to educate others. Cybersecurity certification programs are available on the Internet.
2. Cyber security training for employees
Up to 90% of data breaches occur due to avoidable human error. Creative cybersecurity training and engagement initiatives can reduce the human-made chaos. Consider holding information dinners or cybersecurity workshops. You can also gamify your training and appoint cybersecurity culture leaders. Your tactic doesn’t have to be magical to work. Regardless of your approach, simply make sure the cybersecurity message is clear.
3rd Increase student knowledge
For younger students, teaching about phishing can be fun. You can use many of the concepts of fishing (water sports) to discuss phishing scams. Hackers, for example, like Fischer, use hooks in their emails. And like certain cultures perhaps from an earlier era, they are spear phishing. A creative lesson plan can make concepts stick. At the end of the day, the only thing to make sure is that phishing is serious.
4th Make sure you have the right cybersecurity setup in place
Up to 71% [1] of groups in the education sector say they are unprepared for cyberattacks. If this is your organization, consider whether or not you are struggling. While your IT team may be very talented, cybersecurity is a uniquely nuanced animal. When it comes to cybersecurity tools, educational institutions should ensure that the following are implemented:
- Antivirus software
When protected with antivirus software, students’ laptops, tablets, and / or other devices are protected from accidental malware downloads. Enabling automatic updates for anti-virus software can also help prevent attacks. - Anti-phishing technologies
Look for anti-phishing technologies that are low maintenance and update automatically. You want an email security solution that competently detects malicious content, uses speech processing techniques, and enables click-through analysis. - Firewall limits
Firewalls can protect school networks from cyber attacks, unauthorized access and harmful content. - Third party audits
Educational institutions should evaluate third-party cybersecurity. The security of a provider can easily affect your security. - System monitoring
Education groups should ensure that IT professionals continuously monitor and analyze the systems for any unusual activity. Strange network behavior can be a warning sign of an impending cyber attack. Consider a DLP strategy and solution. Critical functions include automated data classification, multi-vector flow tracking, and user behavior analysis.
“If in doubt, go to the library,” said Ron Weasley. If so, visit your virtual library (known as Google) for more information on cybersecurity measures for the benefit of educational institutions.
References:
[1] Colleges & Universities: Better results with these security practices
