Cyberattacks don’t just happen to businesses—practically every sector is a potential target, and the education realm is no different. Daily cyber threats are the new reality for all educational establishments, with threats like ransomware, malware, and phishing attempts putting your crucial data and operations at risk.
For example, ransomware can make its way into critical systems and networks with devastating results. Lost learning time, hefty ransom payments, and leaking of private data are just a few of the consequences a successful ransomware attack can wreak on schools, districts, and universities.
Huntress monitors your systems in real time with a dedicated team of 24/7 security experts that address potential threats as they occur; we provide proactive remediation and instant alerts to any situations that need your attention.
Old infrastructure and untrained staff are just a few of the factors that can make you vulnerable to an attack. Let Huntress help you prevent intrusions and keep your schools safe.
The percent of higher-education institutions compromised by ransomware attacks in 2023.
The potential loss of learning time after a school suffers a cyberattack.
The number of cyberattacks each year across the nation, affecting 108 school districts in 2023.
The estimated cost to schools in downtime and recovery due to cyberattacks.
Educational institutions have been a favorite target for hackers since the first days of cross-campus networks. These threats show no signs of slowing down.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for educational institutions to have limited budgets and resources allocated to in-house cybersecurity measures. This often makes them softer targets—especially when compared to large businesses and corporations—because they tend to have weaker defenses and outdated systems that are much easier to exploit.
Most schools and colleges have a distributed IT environment with many endpoints (i.e., computers in classrooms, administrative offices, libraries, and personal devices), making it challenging to fully secure every device and network. The shift to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of online platforms and tools even more, creating more opportunities for cyberattacks.
Put simply, cybercriminals typically seek out the easiest targets with the highest potential yield of results. Higher education and K-12 school districts possess tons of student and employee information cyberattackers find valuable, including personal information, addresses and phone numbers, financial information, and in some cases, health info. Hackers can then sell off the information to others who may want to use school data to locate, harass, or even dox parents, students, and faculty.
Let Huntress Managed EDR take on the burden of cybersecurity in education. Our dedicated Security Operations Center constantly monitors your network environment and systems for malicious activity with 24/7 detection and response. If anything suspicious is detected, our team will investigate, contain, and eliminate the threat, followed by a guided cleanup and recovery process, if needed. Bolster your defense even further by taking advantage of our engaging Security Awareness Training that teaches staff, administration, and students to identify and report cyber threats as they occur, preventing potential attacks before they even have a chance to get off the ground.
First, schools and colleges have a lot of valuable info like student records and financial data that hackers want to get their hands on. Plus, many educational institutions don't have the newest tech or enough resources to protect against cyber threats, which makes them easier targets. Also, with so many devices and open access for students and staff, it's tough to keep everything secure. Ransomware attacks can hit schools hard financially and disrupt their day-to-day operations, so cybercriminals see them as a way to make money fast.
The main cyber threats to schools and districts include ransomware, phishing, and social engineering. Phishing is especially common in education, targeting both students and faculty. It involves deceptive emails or messages that prompt recipients to click a link or share sensitive information under false pretenses. For example, attackers might impersonate school leadership, urging users to click a link and log in to resolve an issue or claim a reward, leading them to a fake website that steals their login credentials so they can then launch a ransomware attack or sell their access on the dark web.
Teachers face cyber risks primarily through phishing and weak passwords. They may lack awareness of current threats and best practices, making them targets for ransomware and data breaches. For instance, if teachers are not cautious about opening attachments or clicking on links in emails, they could inadvertently trigger a ransomware infection.
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