Education Today Education Today Magazine
Educational institutions, tasked with safeguarding sensitive data and critical systems, find themselves at cybersecurity impasse, often unprepared for the scale and complexity of the threats they face – and the data proves this.
According to Sophos’ State of Ransomware in Education report, 63% of lower education and 66% of higher education institutions were hit by ransomware in the past year. The cost of recovery paints an even bleaker picture, skyrocketing to an average of £2.98 million per attack.
Despite these alarming figures, many schools and universities continue to operate without the tools that will equip them to deal with the ever-evolving threat landscape.
Higher Stakes, Worsening Threats
Many education organizations have a sprawling, disconnected IT estate featuring a variety of devices and computers. As new devices are continually added to a network, potential threats are created.
But in the education space, a connected network of devices isn’t limited to just desktop computers and local servers. Any device that connects to the school’s Wi-Fi network, be that laptop, mobile phone, or interactive printer counts. If just one of these devices is not secure and up to date, threat actors have a vulnerability to exploit.
For universities, the stakes go beyond operational disruption if a cyber criminal does gain access. Reputation is business critical, especially when attracting international students who account for significant revenue streams. One lone cyberattack can compromise sensitive research data and intellectual property, expose personal information, and erode trust—issues that take years to repair.
Meanwhile, schools and colleges face their own challenges. Limited IT staff often rely on basic endpoint solutions that struggle to keep pace with today’s sophisticated threats. Rising operational costs, including higher energy bills and reduced government funding, add further financial strain, leaving IT teams scrambling to protect systems with fewer resources.
The problem is clear: educational institutions need robust cybersecurity solutions that address these threats without exceeding their budgets. The solution lies in scalable, proactive, and collaborative approaches to cybersecurity.
Staying Ahead of Adversaries
A reactive approach to cybersecurity has never worked. With 95% of ransomware attackers attempting to compromise backups—and 71% succeeding—schools and universities must shift strategies.
Some practical steps that can be taken include:
- Regular risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited
- Comprehensive training programs for staff and students to not only recognize and phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics, but to know how to alert security teams early
- Incident response planning, so IT teams are prepared to act quickly and effectively during an attack
Leveraging threat intelligence tools can also provide educational institutions with real-time insights into emerging threats. But the tools need to extend beyond just threat detection and identification, aspects such as automatic incident response, root cause analysis to identify underlying issues, and security posture recommendations all help to improve an organization’s overall security posture.
Navigating Threats with Scalable Solutions
Schools and universities are not one-size-fits-all operations. Their cybersecurity needs vary widely based on size, infrastructure, and budget. Scalable security solutions are essential to address these diverse requirements while adapting to evolving threats.
By partnering with education-focused vendors, institutions can deploy tailored and flexible protections that strike a balance between affordability and effectiveness. These solutions should integrate seamlessly with existing tools, enabling schools and universities to maximize the value of their current investments.
For many educational institutions, building an in-house security team is simply not feasible. The cost of recruiting, training, and retaining skilled cybersecurity professionals is prohibitive, especially amid a global talent shortage. This is where Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can make a significant impact.
MSPs that specialize in the education sector offer cost-effective solutions and ongoing support, enabling schools and universities to access the latest cybersecurity tools and expertise without breaking the bank. However, educational organizations have specific challenges other businesses may face.
Most schools are closed on weekends, and it is rare that IT teams will be working on site throughout holiday periods, which makes 24/7 threat monitoring and automation an attractive solution. This reduces the time IT teams need to spend on security, which can then be reallocated to improving the overall IT experience for students.
The Path Forward: Achieving Robust Cybersecurity on a Budget
The numbers speak for themselves: only 30% of ransomware victims in education fully recovered within a week, and median ransom payments reached £5.2 million for lower education and £3.5 million for higher education organisations. These figures underscore the urgency for schools and universities to act.
To safeguard their systems without straining budgets, educational institutions should:
- Adopt scalable, flexible security solutions that grow with their needs.
- Invest in proactive measures like risk assessments and training to reduce vulnerabilities.
- Partner with MSPs for affordable access to advanced tools and expertise.
Considering the specific threats – phishing scams targeting teachers, sprawling IT networks, various devices regularly connecting to overburdened systems – schools and universities need support. By focusing on protecting their data, systems, and reputation—schools can remain secure in the face of both growing threats and tightening budgets.
