The security of educational institutions’ data and networks is a growing concern for IT departments, but the reality is that they are not always ready to deal with this issue. The amount of sensitive information stored in educational institutions is growing every year, and universities must invest in highly-rated data centers to protect their information. The following are some of the most common challenges in protecting education data and networks. Here are a few tips for ensuring that your institution stays safe.
Lack of staff and resources. Lack of staff and budget to properly protect education networks. ‘Bring Your Own Device’ culture. Lack of policy on how to use networks. Changing the culture of ‘Bring Your Own Device’ and implementing strict policies on network usage can pose challenges to the security of education networks. However, these issues cannot prevent educational institutions from protecting their networks against cyber attacks and unauthorized access. Therefore, implementing the right policies and technologies to protect educational institutions is critical to ensuring their network is protected.
Data breaches. Many online learning platforms are built on cloud-based solutions. This makes the information available more readily and widely but also presents the risk of security breaches. While these solutions are useful, they can also be vulnerable to cybercriminals, who could use the information to disrupt education processes. Cybercriminals are more sophisticated and innovative than ever, so it is critical to ensure that your organization is adequately protected. In this way, you can better prepare students and staff for future cyber attacks.
Ransomware attacks. The ransomware virus encrypts data files and systems and requires a payment in order to access them. Ransomware is especially difficult to fight in remote environments, because many systems are not automatically patched when they are off the network. Fortunately, the Missouri school district was able to overcome this ransomware attack and move forward with a more secure system. If your school district needs to make a change, a unified platform may be the solution.
The first challenge is the lack of expertise. Unfortunately, most school districts do not have the resources to build a good cybersecurity program. Even if they do have the resources, they often lack the expertise or resources to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity program. Cybercriminals are also increasingly retargeting educational institutions. Until they find the means to hack these institutions, they will keep targeting them. The challenge is clear: cybercriminals will continue to seek the information they can use to harm students.
CISOs must prioritize the security risks of cloud-based applications. In addition, universities must plan security tool updates to keep up with the latest threats. Universities must also control access levels and applications to limit risk. These are just some of the challenges faced by CISOs and their institutions. The list goes on. You can learn more about them at the Coursera.one website. There are many others to consider. But, no matter what challenges you face, remember that you are not alone.
