Protecting Educational Integrity
Introducing Our Comprehensive Educational Cyber Security Solutions
At the heart of the educational landscape, where safeguarding sensitive data is paramount, our cutting edge Education Cyber Security Solution stands as the guardian of academic institutions. Customised exclusively for the education sector, this innovative solution fortifies your digital infrastructure, ensuring confidentiality, integrity and resilience against cyber threats.
Unmatched Proficiency, Unrivaled Innovation
Supported by extensive industry experience, our team of cyber security specialists merges expertise with state-of-the-art technology to deliver an Education Cyber Security Solution that redefines digital defense standards.
Entrust us with securing your educational journey, allowing you to concentrate on what truly counts - providing exceptional learning experiences.
Data Protection
Employing cutting edge encryption techniques & access controls to ensure the confidentiality & integrity of student records, research & admin information
Threat Detection & Response
Proactive threat detection & response, essential for maintaining a secure & protected learning environment
BYOD Security
Robust BYOD security protocols, enabling educational institutions to embrace mobile learning initiatives while safeguarding against security risks
Compliance Assurance
Comprehensive compliance assurance capabilities, including audit trails, policy enforcement & automated reporting
Content Management
Digital monitoring for delivering a seamless experience while mitigating security risks, cyber bullying & significantly more
Why do Cybercriminals Target the Education Industry?
Educational institutions rank high on cybercriminals' hit list. Alongside healthcare, finance and retail, the education sector faces a relentless barrage of cyber attacks.
The education sector stands as a prime target for cyber threats due to its wealth of valuable data, coupled with a lack of cyber risk awareness and widespread vulnerabilities.
Educational institutions are prime targets for cyber attacks, primarily due to the vast amounts of personal student data they handle, including student loan information and confidential research data.
From local nurseries to internationally acclaimed universities, all educational organisations maintain records of enrolled learners, often containing personally identifiable information.
Larger organisations tend to store more records, but they also face greater cybersecurity challenges and may struggle with security infrastructure.
Universities, in particular, conduct valuable research, making them targets for cyber theft. Without adequate cybersecurity measures, this intellectual property becomes vulnerable to data breaches.
Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities to steal intellectual property for profit on the dark web or ransom it through ransomware attacks.
The education sector, constrained by funding limitations, often lags in adopting modern cyber security solutions. Public schools, reliant on government funding, face budget constraints, prioritising staff salaries and infrastructure over cyber security.
However, this neglect leaves educational institutions vulnerable to cyber threats, as attackers target those with weaker defences.
Protect your institution with CYB3R's tailored cyber security solutions, defending against evolving threats in the digital landscape.
44%
More cyber attacks than the previous year in the education sector
+2300
Cyber attacks against educational organisations were reported weekly
75%
Of attacks were from external sources, while the remainder involved insiders
95%
Of attacks in the education sector
involved a financial motive
Protect your data from threats with powerful and reliable intelligent cyber software solutions
Significant Educational Institution Cyber Attacks
While not as prominent in headlines as breaches in other sectors, educational organisations are prime targets for today's cybercriminals, constantly facing cyber attacks and breaches.
Cyber security threats pose significant challenges for the education sector worldwide, with institutions of all sizes experiencing attacks of varying severity and cost. These incidents often result in class disruptions, substantial remediation costs, damage to reputation and concerns about future security.
Following a cyber attack, educational leaders undergo scrutiny from faculty, students, and public officials.
Here’s an overview of recent notable attacks that have affected schools, colleges, universities, libraries and their affiliates, underscoring the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures in the education sector.
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On 29th October 2023, the British Library announced via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that it faced an IT outage. Two days later, on 31st October, it confirmed a cyber attack, collaborating with the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and law enforcement for investigation.
While initially limited in details, the shutdown of multiple systems hinted at a ransomware attack. By mid-November, the British Library confirmed it.
Subsequently, the Rhysida ransomware gang claimed responsibility, leaking internal documents, possibly including employee passports and contracts, on the dark web. They initiated a week-long auction for the stolen data, valuing it at 20 bitcoin, approximately £600,000.
By the end of November, Rhysida confirmed the theft and leaked nearly 573GB of data, primarily from the British Library’s CRM database, containing personal details of readers and visitors. Financial data remained unaffected.
Cyberattack Type: Ransomware
Location: Unted Kingdom
Cost: +500,000 files leaked -
In June 2020, a cyber attack using NetWalker ransomware targeted the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) medical school, leading to the encryption of data on the school's servers.
A tip-off to the BBC enabled journalists to monitor the university's ransom discussions. Following negotiations, the cybercriminals agreed to a payment of $1,140,895, equivalent to 116.4 bitcoins. In return, UCSF received decryption software to regain access to its data.
Cyberattack Type: Ransomware
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost: $1.14 million -
In May 2020, Michigan State University faced a cyber attack using NetWalker ransomware. A dispute ensued regarding responsibility. The university's IT department pointed fingers at the physics department's IT staff, alleging failure to patch a virtual private network (VPN). Conversely, the physics department's IT team cited resource constraints and lack of guidance from the central IT department.
Upon the breach's revelation, the university opted not to pay the ransom. It responded by centralising IT resources and implementing further safeguards. These measures include managing VPNs through the central IT department, deploying multi-factor authentication, and tightening user access controls.
Cyberattack Type: Ransomware
Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Cost: $1 million -
In January 2022, cyber attackers directed their efforts towards the school management platform, Illuminate Education. They successfully breached a database housing personal data of over 820,000 current and former students of New York City. As a result, the online grading and attendance system of the New York public school system remained offline for several weeks.
Following this incident, various government bodies launched investigations into Illuminate Education's handling of the breach. They scrutinised whether affected individuals were promptly notified in accordance with state breach notification regulations. Additionally, officials requested an audit of the company's cybersecurity measures, seeking insights into its efforts to enhance its security programme.
Cyberattack Type: Not disclosed
Location: New York City, USA
Cost: 820,000 people affected -
A ransomware incident targeted Finalsite, a web hosting service catering to the education sector, causing the websites of around 5,000 schools and colleges to go offline.
Although the company identified the assailant, they opted not to disclose their identity or the method used to breach their defences. Additionally, Finalsite neither confirmed nor denied if they or their insurance provider paid any ransom. They assured that the attack did not compromise any school data.
Cyberattack Type: Ransomware
Location: Glastonbury, CT, USA
Cost: 5,000 schools & colleges -
In April 2021, a cyber assault severely disrupted operations at the University of Hertfordshire, impacting all computer systems, including cloud-based platforms like Office 365, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.
Following the incident, most classes resumed within five days, and access to the university's IT infrastructure and cloud-based services was swiftly restored.
Cyberattack Type: Unknown
Location: Hatfield, England
Cost: Not disclosed
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