Education


IS THE EDUCATION SECTOR PREPARED FOR CYBERATTACKS?


According to a new report from KnowBe4, most educational institutions lack resources for robust and comprehensive cybersecurity programmes.


T


he education sector was the most targeted industry for cyberattacks in 2024, according to several reports, including one from Check Point Research. Te sector has also seen


a stark increase in cyberattacks. Against this backdrop, KnowBe4 has released its own report: From Primary Schools to Universities, Te Global Education Sector is Unprepared for Escalating Cyber Attacks. Te report highlights that primary and higher education


institutions depend extensively on third-party vendors for services such as soſtware-as-a-service, cloud storage, and IT support. Tis reliance introduces a risk, as vulnerabilities or breaches within these third-party systems may impact all institutions using the services, oſten remaining unnoticed. An attacker’s search for an open door is helped by the fact that


with limited resources and increasing demands for modernisation, schools and universities oſten mix modern and legacy IT systems, which can leave highly sensitive personal information on outdated and exploitable systems. In its 2024 Data Breach Investigation Report (DBIR), Verizon


examined 30,458 security incidents in total, of which 10,626 were confirmed data breaches. Of these, 1,780 incidents (17%) were attacks against the education system, 1,537 (14%) with confirmed


24 | March/April 2025


data disclosure; a figure that put education in the top five of all industries breached globally. In 2023, Trustwave researchers monitored 352 ransomware


claims against educational institutions. Phishing stood out in the Trustwave study as the most commonly exploited method for gaining an initial foothold in an organisation. KnowB4’s report demonstrates the significant impact of security


awareness training on reducing human risk in educational institutions. Employee susceptibility to phishing attacks dropped dramatically from 33.4% to 3.9% in small educational institutions aſter one year or more of sustained training and simulated phishing evaluations. “Today’s classroom environment is becoming ever more digital,


increasing the attack surface of educational institutions and creating an unprecedented level of cyber risk,” said Stu Sjouwerman, CEO, KnowBe4. “Educational institutions have inadvertently become prime targets for sophisticated threat actors due to an overall lack of resources. Te most concrete, effective step that an educational institution can take to secure vital and sensitive data is to ensure that all individuals who access IT systems are equipped with the proper tools, education and awareness to protect against cyber threats and reduce human risk.”


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