SECURITY
Education is failing on cybersecurity – and we are all responsible for letting it happen
E
ducation Today hears from Tony Anscombe, Chief Security Evangelist at
ESET.
HWhen schools and universities make headlines, it should be for their students’ achievements – not for another ransomware attack that forces classrooms and campuses to shut down. Across the world, the education sector has become one of the most frequent targets and, in the UK, the recent cyber attack on Higham Lane School is another stark reminder of just how damaging these incidents can be. This shouldn’t surprise us, as schools are responsible for huge amounts of sensitive personal, research and financial data. With limited budgets and scarce specialist expertise, they can struggle to build a robust defense, creating an attractive opportunity for attackers seeking high- value returns.
Cancelled classes and seminars. Frozen learning platforms. Compromised student and staff data. For smaller institutions, the damage can be existential, ranging from reputational harm and financial loss to the possibility of shutting their doors for good. In a recent UK government survey, 60% of schools confirmed they had suffered an attack or breach over the past 12 months. This isn’t a one-off trend as 73% of UK
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education institutions reported to have suffered at least one cyber incident in the past five years – with one in five hit three or more times. The education sector is also heavily reliant on third-party cloud-based solution providers that have a proven track record in student information systems, learning management systems, curriculum management as well as back office financial and HR services. Meanwhile, institutions often rely on communication systems which, if compromised, could result in serious disruption and concern among parents.
The prevention gap
Too many educational organisations operate in a “we are not a target” mode. Due to the lack of resources, they only patch when absolutely critical, on a cadence that gives bad actors the opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities. Staff training sessions, held once a year to meet compliance requirements, are seen as a burden, taking valuable time away from teaching and stretching already overworked staff. Meanwhile, cybercriminal groups are scanning for weaknesses every minute of every day. Yet a third still lack basic protections such as antivirus software (33%) and strong password policies (35%) This posture is reckless. Prevention-first does
February 2026
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