CYBER SECURITY
Beyond the vast amount of personal information held, schools and universities will also often house valuable intellectual property and research data, making them lucrative targets for cyber espionage. All of this exists in an environment where many educational institutions are operating with very tight budgets. This limits their ability to invest in the advanced cybersecurity infrastructure and dedicated IT security personnel they really need.
A picture of cybersecurity incidents in education In recent years there have been several significant cyber incidents that highlight the need for improved cybersecurity measures in the education sector.
In February 2023, for example, Munster Technological University in Ireland suffered a ransomware attack that led to the closure of its Cork campuses. Russian cybercrime group BlackCat demanded a significant ransom, threatening to publish stolen data. The university refused to pay and over 6GB of sensitive data, including personal information such as medical records and student bank account details, was released on the dark web. This breach disrupted academic operations and raised very public concerns about the security of educational institutions. In late 2024, the University of the West of Scotland suffered a cyberattack by the Rhysida ransomware group, resulting in the exposure of over a million personal documents. The attack exacerbated the university’s existing financial challenges, leading to a £14.4 million deficit and a significant drop in student enrolment.
More recently In January 2025, Blacon High School in Cheshire was victim of a ransomware attack that forced the school to close for two days. The ransomware compromised the school’s IT systems, rendering them inaccessible, so staff and students were unable to use critical resources.
Also in January 2025, PowerSchool, a prominent education sector software provider serving numerous K-12 school districts in the United States, experienced a data breach. The incident compromised sensitive information of students and teachers, raising concerns about identity theft and the adequacy of vendor security practices.
Real-world attack simulations
To better address these cyber security challenges, educational institutions must adopt proactive cybersecurity strategies. One effective method involves implementing real-world attack simulations through penetration testing techniques. These simulations involve experts carrying out authorised attempts to exploit vulnerabilities within an institution’s network, which provides invaluable insights into potential security weaknesses.
Penetration testing simulations, often called ‘Red Teaming’, help to uncover hidden weaknesses in systems, applications and network configurations that likely would not have been detected through
standard security assessments.
By experiencing simulated attacks, IT teams will also be able to refine their incident response protocols, reducing reaction times and mitigating potential damage during actual cyber incidents.
These exercises also serve as educational tools, increasing cybersecurity awareness among staff and students, and helping to foster a culture of vigilance.
Regular testing also helps ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Many data protection laws and standards, like GDPR or ISO 27001, emphasise the need for periodic risk assessments and proactive security measures. These efforts will also reassure stakeholders, such as students, parents and staff, that their sensitive data is always handled with the utmost care.
Implementing effective cybersecurity measures Beyond attack simulations, it is important that educational institutions implement a multifaceted approach to cybersecurity, including comprehensive risk assessments. They should aim to carry out regular evaluations to identify and prioritise potential threats, which will help ensure resources are allocated to address the most critical vulnerabilities. Maintaining an up-to-date inventory of all digital assets will also support this since it provides a clear picture of what needs protection. Access management will play a vital role in reducing potential attacks. Educational institutions must adopt strict access policies, ensuring that users only have the minimum permissions needed to effectively do their jobs. The use of multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security, while regular reviews help revoke access for individuals who no longer require it, such as former students or staff. Deploying advanced monitoring tools to detect unusual activities in real-time, enabling swift responses to potential security incidents, is another must-have in any educational institution’s cybersecurity arsenal. Ongoing cybersecurity training programmes, educating users about best practices, phishing recognition and the importance of strong passwords, for example, are also crucial.
Be sure to establish and regularly update incident response plans, ensuring that stakeholders understand their roles during a cyber incident to minimise confusion and downtime.
The evolving threat landscape means educational institutions must adopt proactive and comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. By understanding the unique challenges, they face and properly implementing measures such as real-world attack simulations, schools and universities will better protect their communities and maintain trust. As cyber threats continue to grow in frequency and sophistication, a commitment to continuous improvement and vigilance is essential to safeguard the future of education.
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www.education-today.co.uk
April 2025
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