Page 64 - Security Today, November/December 2023

COVER STORY CAUTION OPENING THE DOOR PROTECTING THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR FROM DIGITAL THREATS AUTHOR MARTIN MACKAY IS THE CRO AT VERSA NETWORKS. IMAGE DRAZEN ZIGIC/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM D igital platforms greatly improve the educational experi- ence, but they also open the door to cyberattacks. Recent statistics indicate that nearly half of higher education institutions have fallen victim to some form of cyber- crime in the past year. The education sector can be a prime target for cyber-attacks. Campuses usually have a large number of people (students, fac- ulty and temporary staff) accessing their systems and networks or connecting devices with relatively limited controls imposed. In addition, students often connect their personal mobile phones and laptops to campus networks thus potentially increasing the cybersecurity risk. This is a recipe for disaster when it comes to cybersecurity. KEEPING TRACK OF DEVICES Security teams struggle to keep track of the devices – both school is- sued and BYOD - connecting to campus networks and thus they lose visibility – ultimately creating gaps for cybercriminals to exploit. There is also no easy way to enforce security standards across the diverse devices connecting to the network. The education sector is therefore open to risks ranging from data theft to the exploitation of out-of-date or vulnerable software, all of which put universities’ networks at risk. Furthermore, teachers and students may not be aware or fully understand the risks, to detect and avoid phishing attempts or other types of social engineering – providing another path for cybercriminals to gain access to networks. It is not just limited resources which makes the education sector 20