How Can Educational Institutions Mitigate Cybersecurity Threats in Education?

As hackers are getting more skilled at their game, it’s high time to step up the efforts for cybersecurity in education.

Unfortunately, the education sector cannot completely eliminate cyber security threats. However, there are certain steps institutes can take to mitigate them:

Have a Strong Security Policy

The first step to mitigating cybersecurity threats is to have a strong security policy. For instance, school networks should block access to all potentially risky sites. Similarly, app downloads by students should also be monitored and restricted.

Cybercriminals often use mobile IoT devices to get inside the institute’s network. These include laptops, desktops, smartphones, or tablets that students use to enhance digital learning.

Hence, educational institutions must include mobile security as a part of their cyber security strategies. IoT device testing and implementing end-to-end encryption can go a long way in preventing attackers from exploiting vulnerable IoT devices.

Implement Access Control

Educational Institutions have an extensive network of students, teachers, and staff. In such a scenario, it is vital to create access control limiting an individual’s access only to programs they need.

Access control has two main benefits. Firstly, it prevents individuals from viewing unauthorized information. Secondly, it limits attackers’ activities if they compromise someone’s account.

Similarly, organizations must also implement security controls for their data stored in the cloud. This not only ensures the integrity of their data but also helps them meet compliance requirements.

Install Anti-Malware Software

Malware can wreak havoc on an organization’s network, damaging files and systems and stealing sensitive information. One cannot stress enough the importance of preventing such attacks.

Therefore, educational institutions should invest in firewalls, intrusion detection, and virus and malware protection systems. It can help protect the network from various attacks, including viruses, worms, spyware, and ransomware.

Update Systems Regularly

You should always ensure that your browsers, applications, and operating systems are running the latest version. This is because the flaws and vulnerabilities of older versions, known as security holes, are more prone to cyber-attacks.

Each update fixes the vulnerabilities of the previous versions and protects against new threats. In addition, they often include security patches that fix security holes and keep hackers at bay.

Backup Your Data

Phishing and malware attacks can cause the loss of data stored on your system. Therefore, always make a copy of your important files and data and store them safely.

It is recommended to have multiple backup plans according to the sensitivity of your data. For instance, you can create cloud backups and also store data in external hardware.

This way, you can easily retrieve original data even if your system becomes a victim of ransomware attacks.

Create an Incidence Response Plan

Whatever the size of the educational institution, it needs to have an incident response plan to recover from security incidents effectively.

A detailed and documented plan will help your IT team and cyber security professionals identify what needs to be done and who needs to be notified to expedite recovery.

Without a response plan, the staff is prone to missteps that can lead to additional fines and legal actions.

Spread Awareness and Conduct Training

Most phishing attacks are geared toward individuals who are less aware of cyber-attacks and security measures. So, it’s essential to engage the school students and staff in awareness programs and train them on the best practices of cybersecurity in education.

Only a well-trained staff can ensure the success of the incident response plans.