Informed by my experience of two significant data breaches at the University of Greenwich, where I am vice-chancellor, this blog describes the most significant cyber security risks and offers advice for senior leaders and board members about how to mitigate cyber threats and the potential impact.. To start, here are the top five cybersecurity threats schools face and how you should prepare: 1. The report is not written from a technical perspective. That said, with a degree in cyber security you’ll set yourself in an endless pool of highly paid jobs and challenging careers. Many of these platforms remain in place for the new academic year. Elsewhere, UK universities in the race to find a vaccine for COVID-19 have found themselves the target of hostile state hackers. The features that help universities to collaborate and thrive, such as open, information-rich websites, ubiquitous connectivity and collaborative platforms for students and staff - also leave them particularly vulnerable to cyber-threats. The BRC recently launched a cyber security ‘toolkit’ for retailers that provides businesses of all sizes with a practical, step-by-step guide to prevent and manage cyber security threats and protect the customers they serve. Solutions Passwords. This article explores the cybersecurity threats that the higher education space faces, as well as a range of solutions that can help colleges and universities combat future attacks. Cyber security attacks have emerged as one of the most significant threats to universities and colleges in recent years. Professor David Maguire is chair of Jisc, appointed in May 2015. Symantec’s 2016 report shows that higher education has moved into the number two spot behind healthcare in terms of the number of attacks. The rapid move to online teaching and learning as a means to curtail the spread of COVID-19 has exposed African universities to greater risk of cyber-crime, according to a number of experts. The features that help universities to collaborate and thrive, such as open, information-rich websites, ubiquitous connectivity and collaborative platforms for students and staff - also leave them particularly vulnerable to cyber-threats. The CSRI will manage the project as part of a federal government cybersecurity grant of $1.6m announced earlier this year. This is a very serious, highly technical and rapidly evolving topic and, while some university and college leaders are confident they have a high-level executive view of cyber security, many are concerned that they need to know more. In the aftermath of these data breaches we took a number of specific actions: Similar problems also occur in the corporate world and over the course of the past 18 months, some of the biggest, most widespread, data breaches in the history of the Internet have hit the headlines. Where are these gaps most likely to be found in universities and what does that mean for the IT security teams trying to defend the network and data? Fortunately, there are practical things that IT security teams can do to strengthen or recover their defences, and many organisations able and willing to help. But there are limited options to you at the present because offering cyber security courses require a lot of professional expertise and a large budget that not many universities … The Cyber Security Risk Self-Assessment Tool is a 20-minute test that will help gauge if your business is a likely target for cyberattacks, and show how developed your current cyber security practices are. The cyber security practices of Australian universities are in the spotlight after the Australian National University (ANU) reported last week it had been the target of a serious attack.Hackers – reportedly based in China – infiltrated ANU’s networks some time last year and have proven difficult to remove. Increasing threats from social engineering attacks demand a strengthening of the ‘people perimeter’, writes Peter Carthew, director UK public sector at Proofpoint People have become the perimeter for any organisation when it comes to cyber security. The rising threat of cyber security attacks. Apply the principle of least privilege required so that stolen credentials cannot be used to move around the network, Consider working towards a ‘zero-trust’ model. Cyberattacks on higher education institutions are on the rise, Moody’s Investors Service reports. The introduction of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has increased the importance of cyber security and data protection. Employing a virtual private network (VPN) allows universities to encrypt their network, ensuring they have no... Antivirus. Governance over data security. For defenders this means that data needs to be protected not just from outsiders at the perimeter, but everywhere inside the network too. A new project to enhance the cybersecurity of Australia’s universities will be headed up by RMIT’s new centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CSRI) with the University Foreign Interference Taskforce (UFIT). Many senior university leaders and board … Combined with the fact that the security of universities may be seen by an attacker to not be especially advanced, this makes them an attractive hit. Is it worth investing in cyber insurance? The top risks for educational institutions include phishing, harassment, ransomware, IP theft (piracy), account hacking, credit card fraud and denial of service attacks. However, the consequences for the university were significant. The principle of zero trust is exactly what it says: nothing is assumed, every access, transaction or device is required to validate itself, upon every interaction, Educate staff and students as to how they can keep themselves and the data they hold secure. There is a very good reason for this. The important thing is to do it now. This should include phishing simulation tests to show them what a phishing email looks like. It’s time to take state-sponsored cyber attackers seriously, Foxing the phishers remains a constant dog fight, From the battlefield to the boardroom, influence and teamwork are key to building information security, Firmly putting cyber security ‘on the radar’ - Cyber Essentials for education and research, Libraries, learning resources and research, Required all staff to undertake General Data Protection Regulation (, Moved all at-risk IT systems under central control, Increased the level of password protection, Acquired specific cyber crime insurance cover, Added a cyber security risk to our risk register. Universities have no choice but to take notice of what is now a very real threat, and ensure they have the necessary security measures in place to protect themselves against cyber criminals. "In a world of escalating threats and attacks -- universities have a responsibility to address security with their students," he says. Since passwords are one of the biggest points of vulnerability, one of the simplest yet most effective way to... VPN. Finally, we had to upscale our technology, training, insurance, auditing and general awareness, which consumed a lot of resources and directly impacted staff right across the organisation. it is clear that cyber security is a critical business risk for universities and colleges, so it is vitally important that senior executive teams and governing bodies have a grasp of its significance. As cyber criminals become increasingly sophisticated and cybersecurity threats continue to rise, organizations are becoming more and more aware of the potential threat posed by third parties. As cyber attacks increase in frequency and sophistication, this is an issue that colleges and universities are working hard to address. Cybersecurity challenges abound in higher education. Do you have a good understanding of cyber security threats and their potential impact? Have you commissioned an honest and detailed independent assessment of your vulnerability to cyber security threats? In summary, it is clear that cyber security is a critical business risk for universities and colleges, so it is vitally important that senior executive teams and governing bodies have a grasp of its significance and take appropriate actions to avoid becoming a victim. Twenty-five percent of them were vulnerable. Why Are Organizations Failing to Report Cybercrime? Add to this the impact of the pandemic, which saw millions of students and staff migrate to remote learning in the space of a few weeks. Emerging online threats and tough new penalties for data breaches are forcing universities to take cyber security more seriously than ever, says Kamal Bechkoum April 14, 2018 Kamal Bechkoum While college leaders will no doubt have welcomed the recent announcement of £400 million in government funding, the boost comes as the first increase to base rate funding for students since 2013.It’s clear that resources have been limited and staff spread thinly as a result. A couple of recent reports I’ve looked at highlight the extent of threats that universities and higher education establishments face from cyber-attack. All it takes is one small crack: one key security feature turned off, one undetected open port, one insecure password, one malware-infected personal device or removable media, one unwary click on a malicious link or convincing phishing email and the attackers are through. Sophos recommends that as soon as practicably possible, university IT teams or their outsourced partners review the configuration and software update status of infrastructure and devices put in place at the start of lockdown – and correct anything that they missed before. This is not always the case. while some university and college leaders are confident they have a high-level executive view of cyber security, many are concerned that they need to know more. More cyberattacks coming from China, specifically targeted at colleges and universities, highlights how important cybersecurity defenses are for these institutions. Have you considered adding cyber security to your risk register? Universities are a hotbed for security incidents and a playground for hackers. 2 Cyber security and universities: managing the risk 1:2. Instead, it explores the management steps that are required across the whole organisation in order to be cyber secure. Thirdly, we made rapid changes to digital policy, access and training and restricted rights that inconvenienced and annoyed some people. These systems have very large numbers of users and deal with very valuable and sensitive information. Recent high-profile examples include attacks to Marriott and British Airways (BA). These include disruption to the functioning of a university network, through to more general and targeted attempts 3. As cyber security professionals work to increase their knowledge of threats and cyber security information, earning an online cyber security master’s degree can be invaluable. The credit rating agency characterized cyberrisks for the sector as “medium.” While colleges' vulnerability to cyberattacks is high, the “financial and reputational impacts” of these attacks are low, the report said. Then focus on implementing best security practice for the new learning landscape. 8. -- As concerns over the security of online data mount, Indiana University has launched a Cyber Security program that monitors threats to Tweet. The last few months have seen several major UK universities hit by cyber-attacks, including ransomware. Read more here. In the aftermath, BA not only had to deal with the financial costs of investigating the breach, but the cost of additional security (eg penetration testers, consultants, security vendors, public relations and legal advice). Background The cyber security problem facing universities 3 2. the CyBeR seCuRIty pRoBlem fACIng unIveRsItIes Universities face a variety of cyber security threats. Do you have a disaster recovery and business continuity plan in the event of a major cyber security incident and have you tested it. Cyber Security NewsNew IU program monitors Cyber Security threats at other universities BLOOMINGTON, Ind. Informed by my experience of two significant data breaches at the University of Greenwich, where I am vice-chancellor, this blog describes the most significant cyber security risks and offers advice for senior leaders and board members about how to mitigate cyber threats and the potential impact. When it comes to cybersecurity, further education colleges face a very specific set of challenges.. Secondly, we had to respond quickly to ensure that similar breaches did not occur again. Ideally a security solution that has proactive and reactive protection and detection capabilities; where different parts can communicate with each other to provide your team with greater visibility into the security posture of the network at any time; and which offer an automated response to threats rather than just sharing a mountain of event logs for the IT security team to wade through, Ensure that all data travelling from server to server (east-west traffic) across the network is protected, Remember that responsibility for the security of data and infrastructure in the cloud is a shared one, treat anything in the cloud as if it was in the room next to you, Have robust access controls for anyone connecting to the network. Many senior university leaders and board members are increasingly worried about the rising threat of cyber security attacks. It’s no surprise the NCSC worries that the cyber-vultures are gathering. BA will also be aware of the reputational and brand damage associated with the breach, and potential litigation. For example, in 2012, a student from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln broke into the university’s PeopleSoft-based system and gained access to over 650,000 personal records. Some of these attacks have been devastating in their impact and recovery time. Laptops and other devices will have been bought and configured in a rush; cloud services rapidly scaled up; and security will have come second to the sheer urgency of getting stuff up and running. Although it is clear that the information breaches occurred, there is no evidence that people were directly affected in any material way. The risk of cyber attacks to the education sector have become more sophisticated and more frequent, EY's analysis of the sector and its weaknesses gives insight into the best practices for institutions to safeguard against a variety of possible breaches that endanger the security of student, staff and institutional data. We use cookies to give you the best experience and to help improve our website, by Northumbria University was a founding member of the Research Institute in Science of Cyber Security, while De Montfort is an Airbus Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security … If your school hasn’t thought about cybersecurity as a growing concern, it’s time to learn what the threats are and what you should be doing to keep your school, and its data, protected.
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