We live in a tech-savvy world which is rapidly evolving due to the advancement in digitization.
With newer technologies, we are getting exposed to bigger threats from hackers who are rapidly finding sophisticated ways to conduct cybercrimes. It won’t be wrong to say that such cyber-attacks are gaining ground in the education sector as more and more breaches in schools and higher education are widely reported.
It, therefore, becomes imperative to cover and protect the education sector with cybersecurity.
Some previous cases
In 2016, there were two cases of attacks reported - The University of Calgary experienced a ransomware attack while the northern Minnesota school district faced a one-day shutdown caused by a malware attack. In 2018, CCTV camera feeds from several Blackpool schools ended up on a US website after a security breach. These alarming cases indicate a lag in student safety over the years.
Educational institutes, which are trusted to safeguard students’ safety should have a robust cybersecurity infrastructure that cuts down all risks and leaves no scope for breaches. These institutions must understand that cybersecurity is not just crucial to protect against economical loss and avoid disruption but also vital to protect students from any kind of harm.
Role of education sector
The education sector needs to secure its applications and systems and overcome any challenges that come in the way of cybersecurity.
The sector is prone to Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks which are very common. The intention behind the attack is a widespread disruption to the institute’s network and impacting productivity.
Very easy to perform, this can be carried out by amateur cybercriminals if the target network is not secure enough. In the past, several instances of students or teachers performing a DDoS attack have surfaced with all kinds of motives right from demanding a day off to protesting against something.
Other than that, there is data theft that can potentially affect all levels of education. The data can be wrongfully used to sell the information or be used as a tool to extort money.
Some more examples
A prime example being that of UC Berkeley in 2008 when hackers stole at least 160,000 medical records over a period of time. Hackers also seek financial gain from such activities so they target private institutions and Universities/Colleges handling huge sums of student fees.
Moreover, with digitization growing deeper, most people prefer online fee payments. These huge transactions need protection so that cybercriminals are unable to find a weak spot to intercept.
Educational institutions are an easy target for espionage as well since they are centre points of research and hold prized intellectual property.
Thus, protection is a must which can be enhanced through training and authentication. Basic training for all users of a network to mitigate the risks of cyber-attacks can protect the network at all access points and reduce the chances of human error. Sharing tips with everyone on safe practices for cybersecurity is another way of going about it.
Additionally, user-friendly multi-factor authentication (MFA) tool could prove to be a highly economical yet safe way to safeguard against a cyber-attack. The process can prevent authorization access with an added layer of security while logging on to the network.
Conclusion
As cybercrimes are at an all-time high, cybersecurity courses in various university curriculums are gaining popularity and careers in cybersecurity are in demand. Accredited degree programs can teach one to keep data safe and allow one to pursue a career through courses that concentrate on concepts that create an authority to form secure systems.
While an associate degree can help in securing an entry-level cybersecurity position, most jobs require a bachelor's degree in either cybersecurity or a related field like information technology or computer science.
These courses are now available online through various e-learning platforms and gaining more and more popularity as schools and colleges across the world stay shut due to the pandemic. So, there is hope for learners who want to widen their horizons and excel in their careers.
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