Netwrix, a cybersecurity vendor that makes data security easy revealed additional findings for the education sector from its survey of 1,610 IT and security professionals from more than 100 countries.

According to the survey, 69% of organizations in the education sector suffered a cyberattack within the last 12 months. 

Phishing, account compromise

Phishing and user account compromise were the most common attack paths for these organizations, while phishing and malware (such as ransomware) topped the list for other verticals. 

What’s more, 3 out of 4 attacks (75%) in the education sector were associated with a compromised on-premises user or admin account, compared to 48% for other sectors.

Security training

Even if identity management is automated, it is a challenge to keep users trained in security best practices"

“Organizations in the education sector handle a variety of accounts, staff, third-party contractors, educators, students, and alumni that have a high turnover rate. Even if identity management is automated, it is a challenge to keep users trained in security best practices because there is a continual supply of newcomers,” says Dmitry Sotnikov, VP of Product Management at Netwrix.

“In addition, students may lack experience in spotting phishing emails or fake websites asking for their credentials. To address these challenges, it is essential to mandate security training within the first few weeks and repeat it regularly.”

Automated detection and response solutions

“To enable research and collaboration, educational institutions often provide a variety of shared devices and systems exposed to the internet creating a massive attack surface,” says Dirk Schrader, VP of Security Research at Netwrix.

“To mitigate risk, it is crucial to enforce strong password policies that prevent the use of weak and compromised passwords, implement multifactor authentication (MFA), and adhere to the least privilege principle. In addition, automated detection and response solutions can help IT deal with account compromise and abuse in a controlled and efficient manner.”

In case you missed it

New i-PRO Remote Head Camera Extends Edge AI Security
New i-PRO Remote Head Camera Extends Edge AI Security

i-PRO Co., Ltd., a pioneer in professional security and public safety solutions, announces its new Remote Head Camera, a compact modular camera system designed to bring edge-AI to...

What Steve Jobs Taught Me About Building Better Security Technology
What Steve Jobs Taught Me About Building Better Security Technology

One of the best business lessons I learned didn’t come from business journals or the boardroom. It came from a biography: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. If you haven’t...

HID And FIDO Alliance Advance Passwordless Authentication
HID And FIDO Alliance Advance Passwordless Authentication

HID, a pioneer in trusted identity solutions, has joined the FIDO Alliance Board of Directors to help accelerate the shift to passwordless authentication across the enterprise. Sea...