Frisco, Texas – In a recent survey conducted by cybersecurity vendor Netwrix, it was found that 77% of organizations in the education sector have experienced a cyberattack on their infrastructure within the last 12 months, marking a noticeable increase from 69% in 2023. The study, which gathered data from 1,309 IT and security professionals worldwide, highlighted that the most common attack vectors in the education sector were phishing, user account compromise, and ransomware or other malware attacks.
Moreover, almost half (47%) of organizations in the education sector reported facing unplanned expenses to address security gaps following a security incident. Additionally, one in seven of these organizations incurred compliance fines, while ten percent indicated changes in senior leadership and lawsuits as a result of cybersecurity breaches.
Dirk Schrader, VP of Security Research and Field CISO EMEA at Netwrix, emphasized the importance of addressing security gaps revealed by incidents, such as excessive admin privileges, dormant accounts, weak or unchanged passwords, default passwords or configurations, and unpatched systems due to negligence or lack of knowledge. Schrader noted that while fixing these gaps may not always require immediate financial investment, they do demand time and effort from the IT security team, ultimately resulting in additional resources being allocated towards cybersecurity measures.
In response to breaches, Ilia Sotnikov, Security Strategist at Netwrix, stressed the need for organizations to prioritize remediation steps to minimize future risks. This could involve patching software on critical servers, implementing manual review steps on certain operations, or planning for additional software, services engagement, or personnel in the longer term.
To combat these challenges and ensure data security in the education sector, Netwrix offers insights and solutions that help organizations protect sensitive data, detect and respond to attacks, and recover from breaches. By empowering security professionals to navigate digital threats with confidence, Netwrix aims to secure a brighter digital future for organizations worldwide.
For more information about Netwrix and their cybersecurity solutions, visit their website at www.netwrix.com.
In conclusion, the findings from the Netwrix survey underscore the growing cybersecurity threats faced by organizations in the education sector and the importance of investing in proactive security measures to safeguard sensitive data and infrastructure. As technology continues to evolve, it is crucial for educational institutions to remain vigilant and prioritize cybersecurity to protect their digital assets and maintain trust among students, faculty, and stakeholders.