5 Critical Cyber Threats Facing the Education Sector and How to Prevent Them

Protecting end users in the education space — it’s not for the faint of heart. 

Whether you manage a single high school, university or local K-12 district, the cybersecurity landscape in this sector is scary.

There’s the risk of data loss … 

Schools store incredibly sensitive data about their students: from Social Security numbers and medical allergies to mental health records and bus routes. 

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare for any of this information to go public. And it’s a school’s worst nightmare to deal with the logistical, ethical and legal fallout of a potential data breach.

There’s the lack of resources … 

Districts are often short on support and funding. It’s usually up to you — and maybe a small team —  to keep track of hundreds, if not thousands, of end users.

There are the wild cards … 

Oh, and a significant portion of those end users are kids more worried about texting their crush than cybersecurity.

And there’s the reality … 

The numbers are bleak: From 2022 to 2023, ransomware attacks on educational entities rose 70%. Students as young as first-graders have had their identity compromised. Recovery efforts after a breach can creep into seven- and eight-figure sums.

It’s up to you to protect these educational institutions from … all of this.  

Deep breaths.

Here are five threat vectors facing the education sector today. Learn why they matter and — more importantly — what to do about them.

Ransomware 

What it is: Hackers break into a district or school’s network, steal sensitive data, encrypt it and demand a ransom for its return.

Why it matters: It’s bad when a teacher’s bank account or Social Security number is stolen. It’s really bad when hackers steal students’ sensitive information. 

In 2022, hackers broke into the Los Angeles Unified School District and published private mental health records of current and former students. A year later, hackers breached Minneapolis Public Schools and published records about campus rape cases, potential child abuse and student suspensions.

With that kind of information on the line, hackers know schools or districts will pay sky-high sums to regain control of their data. In other words: Schools look like treasure chests to cunning cybercriminals. 

How to prevent it: Combat ransomware attacks with antivirus and password encryption software, cybersecurity training and technology that helps you monitor user behavior and accounts for possible breaches.

Financial Theft 

What it is: After breaching an account with admin privileges, a bad actor can access payment systems and reroute school funds directly to their bank account. 

All of those PTA dues? They’re now funding a hacker’s next vacay, instead of new classroom supplies.

Why it matters: Most schools aren’t exactly flush with disposable funds. Every penny counts. 

Even if a hacker only manages to funnel away a few hundred or thousand dollars, that could mean: 

• One fewer set of new textbooks 
• One more year the basketball team goes without new uniforms 
• One part-time teacher’s aide not getting their contract renewed

How to prevent it: Monitoring technology is incredibly important, especially if a school uses apps like PayPal or Square to manage transactions. The more visibility you have over SaaS activity, the faster you can act on suspicious behavior.

Phishing Attacks on Staff or Student Accounts 

What it is: Hackers send professional-looking emails to students or staff, usually asking for sensitive information or requesting the user’s login. 

To make this look realistic, the bad actor will typically spoof a real email address. 

For example, instead of using “teacher@stateschooldistrict.edu,” the phisher will insert a hard-to-see typo into the new email. When a tenth-grader receives an email from “teacher@statschooldistrict.edu” asking for their password, they probably won’t notice the difference — and will accidentally open the door to some big cybersecurity consequences.

Why it matters: After COVID-19, schools now rely more on email and cloud platforms. Unfortunately, this also means more instances of email-based attacks like phishing.

About one-third of end users in the education sector have fallen for phishing schemes. And these are incredibly expensive mistakes. 

According to the Government Accountability Office, each data breach costs a school district anywhere from $50,000 to $1 million. Like we said, districts can’t afford to lose that kind of cash — especially when many teachers have to buy their own classroom supplies.

How to prevent it: Prioritize security awareness training. 

We know: The last thing teachers or students want is another PowerPoint. But a one-hour phishing presentation could save a district $50,000 (or more). 

Unmonitored or Unauthorized SaaS Usage 

What it is: Most schools or districts have lists of approved apps that teachers or students can log into using their official credentials. But in the age of “Omg, what do you MEAN I have to remember another password?” end users will often double-dip and use official credentials for not-so-official apps. 

This is usually an innocent mistake — like the time one of our partners discovered a teacher using OAuth to log into the Wendy’s app. But these slip-ups still produce another opening for cybercriminals.

Why it matters: Unauthorized platforms could have servers outside the U.S. or be out of compliance with security standards.

But there’s even a risk with approved apps. With the rise of remote education post-2020, schools use a lot more SaaS services. There’s email, of course — but also quiz-creation platforms, cloud file storage and video apps like Zoom. 

Every additional app students and teachers use opens more doors for hackers. If someone — like you — doesn’t monitor all that SaaS activity, it’s easier for a hacker to slip in.

How to prevent it: Build a data loss prevention (DLP) strategy. This helps ensure data is protected even if an app is breached.

How SaaS Alerts Helps You Keep You Safe 

Better visibility: Machine learning pattern detection allows you to monitor behavior patterns — and identify potential breaches as soon as they occur. 

Nonstop protection: Even when you’re off the clock, SaaS Alerts keeps watch. With 24/7 monitoring and automated response, you can feel confident you’re are protected even at night or on weekends.

Automated remediation: Our Respond module automatically locks accounts if they’re breached. When students’ data is at risk, every second counts. 

Sign up for a demo to see how SaaS Alerts makes cybersecurity in the education sector a lot less scary.