EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Nearly 5.1 million online records are lost to cyber criminals on a daily basis. That’s nearly 60 records per second.

In the upcoming academic year, that number is liable to increase. A survey conducted by the Center for Digital Education (CDE) shows that 85% of K-12 school leaders anticipate facing additional cyber threats this year, as compared to years past.

“Some large school systems rival Fortune 500 companies in size and scope, but fewer than one in five — 19 percent — have a chief information security officer (CISO), which have become commonplace in the private sector”

The issue of increased cyber threats in the upcoming academic term also pertains to universities. We’ve already seen hackers break into university level exam proctoring services, harming students’ personal property.

“If a specific university states very early that they’re going to be 100% online in the fall, then what do you think that attackers will do all summer long?” asks cyber security expert Mark Ostrowski.

“They’re going to prepare themselves for the schools they know are going to be 100% online in the fall.”

Negating cyber crime in academic settings means educating everyone on what to be wary of, implementing current defensive measures, staying up-to-date on patching, encrypting sensitive records, and so much more.

For additional information about how K-12 schools can improve their cyber security postures ahead of the next semester, read this Cyber Talk article. For further information about preventing cyber threats in post-secondary institutions, check out this YouTube clip.