As technology becomes a larger part of our lives, new threats arise from the computers we use, in schools there are usually many security issues and not all schools know that they are under constant threat of cyber attack. The safeguarding of many students is in constant danger and that needs to change, therefore CyberSafeSchools have createdd a list of security issues your school may face and a proposed solution to each of them to help protect your systems and your students.
Outdated Software
Many systems still use older software such as Windows 10 to run their systems, however due to the ending support of Windows 10 schools using it will soon be left defenseless against threats stopped by the soon ceasing security updates. The solution is obvious, simply upgrade your systems to the next generation, though it may be difficult for some schools it will assure the safety of students and their data.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are the most common type of cyber attack and can infiltrate almost any system with just a bit of social engineering. Staff should be properly educated on how to identify and report a phishing attack before it can actually happen, that way the risk of social engineering is a lot lower and you can rest easy knowing that no suspicious emails will be opened.
Incident Response
Most schools have no guidance on what to do during the event of a cyber attack apart from an IT team who are likely unprepared to handle the situation, it is becasue of this that most schools have a very slow and unready response when they are attacked. This can be solved by drafting protocols for when the school is attacked, this gives staff a clear idea of what to do and how to do it.
Insider Threats
Sometimes the biggest threats are not hackers trying to steal the student’s information but the students themselves as hacking into a school’s system becomes more accessible to students each day with the introduction of the internet’s endless stocks of information. Staff should protect against this by keeping a watchful eye over their students and not letting them go on computers completely unattended, staff can also employ software dedicated to keeping systems locked behind passwords so students do not have free reign over their computer when logged in.
If you feel as if your school is under attack please contact law enforcement and any other relevant authorities, and if you want expert consultation about the cyber security of your school then feel free to contact us by going to our contact page.
About the author: This post was written by Carwyn Kelly, a student on the CyberSafeSchools Academy virtual work experience programme. The Academy provides secondary school and college students with structured, hands-on experience in cybersecurity and digital marketing. Find out more about the Academy →