Among the many victims of cyber criminals, institutions of higher learning have become favored targets. From community colleges to universities and research centers, HIED attack surfaces are expanding in ways that are increasingly difficult to shield.
In this post, we’ll look at some of the emerging vectors of attack, and how IT security practices must be updated to minimize vulnerabilities, safeguard data and maintain business continuity.
Colleges and universities represent a lucrative prize for cyber criminals in several ways. With thousands of students and faculty, HIED organizations handle vast amounts of diverse information, including personally identifiable information (PII), research data, intellectual property, and data channels to industry partners and other institutions.
The sheer volume of information isn’t the only draw. The rise of remote learning, cloud migration, and digital transformation initiatives across many types of digital workflows, have increased the number and variety of vulnerabilities that can be exploited.
According to Sophos’s survey “The State of Ransomware in Education 2023” 79 percent of higher education providers reported ransomware attacks over the previous 12 months, with exploited vulnerabilities and compromised credentials among the leading causes.
These challenges are compounded by budget constraints, competing IT priorities, and security efforts stretched across different departments with a shortage of skilled IT personnel. This environment frequently hinders the development and maintenance of security infrastructure and protocols, making it a challenge to keep up with evolving cyber threats.
The good news is that cyber protections have also evolved, from hardware embedded security in personal devices to network monitoring optimized by AI. These multi-layered security protections, backed by a zero-trust security model, make it possible to provide comprehensive security even when budgets and on-staff expertise is limited.
The first layer of defense begins on the device, and here we’re partial to the approach taken by HP Wolf Security, where hardware and software systems are embedded in devices to detect and respond to threats in real time. This includes features that isolate suspicious webpages and phishing links, prevent access to system registries, and contain threats before they’re able to spread.
Additional features include methods for automated recovery, ensuring that devices are resilient even when attacked. This is crucial for safeguarding devices used by students, faculty and staff, minimizing downtime and support requests.
HP Wolf Security also facilitates real-time monitoring of network activity, supported by AI algorithms that can quickly spot unusual behavior. When one devices is compromised, monitoring can trigger isolation and alerts to tackle the threat before it unfolds.
These solutions are designed to be cost-effective and scalable, making them suitable for HIED institutions of all sizes, allowing robust security measures without breaking the bank.
As an IT security leader and a local implementation partner, Intech Southwest partners with HP Wolf Security to provide tailored, zero-trust security solutions to fit the unique needs of our education customers.
We provide personalized planning, configuration and installation services, every solution is aligned with your specific needs and requirements. We offer ongoing support and rapid incident response, including real-time monitoring, regular security updates and incident management services, ensuring the highest level of protection, and rapid recovery when cyber attacks occur.
Today, advances in malicious technology and the sophistication of cyber attacks, there are few business imperatives more critical than meeting those threats head on with advanced and active defenses. With zero trust systems like HP Wolf Security, delivered with localized implementation and support from Intech Southwest, we can help you build the security system you need to stay above the fray.
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Contact Intech Southwest Services to learn more about what Intech’s team can do to elevate and simplify a variety of IT services for your school district, your company, or your individual office management needs so that you can focus on what you do best - running your organization.
