Data and Cyber Security: How schools and parents can stay ahead
Cybercrime is one of the fastest growing threats in recent years. The range and complexity of these threats have expanded and have made the consequences for those who fall victim even more severe..
Staying protected against cybercrime is challenging, especially as cybercriminals continue to innovate. However with the right knowledge and tools, there are a number of ways families and schools can stay vigilant and ensure their precious data is safe.
Cybercrime has become more sophisticated and widespread
For individuals and organisations, safeguarding private data means navigating a wealth of different cybersecurity threats.
From phishing scams to password hacks, many of these attacks prey on the errors of users through tactics of deception. And with the added anonymity of blockchain technology, perpetrators have found ways to be more elusive.
Schools are particularly at risk of cyberattacks
Housing important financial and personal information, schools have become prime targets of exploitative cyberattacks with ransomware becoming an increasing threat in the previous two years.
According to The State of Ransomware in Education 2022 survey, 56% of K-12 schools and 64% of tertiary institutions suffered ransomware attacks in 2021, up from 44% from the year prior. Of the K-12 schools hit by ransomware, 94% said the attack impacted their ability to operate and there was no guarantee they’d be able to recover even after paying the ransom.
Source: The State of Ransomware in Education 2022, Sophos
One example is Newcastle Grammar School where the school experienced a breach in IT security in early November 2020, which saw the entire school’s system damaged and encrypted in code by intruders. Not long after, emails were sent to the head of the school demanding payment of over $1 million in cryptocurrency.
The school has shared their story on surviving a ransomware attack, and was able to successfully re-establish its systems over a 5-week period while avoiding paying the ransom.
Tips for protecting your data
Our Chief Technology Officer, Jonas Hallerby, has six valuable insights to help protect your data.1. Having a good password is crucial
A password should be something that no one else can guess but easy for you to remember. It’s better to have a password that you can easily recall than something you have to write down.2. Be vigilant of what links you click
Banks or other institutions will very rarely send you links to click. If you are unsure it's best to stay on the side of caution.3. Be cautious of giving out information
If anyone is asking for information from you, it is a reasonable place to be cautious. A bank or credit card company already knows everything about you, and if they need information it will come through the regular portals.4. Segregate your data
If you have all your personal data in one source, it's just a matter of time for you to lose this. Having this stored in multiple places and in the cloud means there is less chance of losing your data forever when accidents occur.5. Ensure your backups are actually backed up
You cannot assume your backup works. Unless you test your backup, you do not truly have a backup for your data.6. Keep your data clean and tidy
Be careful with being overwhelmed by data. Doing things like emptying your email inbox is a simple way to make things easy to manage.Security is front of mind for Edstart
As a modern financial technology company that understands the value of dependability, we have kept security front of mind to protect the data of our customers and schools.
Our security-centric platform is built to defend against cyber-attacks, with end-to-end protection for your data, Amazon Web services firewall, and multi-factor authentication.
We’re constantly monitoring for any intruders or anomalies in our system, recording all system activities and access while staying up to date with the latest software.
As a regulated business that fully complies with security and privacy requirements, we operate with zero paper trail and a comprehensive approval process for any new transactions.
Our investment in security gives customers peace of mind that their data stays safe, and helps schools reduce cybersecurity risks.
About Edstart
Edstart is a leading technology and financial services company providing funding and payment services for education. We offer fee management solutions to schools and flexible payment plans to parents to help make school fees easier to manage.
To see how we can help you, visit our main website.
Find out more
Edstart is a leading technology and financial services company providing funding and payment services for education. We offer fee management solutions to schools and flexible payment plans to parents to help make school fees easier to manage.
To see how we can help you, visit our main website.
Find out more