Educational institutions today handle a vast volume of sensitive data, including student and academic records, staff details, and financial data. However, even now, many schools still rely on antivirus software as their only defence mechanism, leaving them vulnerable to more advanced cyberattacks. Due to the growing digitalisation of learning environments, cyberattacks have become more common, and the proliferation of devices, cloud-based applications, and remote access points creates new vulnerabilities. This makes multi-layered cybersecurity for schools more important for protecting their digital infrastructure.
Here is a guide discussing why school IT security needs a much more rigorous solution than just antivirus software.
The growing complexity of cyber threats in education
Cybercriminals have turned the education sector into a major target, and over the past few years, attacks have significantly increased. Schools possess confidential data but lack robust security, which is why they are targets of hackers and organised criminal groups.
School IT security is now challenged by everything from ransomware attacks that encrypt entire networks to advanced phishing campaigns that target unsuspecting staff and students. These threats have grown beyond the scope of malware that antivirus software can detect. Attackers manipulate people in educational environments through deceptive emails and fake websites, tricking individuals into revealing passwords or downloading malicious files.
The shift to hybrid learning has also introduced another vulnerability: personal devices and home networks are connected to school systems, providing attackers with access that traditional monitoring cannot adequately prevent.
Beyond antivirus: essential security layers
School network security needs strong defensive layers that would work together to protect against various threats. The first line of defence is advanced firewalls that monitor the incoming and outgoing traffic and block suspicious activity before it reaches internal systems. Additionally, network segmentation divides the school’s digital infrastructure into separate groups and isolates critical systems to prevent a breach from spreading throughout the entire network.
Key security components are:
- Multi-factor authentication prevents unauthorised access even when the passwords are stolen.
- Activity monitoring tools continuously scan network traffic to detect malicious behaviour.
- Email filtering prevents phishing attacks and blocks malicious websites.
Protecting student data privacy
Student data privacy represents both a legal obligation and an ethical responsibility that schools cannot take lightly. The Data Protection Act and GDPR impose strict requirements on how educational institutions collect, store, and process personal information, with the consequences of non-compliance including hefty penalties.
The schools hold highly confidential data, including educational needs assessments, safeguarding records, medical information, and biometric data. Any breach can have devastating consequences, potentially putting vulnerable children at risk of identity theft while causing reputational damage. This is why schools need more than just antivirus software for educational data protection.
The best practices of data protection include the following:
- Regular backups help schools restore systems after ransomware attacks
- Safe deletion measures will help avoid information being left on dismantled devices
- Privacy impact assessments detect risks before the implementation of systems
The critical role of continuous monitoring
Implementing security measures is just the starting point in protecting school IT systems, as threats continually evolve and new vulnerabilities emerge every day. This is where continuous monitoring acts as a vigilant watchguard, detecting any suspicious activity in real time and helping take action quickly before minor incidents escalate into major breaches.
These monitoring systems examine activity records from across the network, connecting information from firewalls, servers, and endpoints, to identify patterns that indicate an ongoing attack. This vigilance is especially useful against advanced threats, such as attackers who slowly infiltrate networks over a long period. Automated detection tools respond to incidents within seconds, potentially preventing the spread of ransomware. Regular software updates also close newly discovered security gaps that attackers actively search for and exploit.
Building a strong security-conscious environment
No technology can ensure that schools are completely safeguarded against the emerging cyber threats in education. Security awareness among employees and students is a vital part of any comprehensive strategy, as human behaviour is often the most vulnerable link. It is where regular training sessions help teachers to identify phishing emails, learn about strong passwords, and adhere to the data protection rules when working with sensitive student information.
Security elements are:
- Security awareness training keeps protection at the forefront throughout the academic year
- Well-established reporting procedures encourage staff to flag potential threats
- Emergency response plans will train schools to respond promptly during breaches
Conclusion
Schools cannot afford to rely on antivirus software as a sufficient defence against cyber threats in education, which are becoming increasingly advanced every year. Student data is sensitive in itself and, combined with increasingly targeted attacks that specifically target schools, demands expertise and strong security measures that most institutions can hardly afford in-house.
Most schools struggle to maintain the professional expertise and dedicated internal resources required, which is where specialist support becomes invaluable. Managed security services for schools offer the expertise and continuous monitoring required to secure against growing threats while supporting the digital transformation of learning. Cygnet IT provides comprehensive cybersecurity for schools that protects student data privacy, helping schools focus confidently on educating students.
