As more and more Universities are falling preys to cyberattacks, security researchers say that educational universities should appropriately defend their digital assets before it’s too late.
Oxford, Warwick, Greenwich and Lancaster Universities were among the many of the higher educational institutes which have fallen prey to cyber attacks in recent years, and the list might persist if these institutes do not improve their security posture says a security alert issued by UK’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC).
As research info is turning profitable to hackers, Universities have no other choice to take rather than to up their Cybersecurity defense-line. Adding to it is the growing sophistication of malware and an increase in several potentially vulnerable endpoints which in-turn paves the way to hackers to illegally access the university’s network.
Here training staff and students might help to a certain extent. Also educating them with what is happening in the cyber world will make them learn the modalities for following healthy Cybersecurity hygiene.
Also keeping the software up to date by patching it up from time to time and installing threat detection software will surely help protect the network even further.
What is more, is that the university heads like Vice-Chancellors and Deans should no longer consider cybersecurity as a mere IT issue. But they should first learn for themselves that a cyber attack can show its implications on a wide range of applications & users which could be devastating and everlasting.
Finally, as cyber crooks are seen architecting new ways to steal, exploit, and demand ransom by holding valuable data assets, University heads also should be prepared for the worst by going for a layered approach of security and ensuring that staff and students are adequately trained on the issue.
