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Back-to-School Cyber Attacks: What Businesses, Parents, and Schools Need to Know

By: David Behen, Chief Strategy Officer

Summary

TL;DR:

  • Schools are prime targets for cyberattacks due to their vast amounts of sensitive data and often weaker cybersecurity measures.
  • Parents can take proactive steps to protect their children from cyber threats by teaching cybersecurity principles and using secure networks.
  • Partnerships between schools and businesses can introduce cybersecurity risks that need to be managed through proper assessment and incident response plans.

As students have returned to the classroom, threat actors seize the opportunity to launch various attacks. Schools, which hold vast amounts of personal data but frequently have weaker security measures, have become prime targets for attacks. Earlier this year, a Tennessee school system fell victim to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) attack, losing $3.36 million after an employee was deceived. In another case, a Washington State school district had to close its doors for two days after discovering unauthorized activity in its technology systems.

Understanding these risks and helping to mitigate them is crucial for schools, families, and businesses supporting school systems.

Why Threat Actors Target Schools

  • Valuable Data: Schools store sensitive information such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of students, parents, staff, financial information, medical records, and even government-issued IDs. These can be used for identity theft, fraud, and selling on the dark web.

  • Weaker Cybersecurity: Due to budget restrictions, many educational institutions lack robust cybersecurity defenses, making them easier to breach than larger businesses or government entities.

  • Disruption for Ransomware: Threat actors and hackers use ransomware attacks to lock down critical systems such as grading platforms, virtual classrooms, administrative portals, and backups. Schools are more likely to pay ransoms to restore operations quickly, especially during the busy school year.

  • Targeting Families and Employees: Businesses engaging with schools often communicate via email or shared environments, making phishing attacks easier to deploy. Hackers exploit the trust between school employees, parents, and students to spread malware or steal credentials.

Third-Party Cybersecurity Risks for Schools and Business Partners

Schools aren’t the only ones at risk—organizations that work with schools or have employees with school-age children can also be exposed to cybersecurity threats. Phishing campaigns often blur the line between personal and business email, so an employee clicking on a malicious link from a school-related email could accidentally introduce malware into the company’s network, potentially leading to data breaches or even ransomware attacks.

Partnerships between schools and businesses can also introduce third-party risks. If one party suffers a cyberattack, the other is also at risk. Schools often rely on third-party vendors for services, data handling, or access to sensitive information, and if a vendor is compromised, the school may face regulatory issues for not ensuring that vendor’s cybersecurity was up to par. Failure to protect student and staff information can result in fines or penalties under laws like FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).

A breach at one vendor can also impact others, especially if their systems are interconnected, causing risks to cascade across the entire vendor ecosystem. To minimize these risks, schools should have a solid third-party risk management plan in place. This includes conducting regular cybersecurity assessments of business partners, adding strong data security clauses in contracts, and preparing an incident response plan to deal with potential breaches.

How Parents Can Protect Themselves

  • Teach Cyber Hygiene: Parents should educate children on basic cybersecurity principles, such as recognizing phishing emails, not sharing personal information, and creating strong passwords.

  • Use Secure Networks: Encourage children to use secure Wi-Fi networks at home and school. Avoid using public Wi-Fi to access sensitive school-related data.

  • Monitor Devices: Parents should regularly monitor the devices their children use for school, ensuring that antivirus software is updated and that parental controls are in place to limit risky behavior online. Parents should also ensure that all software their children use is updated regularly.

  • Two-Factor Authentication: Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) on all school-related accounts to add an extra layer of security, ensuring that unauthorized users cannot access sensitive information.

How Schools Can Defend Themselves

  • Awareness Training for Staff and Students: Cybersecurity training should be mandatory for both staff and students. Participating in regular mock phishing campaigns can teach them how to recognize phishing attempts and avoid clicking on suspicious links, which is a crucial first line of defense.

  • Upgrade Security Measures: Schools should invest in robust cybersecurity infrastructure, including firewalls, encryption, and regular system backups. Implementing endpoint protection and ensuring that all devices used for school activities are secure will help mitigate attacks.

  • Data Encryption: Schools should encrypt sensitive data, making it harder for hackers to exploit it if they gain access to the system.

  • Regular Security Audits: Conducting regular audits of the school’s IT systems can help identify vulnerabilities before cybercriminals do. Schools should also ensure they have incident response plans to minimize a breach’s damage.

Staying Cyber Safe: The Bottom Line

As the new school year begins, both educational institutions and parents need to stay vigilant against the growing threat of cyberattacks. Schools and families can reduce their risk of falling victim to these threats by adopting sound proactive cybersecurity practices and working together to secure systems. Businesses of all sizes should also be aware of the indirect risks posed by these attacks and take precautions to protect their networks from school-related vulnerabilities.

SensCy Can Help

At SensCy, we provide a truly holistic approach to cybersecurity through our trusted technology platform, combined with personalized, 1:1 support that better educates, supports, and safeguards against evolving cyber threats, fostering a strong cybersecurity culture and ensuring your business is protected at every level, giving you the peace of mind and confidence to focus on your business. For insights into top cybersecurity threats and how to address them, explore our resources on vulnerability scans and penetration testing.

Take the first step in protecting your school and community—find out your organization’s cyber health today by taking our quick and free cybersecurity assessment, or contact us directly with any questions.

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