As cyberattacks become more common around the world, schools and educational institutions are becoming targets for cybercriminals. Schools are becoming important targets in India due to a variety of issues. In this blog article, we'll look at the causes behind Indian schools' vulnerability, look at real-world examples, and offer effective strategies to safeguard your institution from cyber-attacks.
1. Sensitive Data in Vast Amounts
Indian schools save a variety of sensitive data, such as students' personal information, academic records, and confidential staff data. This valuable data is targeted by cybercriminals for identity theft, financial fraud, or sale on the dark web.
For instance, in 2020, the personal information of over 22,000 students from various Indian institutions was released online, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and other details. A misconfigured Amazon Web Services (AWS) server was found to be the source of the intrusion.
2. Cybersecurity Resources Are Scarce
Many Indian schools have limited budgets, resulting in underfunded IT departments and inadequate cybersecurity measures. As a result, schools may lack the resources needed to successfully defend their networks and data, making them more exposed to cyberattacks.
In 2019, a ransomware assault attacked many schools in Rajkot, India, causing substantial interruption to their operations and demanding money to open their encrypted files.
3. Technology and infrastructure that are out of date
Due to budget concerns, Indian schools frequently use outdated technology and infrastructure. These antiquated systems may have security flaws that fraudsters might exploit, putting the institution at risk.
For example, in 2020, a school in Uttar Pradesh was subjected to a cyberattack that took advantage of an old server, resulting in unauthorised access to critical student data.
4. Growing Adoption of Digital Learning
The Indian government's push on digital learning, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has increased schools' reliance on technology. Because of this reliance on internet platforms and cloud-based services, fraudsters now have new ways to get unauthorised access to sensitive data.
For example, in 2020, a data breach on an Indian online learning platform exposed the personal information of almost 2.3 million students and teachers.
5. Inadequate Cybersecurity Awareness
Many Indian schools do not have comprehensive cybersecurity training programmes for staff and students, resulting in a lack of awareness about potential risks and recommended practises for securing sensitive data. This ignorance makes it easier for cybercriminals to take advantage of human error.
Example: A teacher in Maharashtra fell prey to a phishing scam, unwittingly disclosing kids' personal information after mistaking the email for one from a trusted colleague.
The growing threat of cyberattacks on Indian institutions emphasises the need of cybersecurity. Educational institutions must invest in strong cybersecurity measures, upgrade their technology and infrastructure, and give extensive staff and student training. Indian schools may reduce the potential of cyberattacks and protect their communities by knowing the risks and taking proactive efforts to protect sensitive data.
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