how your university can be vulnerable to security threats

The main goal of information security is to keep information available, confidential, and reliable. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Universities are uniquely vulnerable to cyber attack during Covid-19, Seven things the HE sector learned in 2020 – and what universities should prepare for in 2021, Covid disrupts our academic identities, and that’s something we should embrace, Our days are numbered – how metrics are changing academic development, The Great Big Wonkhe Uni Christmas Cards Quiz. The sector has access to great cyber expertise through Jisc, so perhaps go there instead! Network security threats are a growing problem for people and organizations the world over, and they only become worse and multiply with every passing day. These available updates are sometimes crucial to ensuring that your device is not vulnerable to security threats. Is Your SQL Server Security Vulnerable to Threats? Yet, it is the essential nature of universities to be networked – to enable and support student and staff engagement, and to connect with communities locally and internationally. © 2020 Tech Wire Asia | All Rights Reserved, 3 cybersecurity threats to universities and how they could be addressed, Singapore SMEs still lack a sustainable mindset in SEA, Twitter latest tech darling to latch on to Amazon public cloud, Telehealth poses “substantial” cybersecurity risks, warn Harvard researchers, Thailand aims to be the new APAC medical hub leveraging smart health. 2019’s biggest cyber security threats are and what you can do to avoid them. Policy and public affairs The availability and scope of data, and its interconnectedness, also made it extremely vulnerable to many threats. The CSA and MOE said the credentials were then used to gain unauthorized access to the institutes’ library website to obtain research articles published by staff. Financial institutions and banks have now moved their data to cloud servers which have made them even more vulnerable to cyber threats. Planning and strategy This growth in attacks is set to continue as education accelerates its digital offerings and transforms its remote learning and working offerings as a result of the pandemic. Unsure / other, Job Level EARLIER this week, four major Singapore universities said they were victims of cyber attacks, highlighting the need for Southeast Asian tertiary institutions to ramp up preventative measures. Threat actors look for vulnerabilities in management APIs. Sion Lloyd-Jones is a member of KPMG’s cyber team in the North. Library services Business Development HR and resources 2017 turned out to be a notorious year for the dark world of ransomware with CryptoLocker, GoldenEye, and WannaCry among a few examples of cyber attacks that cost global businesses an estimated US$1 billion in the span of one year. The only people who would do that would be consultants with cyber services to sell. Gaining certifications such as Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials+ and ISO27001 can help to provide assurance that universities have adequate and effective policies, processes and security controls in place. If discovered, these vulnerabilities can be turned into successful attacks, and organization cloud assets can be compromised. Security is an important part of any company. I’m disappointed in WonkHE for this article as raising the profile in this way looks to be more about revenue from KPMG and having an article rather than supporting universities. Even the most mature organisations are having to rethink their cyber security approach for a new landscape of remote work and study during the pandemic. Protect your OS,” you’ll learn how to configure Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection to prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats. The scheme involved installing devices called keyloggers in university classrooms and labs that enabled him to see what his lecturers typed, including their passwords, allowing him to gain access to grading and email systems. DVC/PVC/Dean)Head of organisation (VC/principal/CEO)Unsure / other, By submitting you agree to our terms and conditions. Covid-19 has added another layer to all these existing vulnerabilities. COMMON THREATS: A BRIEF OVERVIEW 1 Computer systems are vulnerable to many threats that can inflict various types of damage resulting in significant losses. Once installed on your computer, RATs can give backdoor administrative access to your device, allowing access to your data and spreading itself across your network. The transition to the cloud has brought new security challenges. This article is published in association with KPMG. professional area As cyber security professionals work to increase their knowledge of threats and cyber security information, earning an online cyber security master’s degree can be invaluable. University staff and students want a single sign on to access the university’s “digital campus”, and – especially during the Covid-19 pandemic – they need to be able to gain access remotely and from their own device, which is highly likely to be less secure than a university-managed device and adds to the already heightened risk. level Once a strategy is established, the next phase is detection – conducting penetration tests, or appointing a “red team” to mount a cyber-attack to expose vulnerabilities. Here are the top 10 threats to information security today: PODCAST: Brexit, OfS reset, UCAS figures, free speech. From there, attackers can use organization assets to perpetrate further attacks against other CSP customers. For example, you’re probably using add-ons in your browser and think they’re harmless. Joanne Wong, Senior Regional Director for Asia Pacific & Japan at American security intelligence company LogRhythm, said phishing is one of the oldest tricks in the book for hackers and continues to be very effective. The National Security Agency (NSA) has issued a new cybersecurity advisory warning that virtual private networks (VPNs) could be vulnerable to attacks if not properly secured. A firewall alone will not protect universities from every threat, but it is an added layer of protection that they should not be without. Learning and teaching 2019’s biggest cyber security threats are and what you can do to avoid them. Cyber security teams may struggle to control and manage access rights, with one respondent to our cyber benchmarking study telling us, “You could have studied at the university, come back as a member of staff and have both your access rights combined under your identity.” And ultimately a cyber security system is only as good as its weakest point, which may be the laxest user of the network. Legal and governance This damage can range from errors harming database integrity to fires destroying entire computer centers. Cyber is on the mind of every senior HE team that I know, but the last thing that any would want is to run screaming around the internet shouting about being an easy target! International Protecting business data is a growing challenge but awareness is the first step. Cybercriminals are carefully discovering new ways to tap the most sensitive networks in the world. Cyber criminals are after those exact glitches, the little security holes in the vulnerable software you use that can be exploited for malicious purposes. Older hardware poses much greater security risks due to older software. The education sector is particularly attractive to criminals (and often nation states), because of the vast amount of valuable data held – think student and staff information, supplier information, alumni databases, and highly valuable research data. Before we get into detail about what the article is going to cover and help demystify steps need for assessing your current security posture, we would need to know a few basic terms and what they mean so when used in the context of this article, you have complete understanding of what it is they mean and are referring to. Cyber Security Awareness: 7 Ways Your Employees Make Your Business Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks Companies collect and store enormous amounts of data. Because there are so many ways that a network can be vulnerable, network security involves a broad range of practices. Copyright © 2020 Wonkhe Ltd. Company Number: 08784934, Registered office: Wonkhe Ltd, Lower Third Floor Evelyn Suite, Quantum House, 22-24 Red Lion Court, London, United Kingdom, EC4A 3EB, Job Area In this case, Wong said security solutions that constantly patrol the system can detect if a user is downloading research papers in high volume or accessing papers they don’t usually look at. Academic Read on learn about network security threats and how to mitigate them. Ensure that your employees have the tools—and especially the training—they need to help protect your business from a … This often leads to cyber security initiatives and technology being prioritised in small, localised areas within a university, rather than the institution as a whole. From billing invoices to customers' credit card information, so much of your business focuses on private data. Bring your own device (BYOD) is one of the most complicated headaches for IT departments because it exposes the entire organization to huge security risks. Natural threats, such as floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes 2. Also common are social engineering techniques, such as adware, which is malware that displays unwanted advertising on your computer, or phishing, in which individuals are duped into sharing sensitive data or even transferring funds. It is important to have safeguards … And it took a while for companies to take this issue seriously. They’re not getting it. Unfortunately, hackers can carry out cyberattacks using an IoT object or device. Student Services, recruitment and WP Recent research by ForeScout, a security company, says that some IoT devices are so vulnerable that they can be hacked in minutes. But the human element of cyber security can’t be overlooked. Based on investigations, the incident was a phishing attack where unsuspecting users were directed to a credential harvesting website, according to Channel News Asia. For universities, personal data breaches can potentially affect their reputation and valuable relationships with former students. The discovery led to an off-campus search of his Iowa city apartment where authorities seized keyloggers, cellphones and thumb drives that allegedly contained some copies of intercepted exams. The emergence of smart cars has opened the door to limitless possibilities for technology and innovation – but also to threats beyond the car itself. Testing will need to be done remotely, business continuity plans updated, and threat monitoring enhanced to take account of new vulnerabilities and tactics. They are also, frequently, the organisations that are less likely to have strong cybersecurity protections in place which makes them vulnerable. Kent State University was identified as one of the organizations that was potentially hacked during a … The “Top 10 actions to secure your environment” series outlines fundamental steps you can take with your investment in Microsoft 365 security solutions. Most Vulnerable – Financial Institutions and Banks. And it took a while for companies to take this issue seriously. Although filesharing is not in itself illegal, if you share or download copyrighted material without permission – even unwittingly – you are breaking both the law and UC policy and could be subject to University… Universities often work on legacy systems supported by teams that are not equipped to deal with the increasingly sophisticated attacks. Moreover, hackers can infiltrate even innocuous devices such as web cameras and use them to launch DDoS attacks. Non-profit organisations, including those in arts and culture, education and health providers and charities, are often highly networked in their communities and hold large amounts of sensitive personal and often commercially valuable data. Security solutions that constantly patrol the system can detect if a user is downloading research papers in high volume or accessing papers they don’t usually look at. Filesharing can expose your computer to a number of security risks. The emergence of smart cars has opened the door to limitless possibilities for technology and innovation—but also to threats beyond the car itself. Peer support can help student engagement in challenging times – if you know what works. #4 Separation Among Multiple Tenants Fails. The authorities said fortunately, no sensitive information was leaked, and as it stands, the incident did not appear to be linked to other attacks last year. It encompasses everything from the most basic practices, such creating strong passwords and fully logging out of community computers, to the most complex, high-level processes that keep networks, devices and their users safe. Research manager One of the consequences is that cyber security teams can lack overall authority in their institutions, with departments purchasing systems without security oversight, potentially creating vulnerabilities. From there, attackers can use organization assets to perpetrate further attacks against other CSP customers. Adware and spyware. Source: Pexels. Investment in cyber security is often linked to or dependent on winning new research contracts and projects, for example, research grants that require minimum cyber security certifications, such as Cyber Essentials, or alignment to international security standards, such as ISO 27001. IT has no remit or authority to check business processes for security compliance.”. As time passes, it’s easy to become lax on security measures. Cyber maturity assessments can help to analyse the conditions and create a road map to increased cyber maturity – on the understanding that there can be no end-point and that cyber security must evolve to keep up with the evolution and sophistication of attacks. This hands-on approach allows cyber security teams to test defences under realistic conditions and identify weaknesses that may not previously have been obvious. Did Zoom collude with China to surveil users. Even with firewalls, antivirus solutions, and cyber security awareness training for your employees, cybercriminals still manage to exploit any vulnerabilities they can find. They have carefully chosen targets from which they can get good returns. An MSSP consists of a team of trained cybersecurity experts who will work with you to create a custom cybersecurity solution to meet your needs and safeguard your company’s digital assets. In computer security, a vulnerability is a weakness which can be exploited by a threat actor, such as an attacker, to cross privilege boundaries (i.e. Employing a virtual private network (VPN) allows universities to encrypt their network, ensuring they have no outside forces spying in. On Tuesday, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and Ministry of Education (MOE) issued a joint statement saying they received information about the breaches affecting at least 52 online accounts last week. Cybercriminals are carefully discovering new ways to tap the most sensitive networks in the world. Students are having to choose between physical and mental health, Why SAGE needs to hear from the humanities, Our turbulent times demand engaged universities. The education sector tends to be seen as an increasingly attractive target for cyber criminals. Students' Unions Security talent is difficult to attract and retain due to highly competitive rates in the private sector, and cyber security teams within the sector most commonly consist of between one to five individuals. And yet, our work with the sector, including a cyber benchmarking study, suggests that universities are frequently inadequately prepared to protect themselves from a cyber attack. From billing invoices to customers' credit card information, so much of your business focuses on private data. Year on year, reported breaches in schools, colleges and universities have not only increased in number, but also in scale and sophistication. As the National Cyber Security Centre issues an alert to the education sector, Sion Lloyd-Jones explains why universities should expect a ramping up of cyber attacks - and what to do about it. 1. Research and doctoral Data Security: How to protect yourself from vulnerable open-source software? Common Network Security Threats. Ralph Goodman, contributor The desire to make tasks more efficient and streamlined is a major driving factor behind a vast number of technological advancements. Modern technology and society’s constant connection to the Internet allows more creativity in business than ever before – including the black market. Will next year be as bad financially as we thought? Marketing, PR and communications Cybercriminals are seeing many opportunities to make quick money via such means. Network security is vital to maintaining the integrity of your data and the privacy of your organization and employees. Criminals have sought to take advantage of the pandemic and the exponential increase in remote working. Data, IT and technology With the industry being an obvious target, as it deals with a lot of personal information of the users, cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated. The availability and scope of data, and its interconnectedness, also made it extremely vulnerable to many threats. Even with firewalls, antivirus solutions, and cyber security awareness training for your employees, cybercriminals still manage to exploit any vulnerabilities they can find. It’s also helpful to conduct regular threat assessments or implement threat monitoring. Ohio University Systems Left Vulnerable in Software Breach. Since passwords are one of the biggest points of vulnerability, one of the simplest yet most effective way to ward off attacks is simply to create strong passwords which you change often. Understanding the evolving landscape can help educational institutions make the most of their security budgets by providing insights and information to help focus investments in the right business areas or security controls. Once inside your computer, a Trojan horse can record your passwords by logging keystrokes, hijacking your webcam, and stealing any sensitive data you may have on your computer. New research from Michigan State University is the first to apply criminal justice theory to smart vehicles, revealing cracks in the current system leading to potential cyber risks. This week the National Cyber Security Centre issued its latest alert warning of the threat to disruptive attacks aimed at the education sector, following a spate of attacks on schools, colleges, and universities. Unintentional threats, like an employee mistakenly accessing the wrong information 3. If possible, the universities should ensure they upgrade hardware routinely every few years. #infographic We talk a lot about protecting your IT systems and all the many unguarded ports of entry hackers can exploit. These challenges can and should be addressed to help developers reduce the volume of vulnerable code being shipped. There are three main types of threats: 1. Head of, manager, director)Senior Leadership (e.g. Entry Level (assistant, administrative)Intermediate Goal of Information Security An Information System is vulnerable to threats which can put the organizations assets at risk. The agency's warning comes amid a surge in remote work as organizations adapt to … With the advent of cloud computing, where data is stored on remote servers rather than on personal devices, it’s increasingly less about protecting your device than it is about protecting whole networks. These malicious professional attackers work in organised groups. In order to keep up the best practices of cybersecurity, each member of staff should be educated on new updates and the importance of habits such as regularly changing passwords, and knowing how to spot things such as phishing emails. A threat refers to a new or newly discovered incident that has the potential to harm a system or your company overall. Cyber criminals are after those exact glitches, the little security holes in the vulnerable software you use that can be exploited for malicious purposes. What might the graduate labour market look like in 2021. Academic registry and Quality 1. The Importance of Network Security. Protecting business data is a growing challenge but awareness is the first step. Protecting Your Organization. There are many different threats to your computer’s safety, as well as many different ways a hacker could try to steal your data or infect your computer. This delivers many advantages as it saves time and money for developers but also poses security threats. Update your device with the latest security feature or recommended update. Older hardware poses much greater security risks due to older software. They can also help to establish frameworks and guidelines to keep security up to date, but they cannot be relied upon in themselves to make an organisation secure. Hacktivists In 2016, Yahoo confirmed that state-sponsored hackers stole personal data from 500 million accounts in 2014 which included names, passwords, email addresses and security questions. Middle Management (e.g. This trend will only intensify as universities adapt further to learning and research during the current situation and its aftermath and, undertake more rapid and large-scale digital transformation. Once on a computer, the threat will tend to show little to no symptoms so it can survive for a prolonged period undetected. Luckily, you can rely on a trusted MSSP (Managed Security Services Provider) to help you ensure that your company’s digital assets are secure. If discovered, these vulnerabilities can be turned into successful attacks, and organization cloud assets can be compromised. The 22-year-old student was found to have changed the grades over a 21-month period in a scheme which lasted from March 2015 until December 2016. They are usually after the information and not the money, at least in most cases. A new threat to secure online communication could be a symptom of a wider cyber security problem. Open-source software has flourished in company systems. Dangerous cyber security awareness: 7 ways your employees Make your Smart Home vulnerable 5 read. Are also, frequently, how your university can be vulnerable to security threats universities should ensure they upgrade hardware routinely every few.... Ensuring that your device is not vulnerable to threats which can put the organizations at... That are not equipped to deal with the increasingly sophisticated attacks authority to check processes. What works on learn about network security involves a broad range of practices all they want is and... And whether consent was acquired to publicly promote any work in organised groups from billing invoices to '! You out of your data and an access to your it infrastructure and think ’. 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