Educational institutions face unique challenges when it comes to information security. First, they have to try and balance the freedom of access with the protection of important data and digital assets. This is a complex issue, as users need to access certain resources; however, this can make it very difficult to protect important assets. Second, the number of devices connecting to their networks, from computers to smartphones, makes battling cyber threats even more challenging. Third, many of these institutions often have to make do with limited resources and tight budgets.
According to EDUCAUSE Review
, a nonprofit association of IT leaders in higher education, information security is a top IT issue facing educational institutions in 2021. This involves “developing a risk-based security strategy that effectively detects, responds to, and prevents security threats and challenges.”
The Center for Digital Education
points out 8 major cybersecurity challenges facing higher education:
- Phishing
- User Education (Cybersecurity Awareness)
- Cloud Security
- High-Profile Information Security Strategy
- Next-Generation Security Technology Planning
- Identity and Access Management
- Governance Over Data Security
- Unsecure Personal Devices