With the exposure of numerous, high-profile attacks, 2016 has been unofficially dubbed the year of ransomware. Educational institutions are now being more frequently targeted than the hospitals and healthcare organizations that have been in the headlines. Yes, the next big threat to education is directly related to the very tools that support staff and students–servers, computers, and mobile devices.

The FBI says that ransomware is on its way to becoming a billion-dollar criminal enterprise. In 2016’s most high-profile education ransomware attack, ransomware infected a South Carolina county’s school servers and the district paid a BitCoin ransom valued at $10,000. In a 2015 case that garnered the attention of DHS and the FBI, hackers infected a New Jersey county school with ransomware, which affected students planning to take an entirely computerized exam.

“Ransomware has graduated to the big leagues–in terms of sophistication, targeting, automated payment, business savvy, and market maturity,” said Cloudburst Security Founder and Vice President Adam Bennett. “It’s only a matter of time before we see a major ransomware attack. Once hackers can gain control of an organization’s most sensitive information, they can demand increasingly higher ransoms.”

In addition to affecting a school or county’s bottom line, ransomware affects an institution’s reputation, compromises data, cripples operations, and stalls productivity. The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) recommends that educational institutions perform regular data backups,  maintain current endpoint security  and system updates, and ensure that users are trained on safe email opening and web browsing practices.

Cloudburst Security grasps the importance of cybersecurity protection in campus environments, for both students and staff. We are versed in the challenges presented by BYOD (bring-your-own-device), cyberbullying, social media, privacy concerns and reputation protection. Cloudburst Security brings a full spectrum of solutions to ensure a safe and productive academic environment. When needed, we offer the protection profiles; provide cybersecurity training; respond to incidents; provide advanced cyber solutions such as endpoint security solutions, perform security assessments, provide managed security services, coordinate with law enforcement, support public relations and media responses; continuously work to improve your security posture–in a discreet and professional manner

To learn more about how Cloudburst Security can stop hackers from holding your educational institution hostage, email us at: info@cloudburstsecurity.com