IDX President and CEO Tom Kelly Addresses Cyber Threats Facing Schools, Colleges, and Universities

The rise of cyberthreats to schools, as featured on Price of Business Radio

Lincoln College permanently closed on May 13 after a ransomware attack last December hindered admissions activities and access to all institutional data for months, becoming the first U.S. college or university to shut down in part due to a cyberattack.

Tom Kelly, president and CEO of IDX, sat down with Kevin Price, radio host for the Price of Business show, to discuss the growing threat that cyberattacks pose to schools, colleges, and universities.

Tom pointed out that academic institutions have more touchpoints that cybercriminals can exploit, especially in remote learning conditions where faculty members and students are using both personal and institutional networks. And these institutions are less likely than government agencies or enterprises to practice proper digital hygiene, such as regularly updating passwords and using secure digital systems.

One reason that is the case, as Tom noted, is because the budgets at many academic institutions are stretched thin right now. And that means funding for information technology and cybersecurity is often inadequate to protect against cyber threats. “You’ve got a perfect storm environment for cybercriminals to go after these institutions,” Tom said. “And we see this happening on a pretty broad scale.”

Academic institutions are also a prime target for cybercriminals, especially those linked to foreign adversaries, because of their intellectual property. Tom explained that state-backed cyber actors from countries like China, Russia and Iran have a history of targeting colleges and universities for their intellectual property.

Tom offered several steps that academic institutions, faculty members, and students can take to better protect themselves from cyber threats. That includes investing in a robust cyber defense network, making sure institutional and personal devices are updated and connected to secure networks, and monitoring social media activity to protect against threats like phishing scams.

Cyber threats have widespread consequences not just for academic institutions but for enterprises and individuals as well. But the tools you need to protect your business or personal information are available to you. Visit www.idx.us to see how IDX privacy protection software can help you.