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Attacks using ransomware have become a serious risk to educational establishments. Cybercriminals encrypt private information and demand payment to unlock it, which seriously impairs school operations and causes districts to incur enormous recovery expenses. The prime nations worldwide have security issues with the global educational system, which is actually in jeopardy due to the constantly changing tactics used by ransomware.
K12 schools have seen an exponential rise in ransomware attacks because of their digital assets, susceptible end users, and inadequate or nonexistent cybersecurity policies. A recent Comparitech article claims that during 2016, ransomware assaults increased by 393%, resulting in an estimated $35.1 billion in downtime from reported cases.
Since many instances go unreported, it is challenging to determine the actual financial impact. Demands for ransom might range from $1,000 to tens of millions of dollars. For instance, In the U.S.A., the Conti ransomware gang targeted Broward County Public Schools in Florida in 2021 and wanted $40 million, which the school district refused to pay. Consequently, the hackers released 26,000 pilfered files that affected more than 48,000 individuals.
Similarly, in India, we have witnessed a number of fake emails being sent to schools, especially in the region of Delhi NCR, declaring a threat to their security concerns with bombs being planted on multiple locations of the same school premises of Delhi NCR. Hackers are harshly trying by every means to obtain the PII from the schools’ databases.
Because cyber threats are constantly evolving and targeting the most vulnerable, cybersecurity requires a sustained commitment. Security and risk management leaders should prioritize the pre-incident phase of a ransomware assault, which includes planning and multilayered attack prevention, according to Gartner’s research, “How to Prepare for Ransomware Attacks.” A backup procedure, asset management, identity and access management, risk-based vulnerability management, and security awareness training should all be a part of this plan.
Backup Process
When it comes to recovering data after a ransomware, this is the main line of defense. Make sure the backup solution can withstand ransomware attacks, and keep an eye on the condition of any damaged backups.
Asset Management
Establish a robust asset management procedure to identify what should be safeguarded and allocate accountability, paying special attention to legacy systems.
Identity and Access Management
In accordance with zero trust principles, limit access to important apps, implement robust authentication, update PowerShell scripts, and prevent command prompt access. IT workers frequently use PowerShell scripting to manage systems, create solutions, and automate processes.
Exposure and Vulnerability Management
To identify and address exposures and vulnerabilities, implement an ongoing exposure and vulnerability management program. Since ransomware can use unpatched systems for lateral movement, integrate threat intelligence to correlate known exploits with vulnerability scanning.
Security Awareness Training
End users must receive ongoing education in order to protect data. Users will be less likely to fall for social engineering if they receive regular alerts, receive cyber awareness newsletters, and hear clear security advice repeated.
Schools and libraries can start constructing a robust security plan to stop and lessen ransomware threats by collaborating with a managed security service provider like Craw Security. In the midst of a complicated, dynamic threat landscape, Craw Security can assist in implementing an incident readiness and response plan and streamline the development of cybersecurity strategies.
Incident Readiness and Response
Risk assessments, vulnerability management, incident response planning, breach investigations, and employee training are all part of Craw Security’s extensive array of incident readiness and response services. These are tailored to the unique needs of an organization, guaranteeing proactive cyber incident prevention and mitigation. Through the use of cutting-edge technologies and solutions, Craw Security assists businesses in anticipating and preparing for successful responses to threats like ransomware attacks.
Managed Endpoint Security
To detect, look into, and address attacks on desktops, laptops, servers, virtual machines (VMs), and cloud containers, Craw Security provides powerful endpoint detection and response (EDR) with continuously updated threat data. The Craw Security SOC provides schools and libraries with a fully managed service that includes round-the-clock monitoring and threat hunting.
Exposure and Vulnerability Management
Schools and libraries can use a variety of security services, such as vulnerability management and breach and attack simulation services like penetration testing and red and purple teaming, to find, rank, and reduce the risk of vulnerabilities and exposures across an organization’s attack surface.
Managed Detection and Response for Government
Based on the many Moderate-authorized versions of the Craw Security USM Anywhere platform, Craw Security provides a managed service. A US-only security operations team supports the service, offering year-round, round-the-clock threat monitoring and management to assist in safeguarding sensitive and heavily regulated student data and guarantee uninterrupted delivery of educational services.
Email Security
Students, teachers, and staff who could unintentionally visit a dangerous website or download an infected file are protected by Craw Security’s Email Security with Check Point. This fully-managed service offers the best defense against socially engineered attacks in the industry. The solution provides comprehensive protection for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, covering the whole collaborative environment, including file sharing and communication tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack. The cloud-based solution is simple to implement and doesn’t require endpoint agents, appliances, or proxies.
DDoS Mitigation
DDoS attacks frequently follow ransomware attacks as a secondary threat. Additionally, a DDoS assault might specifically target schools, bringing down vital services. Volumetric distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are prevented and lessened by Craw Security’s DDoS Defence services.
Attacks using ransomware will keep coming up, becoming more sophisticated and frequent and targeting libraries and schools. In this regard, you can take the well-managed and exclusive VAPT Solutions in Singapore or any other nation worldwide through Craw Security, the Best VAPT Solutions Provider in Singapore. For this, you can nicely give us a WhatsApp text or call our 24X7 hotline number +65-97976564 and have a word with our professional VAPT experts with 7+ years of working experience in many domains of IT Security.
