As all the industries are getting online, Cyber Security is getting a huge demand and it is now one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. With newer technologies, we are getting more exposed to bigger cyber threats from hackers who are searching for refined ways for cybercrimes. It won't be wrong to say that such cyber-attacks are gaining aground in the education sector as more and more breaches in schools and higher education are being reported. It, therefore, has become imperative to cover and protect the globe with Cyber Security in Education.
“Cyber security deals with all the technologies and practices that keep the computer systems and electronic data safe.”
Reasons Why Hackers Are Choosing Education Sector for cybercrime:
With varying size, purpose, and stature of the educational institutions, the motives for attack can vary too. So, institutions need to evaluate the risk factor and understand which data is vulnerable to unauthorized access and must be concerned about Cyber Security in Education.
- DDoS attacks – DDoS or Distributed Denial of Service attacks are the common type of attacks in Education venues. This can be an easy attack for amateur cybercriminals to carry out, especially if the target network is not protected properly. It might be conducted with motives ranging from simply wanting a day off, to protesting the way a complaint was handled.
- Data theft – This is another type of cyber-attack affecting all levels of educational institutions. In this cybercrime, the hacker hacks the student and staff data, including sensitive details like names and addresses institutions hold.
- Financial gain – Another motive of the hackers, behind the attack on an educational institution, is for financial gain. They target the fees paid via an online portal, often transferring large sums of money to cover a whole term or year of tuition without proper protection.
- Espionage –In the case of higher education institutes like Universities and Colleges, they often possess valuable intellectual properties. Universities/Colleges need to be suitably protected, as those things will be safe.
How Education is targeted?
Cyber security Posture Survey by JISC’s 2018 questioned IT professionals to name the top cyber threats facing their institutions, and the top three answers are given below:
- Phishing – Phishing is a scam that takes the form of an email or instant message which was designed to trick the user to trust the source in a fraudulent attempt. Then after gathering the access details whether that is sensitive student data or confidential research, they tear the poor security patch. It is the most common way of cybercrime these days.
- Ransomware/Malware – Ransomware and malware attacks prevent users from accessing the network or files. In short, Ransomware or malware typically infects devices using a Trojan, a file or attachment disguised as genuine.
- Lack of awareness – The major reason for these cybercrimes is lack of awareness. This may be on the part of staff or students who are not aware of cyber.
Importance of Cyber Security:
As we are living in a tech-savvy world that is rapidly evolving due to the advancement in digitization, it is obvious that today no sector is immune from the threat of a cyber-attack. Sadly, it also includes schools and universities now. A large number of data of the educational institutions as well as the increasing number of interconnected devices are making this sector a vulnerable platform for cyber-hacking. Looking at the complexity of networks today, and the threats to their security, we can definitely say that the traditional anti-virus solutions are also no longer enough. So, Cyber security is no longer considered as just an IT issue but is holistically approached throughout all the sectors and hence should be treated as a collaborative effort to diminish.
Getting Into Cyber Security Career Path:
Cyber security Course is in high demand now due to the growing need for security patches in all the industries. Here is some more information about building a career in cyber security that could lead you to your dream job.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree:
The job industry searches for a bachelor's degree in cyber security. Some colleges/institutions are offering Bachelor's degrees in this stream.
Certifications
By pursuing this certification course, the students will be able to explore digital forensics, legal issues in computer security, cryptographic techniques, and designs for network perimeter defense.
Master’s Degree in Cyber Security
A masters’ degree involves learning how to protect vital electronic infrastructure and computer networks from attack.
Why Choose Cyber Security As Career Option?
Jobs are on the rise:
The present scenario shows that there are not enough qualified professionals to meet the demand in this industry. So it is predicted that there will be at least an 18% increase in jobs related to cyber security through 2024.
Room for career advancement:
That means in no time, you will get new, advanced positions. An employment survey shows that the cyber security unemployment rate at zero percent which means there is a job for everyone in this field.
Work in many industries:
Almost all organization in every industry needs a security service that means when you will step out for getting a job, you won’t be restricted to a certain type of companies. The job responsibility in this sector involves the following factors:
- To make sure employees use strong passwords
- Ensure downloading of the latest patches and software updates
- Ensuring the security of data
