The evolution of cyberattacks has seen a shift from simple ransomware attacks to more sophisticated data extortion practices. The attackers resorted to publishing stolen data, selling it on the dark web, or extorting money from victims even after receiving payments. The financial implications of these attacks are considerable, with ransom demands ranging from $3,000 to $50 million in 2022, a significant increase from previous years, he says.
Such statistics require district leaders to move from a state of alarm to a “state of emergency,” says Fadhil.
Address Common Challenges with DLP Solutions
K-12 IT decision makers face a multitude of cybersecurity challenges, including phishing, social engineering, insider threats, mobile device security, and regulatory compliance. DLP plays a critical role in addressing these challenges by identifying or classifying sensitive data, restricting access to it, and encrypting it if necessary. This ensures confidentiality, integrity and availability of data.
Wofford emphasizes that people remain the primary attack vector and that DLP helps schools defend against malicious and unintentional data leaks. Additionally, DLP solutions are essential for ensuring regulatory compliance and effective incident response.
MORE ON EDTECH: The executive director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance takes on phishing.
Most of the core features and functions of DLP solutions are not unique to K-12 settings. They typically include custom data detectors, application monitoring, and network activity detection.
“One area that may be unique to K-12 schools is user behavior monitoring, which takes into account insider threat prevention and detection,” says Wofford. “Schools have a unique environment with a mix of user types and network signing behaviors. It is difficult to imagine another industry that has multiple categories of users, such as teachers, students, administrators, maintenance workers, etc., who frequently change their location within the network and access different types of data.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a DLP Solution
DLP technology can integrate seamlessly with existing IT infrastructure and education systems, Wofford says. It can be integrated with network, endpoints, web, messaging systems and identity and access management for complete data protection. Integrating DLP technology with firewalls, routers, switches and mobile device management solutions ensures real-time monitoring and enforcement, effectively protecting sensitive data.
Implementing and maintaining DLP solutions involves various costs, including licensing, hardware and software, implementation, training, ongoing support, and necessary IT staff. These costs should be considered to ensure that the chosen DLP strategy aligns with the school budget and resources, adds Wofford.
“When evaluating and identifying a DLP solution for their school system, K-12 IT decision makers must ensure that the proposed solutions fit their institutional goals and align with their cloud strategy,” he explains. “K-12 policymakers are pulled in multiple directions. It is therefore essential to define what success will look like, such as user adoption or training. »
He also suggests that it is essential to understand the reputation of the provider and their ability to offer support.
One of the key factors when evaluating DLP solutions is the need to plan. IT managers need to assess their infrastructure, identify their weaknesses and determine their capabilities before going to market, says Fadhil. The goal is to ensure consistent defense across all elements of the IT environment, particularly in a world where access to data is required from virtually anywhere and on any device, adds -he.
KEEP READING: Four Tips for Improving Data Loss Prevention in K-12 Schools.
Future Trends and Innovations in K-12 DLP Solutions
Experts agree that the issue of cybersecurity in schools will remain a major concern. It received increased attention in August when the White House announced new actions and commitments to strengthen cyber defenses in schools.
Fadhil, who attended the announcement with some of his Palo Alto colleagues, says the event highlighted the level of urgency.
Fadhil recognizes that funding and workforce challenges pose significant obstacles for K-12 institutions, and that it is crucial to select solutions that seamlessly integrate with their education infrastructure. existing cybersecurity. By adopting a platform approach and integrating automationschools can improve their cybersecurity posture while remaining focused on education and student well-being, he says.
