State of the Industry

Higher education has become a prime target for cyberattacks, as reflected in the surge of ransomware attacks throughout 2021. The open, collaborative nature of academic communities, combined with the wealth of sensitive and valuable data they possess, makes colleges and universities appealing to cybercriminals. A report from global cybersecurity leader Sophos reveals that 74 percent of ransomware attacks on higher education institutions were successful, compared to lower success rates in sectors like business, health care, and financial services. Despite being high-profile targets, many higher education institutions’ efforts to bolster their network defenses fell short. Additionally, they exhibited the slowest recovery times following an attack, with 40 percent taking over a month to recover and bearing an average remediation cost of $1.42 million.

Recent Attacks and Emerging Threats

Recently, renowned institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and the Georgia state-wide university system have fallen victim to cyberattacks. These have been orchestrated by groups such as the Russian ransomware gang Clop, notorious for demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms. In an attack on Johns Hopkins University, sensitive personal and financial data, including health billing records, were potentially stolen. Furthermore, the University of California, San Francisco had to pay $1.14 million to retrieve its data after an attack. These incidents indicate the emerging threat of ransomware attacks in higher education, with almost two-thirds of institutions reporting ransomware attacks in the previous year.

CyBourn’s Customized Solutions:

The escalating cybersecurity threats facing higher education institutions necessitate an integrated, comprehensive approach that combines technology, awareness, and preventative strategies. At CyBourn, we understand these distinct challenges within the education sector, such as risks from third-party vendors, insider threats, and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). Offering tailored solutions, our holistic approach merges advanced technology, expert advisory services, and around-the-clock monitoring, providing robust protection for institutions against both current and emerging threats.

• Incident Response: Our specialized CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team) delivers a robust, swift, and human-led incident response service. We prioritize active remediation, thorough analysis, and expert guidance, emphasizing human-centric solutions over automated incident handling.
• Comprehensive 24/7 Managed Detection and Response with EtherLast™: Our proprietary EtherLast™ platform powers 24/7 monitoring, threat detection, and response. Our SOC team employs machine learning, customized automation, and existing tools integration for efficient, cost-effective security.
• Vulnerability Assessments & Security Audits: Our team performs comprehensive assessments to identify potential weak spots in your systems, followed by detailed audits to ensure your security infrastructure is robust.
• Security Tool Configuration and Management: We help select and configure security tools and often serve as an extended part of client IT teams managing infrastructure.
• Compliance Advisory: We guide businesses through complex regulatory landscapes to ensure compliance with relevant laws and standards.
• Penetration Testing: Through rigorous testing, we identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.
• Proactive Threat Hunting: Our team proactively seeks out and neutralizes threats before they can impact your business.
• Vendor Risk Management: CyBourn offers robust vendor risk management, conducting security assessments, continuous threat monitoring, and swift incident response to safeguard organizations from third-party vulnerabilities.
• Prioritizing Insider Threats and APTs: We target insider threats and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) by employing proactive threat hunting, behavioral analysis, and comprehensive staff training, thereby reducing the risk of inadvertent data breaches.

CyBourn’s Comprehensive Approach

At CyBourn, we excel in identifying both external and internal attack surfaces, uncovering security gaps, recommending necessary controls, and proposing specific actions for remediation and improvement.

Continuous risk assessment evaluations form a crucial part of our approach. By regularly diagnosing potential vulnerabilities in your systems and utilizing real-time attack surface monitoring, we provide proactive defenses against potential ransomware and phishing attacks.

Our comprehensive approach enables our clients to develop a roadmap for enhancing their cybersecurity posture, tailor-made to the threats they face. Our dedicated, human-led incident response team operates from our 24/7/365 Security Operations Center, utilizing industry-leading tools for real-time system and network monitoring. We ensure early detection and prompt response to potential cyber threats, significantly mitigating any possible damage.

In Summary

In a landscape of evolving cyber threats, CyBourn provides the expertise, technology, and services needed to safeguard your educational institution. Together, we can navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape, ensuring your institution remains resilient, protected, and compliant, all while enhancing the digital learning environment.