S.A.F.E. | 7 Ways College CISOs Can Prevent Cybercrime on their Campuses

Experts have warned that the new war will take place on digital platforms. Thus, there is a growing urgency among Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) at universities and colleges worldwide to enhance their IT security and data protection mechanisms. Since there is sensitive data on the college campus, if they aren’t protected properly, it can be quite a red flag. Cybercriminals look for such opportunities to attack colleges. 

Let’s take a look at some ways college CISOs can prevent cybercrime on their campuses. 

      1. Increase Faculty and Student Awareness

Schools may take other precautions than hiring a cybersecurity staff to keep themselves safe. The most crucial stage is to inform the instructors, staff, and students about the necessity of cybersecurity. Create a comprehensive cybersecurity plan and establish guidelines for each employee. 

Additionally, be certain that the strategy specifies how staff and students utilize the on-site WiFi. The essential thing is to try to hold regular seminars to educate people about typical phishing emails and cybercrime dangers.

      2. Invest in More Layers of Security 

Among common mistakes that college campuses make is neglecting the need for extra security to protect students and finances on digital platforms. 

There are many amazing tools available now that can beef up your cyber security. We recommend Student Application Fraudulent Examination (S.A.F.E) by AMSA Connect for CISOs who want to expand cyber security. It offers enhanced due diligence, identity verification, and ongoing monitoring to ensure that you can protect data. With custom reports and detailed analytics, you can stay on top of any suspicious activity. 

      3. Build Secure Networks 

College students may be particularly vulnerable while using public WIFI. They ought to be aware of the dangers of accessing open networks and how to safeguard their privacy.

      4. Conduct Data Security Audits

A reasonable first step is to be aware of what you’re attempting to safeguard and identify some typical ways data might be compromised. 

However, a comprehensive data security audit goes much further. The sorts of data the institution has kept and where it is located should be examined by auditors. They will list the computers, servers, laptops, and other mobile devices that might have access to the data. 

Additionally, they will look at the university’s current data breach policy. Every higher education institution should have a properly written security strategy for preventing data breaches and training to keep staff, professors, and suppliers up to speed on the most recent secure data-handling guidelines.

      5. Review Your Insurance Coverage

Institutions in the United States can get cyber insurance to cover the risks associated with data breaches. If you’re considering implementing a policy like this, pay close attention to any exclusions that might not fully address cyber risk. 

Make sure your insurance policy, if you have one, is updated to address new hazards.

      6. Retain Backups

Another crucial action educational institutions should take is to maintain a backup of all the saved data. If a hacker takes control of your device and deletes your data, you may quickly retrieve it if you regularly back up your data. You may also utilize any data recovery or backup program to guarantee that your data is safe and that you can recover it if you lose access to it.

      7. Create A Plan for Handling Cybersecurity Incidents

In the case of a cyberattack, there are several factors at play. Data security breaches can force the institution to go down, cost you a lot of money in ransom payments, and harm your brand incalculably. 

Create a strategy that notifies the appropriate individual in the college in the case of a breach, decide how to fix systems to halt the issue, and decide how you’ll react to a cyberattack more generally. 

Proactively develop a strategy considering preparedness, analysis and detection, eradication, containment, and recovery.

Final Thoughts

It can cost college campuses around $2.7 million to recover from a cybersecurity attack. For smaller colleges, it can prove to be fatal. 

Hence, it is important to implement some ways college CISOs can prevent cybercrime on their campuses. Try S.A.F.E now and enhance the overall data security mechanism of your college campus. It can reduce breaches, protect the brand, and keep your finances and data safer.