Protect your student data from continued ransomware attacks, says Espria
Legacy systems present major vulnerabilities to organisations across all sectors trying to secure their operations in today’s cybersecurity climate. With the advancement of digital tools at a rapid rate and the onset of generative AI-boosted attacks proliferating amongst cyber actors, there are numerous new threats as well as exposed gaps in security that can no longer be ignored. The Education sector is no exception to attack – it’s just another target containing data ripe for exploitation.
Sophos’ The State of Ransomware in Education 2024 report has highlighted that, although ransomware attack rates are falling, they remain at dangerous levels. Where only 63% of lower education and 66% of higher education organisations were hit by
ransomware in the last year – a considerable decrease from the 80% and 79%
reported in 2023, respectively, attack rates in education remain greater than the global cross-sector average (59%).
Brian Sibley, Virtual CTO at Espria comments, “Education remains a target for cyber actors due to the lucrative value of data available for minimal investment in attack. Often, these organisations find themselves without the cybersecurity budget, or even IT budget, for effective tools, which thus becomes a wider attack surface for ransomware and similar cyber attacks.
“Particularly with legacy systems, schools must cover a wider range of hardware, some much older and thus needing extensive updates and safeguarding. Add to that the factor that systems are accessed by a range of people who may fall prey to phishing attacks or malicious emails, and you create the perfect medium for network entry and attack. IT operators for schools and academies can’t be complacent when it comes to security, as threats aren’t going away.”
The Sophos’ report also highlights that, whilst attack rates have fallen slowly, recovery costs have more than doubled. The average cost to recover from ransomware attacks in primary and secondary education organisations has more than doubled since 2023 to £2.8 million, and in higher education organisations nearly quadrupled to over £3 million. Two-thirds of organisations will choose to pay up to get encrypted data back – a massive increase from previous years.
Sibley commented, “IT operators in schools need to be proactive in their cybersecurity strategy. With already tight budgets to contend with a hefty ransomware payout is something they definitely cannot afford. Mitigating threats before they can occur is a simple strategy, but operators need to have the orchestration of security tools in place to ensure nothing slips through the cracks when it comes to cyber threats.
“Your choice of MSP is therefore critical in architecting the best approach to close security gaps. Through a wider alliance of cybersecurity partnerships, schools and academies can gain access to greater expertise and compatible security solutions through their managed service provider, and thus quickly upgrade their existing operations to become more future-ready against threats now and in the coming years. All of this is also available on a budget, helping organisations reduce costs, not just via better solution pricing, but also in preventing payouts to attackers.”
“Education will continue to be a target when it comes to cybercriminal attacks, and therefore organisations need to be making operational IT changes now before further attacks occur. Can you really afford to be risking your security and putting staff, parents’ and students’ data at risk? A collaborative security partnership gives educators the tools they need to ensure safe learning for all students in the digital age – the options are there, it’s just about trusting the right MSP.”
You may be interested in
The Hidden Costs of Printing: How Managed Print Services Reduce Business Waste
Introduction For many organisations, printing is viewed as a routine operational expense. Printers are purchased, toner is replaced when needed, and documents continue to flow through the business without much scrutiny. However, the true cost of printing extends far beyond paper and ink. Unmanaged print environments often create hidden expenses through inefficient device usage, excessive energy consumption, IT support demands, security risks, and employee downtime. These costs can accumulate significantly over time, impacting productivity and profitability. This is particularly relevant as businesses seek to optimise operations, reduce waste, and improve sustainability while controlling expenditure. Whether…
Can Your Business Actually Recover? The Operational Resilience Question Most SMEs Cannot Answer
Operational resilience is not a technology problem. It is a business problem. And until boards and leadership teams own it, no amount of IT investment will be enough. The Gap Between Confidence and Reality Most organisations believe they are more resilient than they are. The backups are running. The antivirus is licensed. The IT team knows what they are doing. That confidence, in our experience, rarely survives first contact with an actual incident. The question is not whether your systems are protected. The question is whether your business can keep delivering its most important services…
Why the Sophos–Microsoft Partnership Matters – Especially for Education, Financial Services and Legal Organisations
For most organisations today, Microsoft is the foundation of how you operate and on top of this there is also a requirement for regulatory compliance and operational resilience. Whether it’s Microsoft 365 for collaboration, Teams for communication, or Azure for infrastructure, these platforms sit at the heart of day-to-day business. But for sectors like Education, Financial Services, and Legal, that reliance comes with heightened risk, and responsibility. These organisations are not only prime targets for cyber attackers, they are also subject to strict regulatory, data protection and governance obligations. That’s why the partnership between Sophos…
Why Cyber Resilience Can’t Be Audited Once a Year: Lessons from the UK Cyber Action Plan
Moving from box‑ticking compliance to real‑world cyber readiness Written by Richard Puckey Cyber security has a confidence problem For years, many organisations have taken comfort in annual cyber audits, certifications and compliance checklists. Pass the audit, tick the box and move on. On paper, everything looks secure. The problem? Cyber threats don’t operate on an annual cycle. The UK’s Cyber Action Plan is a clear signal that this approach is no longer enough. It challenges businesses to rethink cyber security not as a periodic compliance exercise, but as a living, breathing capability and culture that must stand up…
How Housing Associations Can Transform Tenant Experience with Modern OmniChannel CX
Written by Russell Hallam, CX Consultant at Espria In today’s housing landscape, tenants expect fast, seamless and personal interactions, no matter which channel they use. Phone, digital, web chat, video, email, messaging: it all needs to feel connected, consistent and effortless. But for many teams, the reality is different. Disconnected systems slow down responses, important information is buried across platforms and frontline staff shoulder the burden of manual processes. At Espria, we’ve helped housing associations modernise their customer experience with cloud-enabled omnichannel solutions designed for efficiency, visibility and compliance. Here’s what that looks like in action. 1. RealTime CRM Integration: Context at the Exact Moment You Need It When a tenant calls,…
Elevating Human Risk Management: A Boardroom Must for Cyber Resilience in 2026
Written by Richard Puckey As organisations move through 2026, cybersecurity has firmly established itself as a core business risk. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing, threat actors are more capable than ever and the operational and reputational impact of cyber incidents continues to escalate. In response, businesses have invested heavily in security technology such as advanced detection platforms, zero trust architectures, AI-driven analytics and automated response capabilities. These controls are considered essential and non-negotiable. However, are they sufficient? The reality facing security leaders today is clear, the majority of material cyber incidents still involve a human decision…