professional area This article is published in association with KPMG. In “Step 9. There are three main types of threats: 1. Your online security and cybercrime prevention can be straightforward. The availability and scope of data, and its interconnectedness, also made it extremely vulnerable to many threats. This often leads to cyber security initiatives and technology being prioritised in small, localised areas within a university, rather than the institution as a whole. Last year the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested a former University of Iowa wrestler who hacked into the school’s system on many occasions to obtain advanced copies of exams and change grades for himself and fellow peers. perform unauthorized actions) within a computer system.To exploit a vulnerability, an attacker must have at least one applicable tool or technique that can connect to a system weakness. COMMON THREATS: A BRIEF OVERVIEW 1 Computer systems are vulnerable to many threats that can inflict various types of damage resulting in significant losses. 2019’s biggest cyber security threats are and what you can do to avoid them. International University staff and students want a single sign on to access the university’s “digital campus”, and – especially during the Covid-19 pandemic – they need to be able to gain access remotely and from their own device, which is highly likely to be less secure than a university-managed device and adds to the already heightened risk. In some cases, ransomware locks you out of your device, and requires you pay a charge to access an encryption key. Joanne Wong, Senior Regional Director for Asia Pacific & Japan at American security intelligence company LogRhythm, said phishing is one of the oldest tricks in the book for hackers and continues to be very effective. Adware and spyware. And it took a while for companies to take this issue seriously. Research manager If possible, the universities should ensure they upgrade hardware routinely every few years. Before we get into detail about what the article is going to cover and help demystify steps need for assessing your current security posture, we would need to know a few basic terms and what they mean so when used in the context of this article, you have complete understanding of what it is they mean and are referring to. DVC/PVC/Dean)Head of organisation (VC/principal/CEO)Unsure / other, By submitting you agree to our terms and conditions. Monitoring and security software are vital components in any healthy business IT plan. Entry Level (assistant, administrative)Intermediate 6 Ways To Ensure That Online Security Threats Do Not Make Your Smart Home Vulnerable 5 min read. In this post, we highlight the most common types of SQL Server security vulnerabilities and what you can do to mitigate your risks. Cybercriminals are carefully discovering new ways to tap the most sensitive networks in the world. Hardware upgrades. Like a sniper, the most dangerous cyber security threats are the ones you never see coming. 1. From billing invoices to customers' credit card information, so much of your business focuses on private data. Planning and strategy Even the most mature organisations are having to rethink their cyber security approach for a new landscape of remote work and study during the pandemic. Marketing, PR and communications They are also, frequently, the organisations that are less likely to have strong cybersecurity protections in place which makes them vulnerable. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Universities are uniquely vulnerable to cyber attack during Covid-19, Seven things the HE sector learned in 2020 – and what universities should prepare for in 2021, Covid disrupts our academic identities, and that’s something we should embrace, Our days are numbered – how metrics are changing academic development, The Great Big Wonkhe Uni Christmas Cards Quiz. A firewall alone will not protect universities from every threat, but it is an added layer of protection that they should not be without. As cyber security professionals work to increase their knowledge of threats and cyber security information, earning an online cyber security master’s degree can be invaluable. From there, attackers can use organization assets to perpetrate further attacks against other CSP customers. This delivers many advantages as it saves time and money for developers but also poses security threats. This growth in attacks is set to continue as education accelerates its digital offerings and transforms its remote learning and working offerings as a result of the pandemic. Unsure / other, Job Level An MSSP consists of a team of trained cybersecurity experts who will work with you to create a custom cybersecurity solution to meet your needs and safeguard your company’s digital assets. Since passwords are one of the biggest points of vulnerability, one of the simplest yet most effective way to ward off attacks is simply to create strong passwords which you change often. Data, IT and technology Cybercriminals are carefully discovering new ways to tap the most sensitive networks in the world. There are many different threats to your computer’s safety, as well as many different ways a hacker could try to steal your data or infect your computer. A new threat to secure online communication could be a symptom of a wider cyber security problem. Finance The education sector tends to be seen as an increasingly attractive target for cyber criminals. One participant in our cyber benchmarking study told us, “We struggle to keep on top of suppliers…we get involved in the process when we get invited in.” Another said, “In practice, no one is interested until something has gone wrong. Here are the top 10 threats to information security today: All they want is data and an access to your IT infrastructure. It is important to have safeguards … Protecting Your Organization. Unintentional threats, like an employee mistakenly accessing the wrong information 3. Protecting business data is a growing challenge but awareness is the first step. Moreover, hackers can infiltrate even innocuous devices such as web cameras and use them to launch DDoS attacks. In this case, Wong said security solutions that constantly patrol the system can detect if a user is downloading research papers in high volume or accessing papers they don’t usually look at. Students are having to choose between physical and mental health, Why SAGE needs to hear from the humanities, Our turbulent times demand engaged universities. Once inside your computer, a Trojan horse can record your passwords by logging keystrokes, hijacking your webcam, and stealing any sensitive data you may have on your computer. Unfortunately, hackers can carry out cyberattacks using an IoT object or device. Bring your own device (BYOD) is one of the most complicated headaches for IT departments because it exposes the entire organization to huge security risks. Graduates of the University of North Dakota’s online Master of Science in Cyber Security program can expect to gain a deep and nuanced understanding of cyber attack methods. The 22-year-old student was found to have changed the grades over a 21-month period in a scheme which lasted from March 2015 until December 2016. Luckily, you can rely on a trusted MSSP (Managed Security Services Provider) to help you ensure that your company’s digital assets are secure. Older hardware poses much greater security risks due to older software. Gaining certifications such as Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials+ and ISO27001 can help to provide assurance that universities have adequate and effective policies, processes and security controls in place. Although filesharing is not in itself illegal, if you share or download copyrighted material without permission – even unwittingly – you are breaking both the law and UC policy and could be subject to University… This trend will only intensify as universities adapt further to learning and research during the current situation and its aftermath and, undertake more rapid and large-scale digital transformation. Even with firewalls, antivirus solutions, and cyber security awareness training for your employees, cybercriminals still manage to exploit any vulnerabilities they can find. UKRI’s Healthy Ageing Challenge has a radical new way of getting funding to innovative researchers, The Free Speech University Rankings stage a dramatic Christmas comeback, Rent reform would benefit students, universities and communities too, The UCAS 2020 cycle – more normal than predicted. If discovered, these vulnerabilities can be turned into successful attacks, and organization cloud assets can be compromised. One of the consequences is that cyber security teams can lack overall authority in their institutions, with departments purchasing systems without security oversight, potentially creating vulnerabilities. For universities, personal data breaches can potentially affect their reputation and valuable relationships with former students. Network security threats are a growing problem for people and organizations the world over, and they only become worse and multiply with every passing day. The discovery led to an off-campus search of his Iowa city apartment where authorities seized keyloggers, cellphones and thumb drives that allegedly contained some copies of intercepted exams. These malicious professional attackers work in organised groups. The emergence of smart cars has opened the door to limitless possibilities for technology and innovation—but also to threats beyond the car itself. Introduction to Network Security Threats Worms, Trojan horses, and DoS , also known as denial of service types of attacks are usually utilized malevolently to destroy and consume a given network’s resources. The availability and scope of data, and its interconnectedness, also made it extremely vulnerable to many threats. This means that universities must seize this opportunity to develop strong foundations for a strategic approach to cybersecurity, grounded in an assessment of digital threat and assets, it’s people’s awareness and capabilities, the processes that are used across the whole organisation, and the technologies that can support effective practice. Protecting business data is a growing challenge but awareness is the first step. Sion Lloyd-Jones is a member of KPMG’s cyber team in the North. The authorities said fortunately, no sensitive information was leaked, and as it stands, the incident did not appear to be linked to other attacks last year. Once on a computer, the threat will tend to show little to no symptoms so it can survive for a prolonged period undetected. Cyber attacks are frequently in the form of Remote Access Trojans (RAT), downloaded unknowingly as an attachment to an email or via software accessed through the internet, such as a game. Modern technology and society’s constant connection to the Internet allows more creativity in business than ever before – including the black market. Goal of Information Security An Information System is vulnerable to threats which can put the organizations assets at risk. Testing will need to be done remotely, business continuity plans updated, and threat monitoring enhanced to take account of new vulnerabilities and tactics. Security is an important part of any company. Academic Covid-19 has added another layer to all these existing vulnerabilities. They are usually after the information and not the money, at least in most cases. The emergence of smart cars has opened the door to limitless possibilities for technology and innovation – but also to threats beyond the car itself. Data Security: How to protect yourself from vulnerable open-source software? For example, you’re probably using add-ons in your browser and think they’re harmless. Like a sniper, the most dangerous cyber security threats are the ones you never see coming. Cyber security teams may struggle to control and manage access rights, with one respondent to our cyber benchmarking study telling us, “You could have studied at the university, come back as a member of staff and have both your access rights combined under your identity.” And ultimately a cyber security system is only as good as its weakest point, which may be the laxest user of the network. Policy and public affairs The former student allegedly sneaked into classrooms to install and retrieve keyloggers, which costs some US$50 in the market. Also common are social engineering techniques, such as adware, which is malware that displays unwanted advertising on your computer, or phishing, in which individuals are duped into sharing sensitive data or even transferring funds. Year on year, reported breaches in schools, colleges and universities have not only increased in number, but also in scale and sophistication. Source: Pexels. General software vulnerabilities Software in Bluetooth devices—especially those using the newer Bluetooth 5 specification—is not perfect. Security talent is difficult to attract and retain due to highly competitive rates in the private sector, and cyber security teams within the sector most commonly consist of between one to five individuals. It encompasses everything from the most basic practices, such creating strong passwords and fully logging out of community computers, to the most complex, high-level processes that keep networks, devices and their users safe. As the National Cyber Security Centre issues an alert to the education sector, Sion Lloyd-Jones explains why universities should expect a ramping up of cyber attacks - and what to do about it. And it took a while for companies to take this issue seriously. Even with firewalls, antivirus solutions, and cyber security awareness training for your employees, cybercriminals still manage to exploit any vulnerabilities they can find. This hands-on approach allows cyber security teams to test defences under realistic conditions and identify weaknesses that may not previously have been obvious. Once a strategy is established, the next phase is detection – conducting penetration tests, or appointing a “red team” to mount a cyber-attack to expose vulnerabilities. Once installed on your computer, RATs can give backdoor administrative access to your device, allowing access to your data and spreading itself across your network. Recent research by ForeScout, a security company, says that some IoT devices are so vulnerable that they can be hacked in minutes. © 2020 Tech Wire Asia | All Rights Reserved, 3 cybersecurity threats to universities and how they could be addressed, Singapore SMEs still lack a sustainable mindset in SEA, Twitter latest tech darling to latch on to Amazon public cloud, Telehealth poses “substantial” cybersecurity risks, warn Harvard researchers, Thailand aims to be the new APAC medical hub leveraging smart health. Peer support can help student engagement in challenging times – if you know what works. These challenges can and should be addressed to help developers reduce the volume of vulnerable code being shipped. “Once credentials are obtained, it can be very difficult to detect such a breach because they are logging in as the user,” Wong said in a statement to Tech Wire Asia. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The sector has access to great cyber expertise through Jisc, so perhaps go there instead! Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. They have carefully chosen targets from which they can get good returns. Modern technology and society’s constant connection to the Internet allows more creativity in business than ever before – including the black market. level The only people who would do that would be consultants with cyber services to sell. The “Top 10 actions to secure your environment” series outlines fundamental steps you can take with your investment in Microsoft 365 security solutions. In 2019 alone, the total number of breaches against the sector was higher than in 2018 and 2017 together. 1. Ralph Goodman, contributor The desire to make tasks more efficient and streamlined is a major driving factor behind a vast number of technological advancements. Network security is vital to maintaining the integrity of your data and the privacy of your organization and employees. Read on learn about network security threats and how to mitigate them. Security solutions that constantly patrol the system can detect if a user is downloading research papers in high volume or accessing papers they don’t usually look at. Cyber criminals are after those exact glitches, the little security holes in the vulnerable software you use that can be exploited for malicious purposes. Hacktivists What was once a closed, sealed system, now has multiple entry points, with multiple apps and collaboration platforms interconnected, and all powered by the cloud. There are many free but legal and professional-quality antivirus software available for individuals, such as Malwarebytes and AVG Technologies. Cyber maturity assessments can help to analyse the conditions and create a road map to increased cyber maturity – on the understanding that there can be no end-point and that cyber security must evolve to keep up with the evolution and sophistication of attacks. KPMG should disclose its role – and whether consent was acquired to publicly promote any work in this field or quote study participants verbatim. “It goes to show that the only way to minimize the damage done when breached is to employ artificial intelligence that will learn and detect anomalies in user behavior.”. They’re not getting it. Source: Shutterstock. The transition to the cloud has brought new security challenges. And yet, our work with the sector, including a cyber benchmarking study, suggests that universities are frequently inadequately prepared to protect themselves from a cyber attack. Business Development Middle Management (e.g. Academic registry and Quality But the human element of cyber security can’t be overlooked. #infographic We talk a lot about protecting your IT systems and all the many unguarded ports of entry hackers can exploit. Information System Security Threats and Vulnerabilities: ... Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, ... factors that can make data vulnerable to attacks. Head of, manager, director)Senior Leadership (e.g. IT has no remit or authority to check business processes for security compliance.”. #4 Separation Among Multiple Tenants Fails. The CSA and MOE said the credentials were then used to gain unauthorized access to the institutes’ library website to obtain research articles published by staff. 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