As cyber-attacks against businesses and government departments are on the rise across the world, it would appear that our state education department is no exception.
South Australian schools have been facing a troubling rise in cyber attacks, with a significant increase in online extortion attempts by hackers targeting sensitive school data.
As these threats continue to grow, cyber security awareness is no longer an optional skill; it’s an important safeguard for schools and the broader community.
Why schools are an attractive target for cyber criminals
Educational institutions store large amounts of sensitive information, from student records to staff data, making them lucrative targets for cyber criminals. However, some schools can lack the robust cybersecurity measures that are standard in other sectors, making them more vulnerable.
Our education system has evolved over the years, and as such teachers, educational support staff, and students rely on digital tools for education on a daily basis, meaning that schools become an attractive point of entry for attackers seeking to exploit systems that may be under-protected.
Age is no barrier
Despite our children often being more technologically savvy than us at times, they are also unfortunately easy targets when it comes to hacking or phishing attempts as they lack awareness.
The Australian Institute of Criminology’s (AIC) Cybercrime in Australia 2023 report found that younger people were more likely to be cybercrime victims than their older counterparts.
Cyber threats are real, and the stakes are high
Cyber threats are no longer a vague possibility; they’re a daily reality affecting countless organisations. Countries such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia are consistently launching cyber attacks against Western nations. Schools, government organisations, and businesses alike are all in the crosshairs.
Teaching students about cyber security goes beyond safeguarding data—it fosters a resilient mindset that can protect the community at large in the face of a growing digital threat landscape.
Attackers pay no heed to who they are targeting, or what impact they may have on your life – they are simply seeking easy targets that they can exploit and take advantage of easily, and as many times as they can. Take for example those incidents of a home or business being broken into with items stolen, it’s not uncommon for thieves to wait enough time for items to be replaced before returning to steal them all over again.
With each cyber security breach or incident, the target needs to improve their security to prevent a repeat of the previous incident, and anything else identified as being a risk.
Cyber security Awareness: Building a culture of safety in schools
The need to make cyber security education a fundamental part of our school system is paramount. It’s not just a risk to businesses—protecting our schools and educating young people on cybersecurity is vital.
The school day may start at 8:30am and end at 3:30pm, but cyber security vigilance is a 24/7 responsibility. With some students (and teachers!) online from the moment they wake through to the moment they turn in for the night, it’s crucial that we prepare them to protect themselves and contribute to the security of our society.
As threats continue to evolve, so too must the training and awareness that goes with it. Schools must educate not only students but also teachers, administrators, and parents on safe digital practices. Cyber security should not be confined to the IT department; it’s a collective responsibility that requires ongoing attention, training, and engagement from everyone in the community.
The path forward: Cyber security education for future generations
Children are getting online earlier and earlier, so it is important that they are trained in an age-appropriate manner.
Ensuring students receive comprehensive cyber security training helps build a safer future for everyone. Education should be about teaching children not only the importance of safeguarding personal data, but also providing them with the skills to recognise and respond to threats.
These are skills that are foundational to future employment opportunities as well.
In a perfect world, children would be supervised at all times when in an online environment, but we know that this is often far from reality. Adding improved security capabilities to devices or the home network can provide an added layer of protection, and some peace of mind.
Educating for a safer tomorrow
As the volume and complex nature of cyber threats continue grow, so too must our commitment to cyber security in schools. While the education department have doubled the size of their cyber protection unit, we need to remember that promoting cyber security awareness at every level of the education system is the key.
Regular ongoing security awareness training is critical to keeping people aware of threats. Much like going to the gym, it is a ‘muscle’ that must be continually trained to stay ‘fit’.
