What Every School Should Know About Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks on schools are becoming increasingly common, but they are preventable. Discover tips and tools to help you keep your data safe at all times.  

Ransomware attacks on educational institutions are becoming increasingly commonplace. Schools in New Jersey, New York, and Arizona are just some of the many recent victims of cybercriminals who know that many people who work in the educational industry often don’t have the IT training needed to deal with a cybercrime that can impact the lives of hundreds or even thousands of people.

Thankfully, there are tried and proven strategies for preventing a ransomware attack or dealing with one efficiently should the need arise. The following are some tips to help you boost IT security while creating an effective back-up plan should a disaster occur.

Use Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is not only free for teachers and schools but also comes with numerous cybersecurity capabilities to reduce the likelihood of being attacked by ransomware. Microsoft’s suite of programs for schools is specifically designed to meet New York privacy standards, ensuring your students’ private information remains safe and secure at all times.

Provide Cybersecurity Training to Office Workers, Teachers, and Substitute Teachers

All it takes to bring down your school’s IT system is a single email attachment, fake website, or pop-up window. That’s why it’s important to make sure that every single full-time or part-time employee in the school who works with the school’s IT network receives ongoing cybersecurity training.

Have a Disaster Recovery Plan

Creating a system to regularly back-up important data is perhaps one of the most important aspects of a disaster recovery plan. Data should be backed up both on-site and off-site to ensure that it won’t be lost no matter what type of attack occurs. Even so, backing up data is just one aspect of a disaster recovery plan. Administrative workers also need to know:

  • They should immediately shut down an affected computer and disconnect it from the network
  • Who to notify in the event of an attack
  • How to communicate with colleagues, teachers, and parents in the wake of an attack

Partner with an IT Managed Service

Partnering with an IT managed service provides a school with the technical expertise and assistance needed to keep the school’s IT department secure and running smoothly. IT managed services offer an array of scalable tools and features to make it possible for educational institutions to obtain the assistance they need at a price they can afford.

Network Outsource specializes in offering education technology consultancy services in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. We provide proactive IT monitoring services in addition to cybersecurity training to increase IT security at educational institutions. Additionally, we offer cutting edge IT hardware and software to keep your school’s IT system running at optimal speed and performance. Get in touch with us at your convenience to discover how we can help you protect your students, parents, and teachers from deadly cybercrime attacks.