4 Common human vulnerabilities in the Education sector

In education, technical defenses alone fall short. Human error causes about 90% of all cybersecurity incidents. Staff and students are often the “weak link” because attackers target human traits like trust and carelessness, not just technical flaws.

The education sector, from elementary schools to universities, is often described as “target-rich but cyber-poor.” It’s an appealing target for cybercriminals because it holds vast amounts of sensitive data, such as children’s PII, health records, financial details, and research-related intellectual property.

Understanding common human vulnerabilities—risky behaviors and beliefs—is key to protecting sensitive data.

Poor cybersecurity practices in educational institutions often stem from a lack of awareness, limited resources, or simple negligence.

• Carelessness and denial (Lack of institutional awareness): Many dismiss cybersecurity as a global priority. In education, this vulnerability is a serious lack of “Information Security Awareness.” Device standardization is difficult to enforce with many part-time, remote, and intern staff, leading to weak authentication protocols. Furthermore, only 33% of education sector staff feel their cybersecurity measures are sufficient. Budget-constrained institutions often rely on legacy software and devices, increasing their vulnerability. For example, studies found that 45% of universities used at least one asset running end-of-life PHP—software not updated for at least two years.

• Risky sharing habits (Open collaboration culture): Many users understand the importance of strong passwords but may think it’s okay to share them with trusted individuals. This common oversight is exacerbated in the education sector. Faculty and researchers often collaborate, inadvertently sharing sensitive data, which can expose intellectual property on public servers or storage. Students further increase this risk by using personal devices without security training and connecting to institutional networks via shared or public Wi-Fi.

• Worry without action (Budget constraints and prioritization): While many users worry about information security, this concern often doesn’t lead to vigilance or best practices. Budget constraints often push cybersecurity spending down the priority list, behind essentials like staff salaries and learning materials. As a result, there is frequently minimal to no investment in cybersecurity. For example, despite the high costs of data breaches, only 11% of surveyed higher education staff increased spending on security awareness training after experiencing a cyberattack, according to PacketLabs, a penetration testing company.

• Falling for social tricks (Social engineering tactics): Attackers frequently use social engineering. Phishing—disguising malicious emails to look trustworthy—stood out as the most commonly exploited method for gaining an initial foothold in educational institutions. In 2024, over 90% of K-12 ransomware attacks stemmed from exploited vulnerabilities, compromised credentials, or malicious emails. To achieve credential theft or malware insertion, attackers often impersonate trusted partners or create fake university communications. For example, Microsoft reported blocking more than 15,000 daily quishing (QR code phishing) emails that targeted the education sector, attempting to trick staff and students into sharing sensitive data or granting system access.

Awareness alone isn’t enough. Institutions need practical strategies that make secure choices easy and intuitive for everyone in their community.

1. Master your passwords and access control

• Set strong, unique passwords and use MFA: Set strong passwords, change them regularly, and never share them. Crucially, implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) significantly reduces successful attacks by adding a second layer of security beyond the password.
• Never write them down: Don’t record passwords on paper.
• Seek feedback: Use tools like password strength meters to guide users toward making stronger choices.

2. Spot the phish and report suspicious activity

• Flag external emails: Look for warning headers that identify messages from outside the institution’s network, providing an immediate reason to be cautious.
• Beware of social engineering: Be cautious of messages that exploit emotions like urgency or trust. Phishing attacks are rapid: users click malicious links in a median of 21 seconds and enter data in under 60 seconds.
• Conduct regular employee cybersecurity training: Regular training sessions can significantly reduce the risk of human error. Consistent, ongoing programs have been shown to lower the percentage of employees likely to click on phishing links (Phish Prone Percentage or PPP) from over 30% to as low as 4.9% in large educational institutions.
• Report suspicious activity: Encourage staff and students to immediately report potential phishing emails. Gamification (e.g., points or badges) can motivate reporting, turning security into a collaborative effort.

3. Practice secure internet use and develop institutional resilience

• Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks: Students and staff should not use public Wi-Fi networks (like those in coffee shops) for important tasks such as accessing institutional systems, as these networks are not secure.
• Understand your responsibility: You are responsible for your actions when using technology and the internet.
• Invest in incident response planning: Institutions need a well-documented, regularly updated Incident Response Plan (IRP). This minimizes the impact of cyber incidents, which can cause significant disruptions like suspended classes and extended outages for critical systems.
• Offer support, not punishment: When a staff member makes an honest mistake, the priority should be to help them understand and learn from it to prevent future issues. This approach fosters a positive security culture, rather than resorting to immediate punishment.