Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

KnowBe4 Releases Report on Education Sector’s Preparedness for Cyberattacks

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/19/25

Cybersecurity platform KnowBe4 recently released a new research report titled “From Primary Schools to Universities, The Global Education Sector is Unprepared for Escalating Cyber Attacks,” according to a news release. Multiple reports indicate that in 2024, the education sector was the most heavily targeted for cyberattacks, as many institutions don’t have adequate resources for comprehensive cybersecurity programs.

According to the report, both K–12 and higher-education institutions use third-party vendors for services like cloud storage, IT services, and software-as-a-service. Vulnerabilities in these third-party systems could affect all clients and institutions using these services.

The report also found that many schools and colleges mix modern and legacy IT systems to compensate for limited resources and the demand for modernization. This mix can provide attackers searching for an open door with access to either outdated or easily exploitable systems containing sensitive personal data.

Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigation Report (DBIR) found a total of 30,458 security incidents for the year, including 10,626 confirmed data breaches, the news release reports. Among these, 1,780 incidents (17%) were against educational institutions, and 1,537 (14%) included confirmed data breaches.

Finally, according to the report, Trustwave research documented 352 ransomware claims against educational institutions in 2023.

“Today’s classroom environment is becoming ever more digital, increasing the attack surface of educational institutions and creating an unprecedented level of cyber risk,” said KnowBe4 CEO Stu Sjouwerman. “Educational institutions have inadvertently become prime targets for sophisticated threat actors due to an overall lack of resources. The most concrete, effective step that an educational institution can take to secure vital and sensitive data is to ensure that all individuals who access IT systems are equipped with the proper tools, education and awareness to protect against cyber threats and reduce human risk.” 

Finally, the report indicated the significance of employee awareness training in mitigating security risks. Employee susceptibility to phishing attacks plunged from 33.4% to 3.9% in small educational institutions following a year of sustained training and simulated phishing attacks, the news release reports.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The College of Western Idaho's Agricultural Sciences Complex has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • Texas Recruitment

    Texas Recruitment

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The University of Texas at Austin's Texas Recruitment has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.