Strengthening online security in schools: Protecting against cyber threats and the ongoing impact of Naz.API

In today's digital age, schools must prioritise online security to protect against cyber threats and safeguard sensitive data.

Understanding the Impact of Cyber Attacks on Schools

Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly common in schools, as recent research by the NCSC has shown. Many schools experience regular cyber incidents, with a significant portion resulting in negative consequences such as loss of money or data.

The global Naz.API data incident serves as an example that schools are not immune to the impact of cyber attacks. This incident involved a collection of leaked credentials, including millions of username and password combinations, which were compiled from various sources. As a result, school data was included in the leaked data set, impacting millions of users worldwide.

To ensure the security of your school, it is crucial to understand the potential impact of cyber attacks and take proactive measures to prevent them.

The Naz.API Data Incident: Lessons Learned

The Naz.API data incident was a significant cybersecurity discovery that involved a collection of leaked credentials. This incident was not a breach of a specific website or service, but rather a compilation of compromised credentials from various sources.

The leaked data set, which contained over a billion compromised credentials, was discovered circulating on the dark web. Alarmingly, 30% of these credentials were previously unknown. The data was primarily obtained through 'stealer logs' that capture keystrokes and retrieve stored browser passwords.

The Naz.API data incident serves as a valuable lesson for schools, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and regular monitoring to detect vulnerabilities.

Assessing Your School's Cyber Security Measures

To ensure the security of your school's data and systems, it is essential to regularly assess your cyber security measures. This involves monitoring and system testing to identify vulnerabilities and understand any gaps in your system's defences.

By conducting system vulnerability testing, system audits, and penetration testing, you can assess your school's ability to defend against cyber attacks. This proactive approach allows you to identify and address any weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors.

Keeping up with compliance requirements and adhering to the highest cyber security standards is important, but ongoing monitoring and testing are necessary to maintain a strong and secure school network.

Proactive Steps to Enhance School Security

In the wake of the Naz.API data leak, the 9ine Security Team took proactive steps to ensure the safety of partner schools and has been working with numerous other schools to enhance their security measures.

To enhance your school's security, consider implementing the following measures:

• Regular system vulnerability testing is needed to detect and address any weaknesses
• System audits to assess the overall security of your network
• Penetration testing to evaluate your school's ability to withstand cyber attacks

By taking these proactive steps, you can strengthen your school's security and better protect against cyber threats.

Recommendations for Strengthening Online Security in Schools

To strengthen online security in schools, consider the following recommendations:

• Partner with a trusted cybersecurity provider that specialises in serving schools, such as 9ine, to streamline your data protection obligations and receive expert guidance.
• Regularly update and patch software to address any known vulnerabilities.
• Implement strong password policies and educate staff and students about the importance of using unique and secure passwords.
• Enable multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to your systems.
• Provide cybersecurity training and awareness programs to staff and students to promote a culture of security.
• Regularly back up important data to ensure it can be recovered in the event of a cyber attack or data loss.

By following these recommendations, you can significantly enhance the online security of your school and protect against cyber threats.