Ransomware Attacks Targeting School Districts on the Rise

Ransomware Attacks Targeting School Districts on the Rise

You may have recently heard about the The Vice Society ransomware gang attack on the LA Unified School District. This group is known for targeting all things education, including universities. The attackers asked for ransom in order to decrypt the data. The school district did not pay the ransom and the Vice Society published data and documents stolen from the cyberattack on the dark web.

“Schools are traditionally underfunded to handle modern cybersecurity threats,” said Brian Williams, Solutions Engineer at Rubrik. “Funding that schools have access to generally goes for infrastructure needs but not security. However, there is a group now calling for the ability to spend E-rate money on actual cyber security measures which has not traditionally been covered.”

While it is generally advised not to pay the ransom when dealing with criminals, sometimes the only option is to pay. “It’s a business decision that requires careful consideration while evaluating the outcomes” said Greg Manson, VP of Tego Advisory Services. “Utilizing proactive data protection solutions from Varonis and a robust backup solution from  Rubrik can help schools minimize the impact of an attack like this one.”

As cyberattacks continue to increase in number and sophistication, it’s critical that schools utilize strong security tools to better protect their networks and data. Developing a defense-in-depth strategy requires proper funding for schools. While it is difficult to secure this funding, it’s not impossible.

Rubrik can assist with these attacks starting with ensuring recoverability by providing an unassailable copy of the data. Additionally, Rubrik Security Cloud would eliminate the need to pay ransom to decrypt data, assist in identifying the ‘blast radius’ so a school could determine what was impacted and suggest the best recovery point. They also provide insights into whether sensitive data was included in the cyber incident and provide a platform for threat hunting to determine where the indicators of compromise reside. Finally, as an integral part of Rubrik Security Cloud support, we include at no additional cost, Rubrik’s Ransomware Response Team to assist with recovery.

Tego can assist with helping you secure funding in addition to enhancing your cybersecurity strategy. Contact us today to get started.

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About the author
Jennifer Vosburgh is a seasoned Marketing and Communications professional. With over 15 years of experience, she has a strong background in Marketing, Communications, and Event Management. As Vice President of Tego Data Systems in Raleigh, NC, Jennifer is responsible for delivering full-scale Marketing Campaigns across all platforms including website, email, social media, events, and more.
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