Russ Munisteri, CISSP and Director of Education at MyComputerCareer, just had his insights on cybersecurity in education picked up by both District Administration and University Business magazines. His message? Schools are getting hammered by cyberattacks right now, and most aren’t prepared for what’s coming next.
The Numbers Tell a Scary Story
The data is hard to ignore. Education institutions faced an average of 3,574 cyberattacks per week in 2024, a 75% jump from the year before. And when universities get hit with ransomware, they pay a median of $4.4 million, often with taxpayer dollars.
Why do schools make such appealing targets? They sit on valuable data (Social Security numbers, financial records, research tied to government contracts) while running outdated systems that can’t handle today’s threats. Budget pressures mean flashy classroom tech gets funded while core network security gets pushed aside. Hackers know this.
Cybercriminals Keep Raising the Bar
Attackers have moved well beyond obvious email scams. Cybercriminals now use AI-enhanced phishing emails that look completely legitimate, vishing (voice phishing) calls that pressure staff into sharing credentials, and smishing attacks through text messages that can compromise entire networks with a single click.
Russ highlighted a practical framework for schools: the three P’s of prevention, protection, and preparedness. This includes basics like multi-factor authentication and regular system updates, but also things administrators might not think about, like writing disaster recovery guides at a fifth-grade reading level so anyone can follow them under pressure.
Why This Matters for IT Careers
For anyone considering or building a career in IT, cybersecurity isn’t a specialty anymore. It’s fundamental. The education sector alone needs thousands of professionals who understand these threats and know how to defend against them. And it’s not just about technical skills. The most effective cybersecurity strategies require training everyone in an organization, from the IT department to the front desk.
The dual placement of this piece in District Administration and University Business demonstrates something important: thought leadership isn’t just about having expertise. It’s about reaching the right audiences with practical, actionable insights they can use right now.
Want to build the skills employers actively look for? Check out our cybersecurity training programs and see how MyComputerCareer prepares students from every background for real-world IT challenges.