IoT attacks on the rise in education sector

The education sector has seen an 861% rise in cyberattacks against “internet of things” devices, according to a new report from the cybersecurity firm Zscaler.

The group attributed the rise to the increased adoption of internet-connected devices, like cameras, security systems and classroom learning technologies.

“From smart classroom devices and connected learning tools to campus security systems, these advancements have inadvertently created an expansive attack surface,” the report reads.

The company said that because many educational institutions have limited budgets, they also have limited capacity to remedy such security flaws. Cyberattacks through “internet of things” devices can lead to disruptions to learning and the exposure of student and faculty data.

It’s not all bad news for the education sector, which includes K-12 institutions and higher education in the report. The volume of attacks against the education sector decreased by 65%, according to the report. Education represented roughly 6% of attacks, researchers found.