Higher education is fertile attack ground—and cybercriminals know it
Universities are already under immense pressure from financial constraints, regulatory requirements, and accountability demands—the last thing they need is a cyberattack. Unfortunately, the standard approach to document management has left many of them more vulnerable than ever. With AI making cyberattacks more prolific and effective, a single misplaced document could have devastating consequences. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Why? Cybercriminals know that universities often lack robust cybersecurity measures. In fact, in 2024, a staggering 97% of universities experienced a cyber-attack, leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and disruptions to academic activities. In other words, attackers know where universities are most vulnerable—and they’re exploiting those weaknesses like never before.
This article will explore how poor document management practices exacerbate these risks, how modern solutions can reduce cyber threats, and the critical steps universities must take to protect themselves.When you don’t get with the times
Many universities operate with woefully out-of-date IT systems. It’s not uncommon for staff to bypass the whole system and work with reams of paper on their desks. In fact, a new report from the Higher Education Policy Institute says that universities need “an army” of IT staff to keep systems from crumbling under their own weight. Not only is this a burden on staff, but it increases cyber risk.
That same report says that document management is one of the most significant failure points.
Consider this: internal servers are unreliable, so staff turn to alternative solutions. Personal email accounts become makeshift storage because institutional servers can’t be trusted. Physical documents, though tangible, are easily misplaced or lost in transit—exposing confidential data and creating GDPR compliance risks. Whether it’s application forms, research papers, or emails, without proper security measures, every document is a potential vulnerability.
Unsurprisingly, humans are often the weakest link. A hastily scribbled password on a sticky note, a list of student names and addresses that falls out of a plastic binder, or a shared drive that is open to anyone with a link — all represent a way into university servers for enterprising cybercriminals. Think about it: when thousands of students and faculty members are sending documents to and from, it’s essential that this is underpinned by good security systems.
