Zero-day attacks can be highly detrimental to educational institutions, and since they are executed before developers are aware of a vulnerability, they can be challenging to prevent. With the help of IT experts, universities and institutions of higher education can create robust defenses against zero-day attacks.
When zero-day attacks occur, hackers typically identify a vulnerability and then breach the system in a manner that draws as little attention as possible. One way this can be accomplished is by sending malware emails to users under the guise of a known name, asking them to open certain files or websites that would inevitably result in stolen data.
This is especially easy in higher education when students are used to receiving emails from unfamiliar senders, and not all have been educated on proper internet security hygiene. Because zero-day exploits happen before a patch or fix has been developed, organizations and any parties they work with are placed at high risk of losing valuable data.
However, recent technological advances have improved the chances of preventing zero-day attacks.
As technology continues to advance, the most effective steps to help prevent and remediate zero-day exploits have become more sophisticated. They include directives such as:
Preventing and remediating zero-day exploits involves preemptively tackling many of the previous points, but they are just one part of an overarching cybersecurity strategy that can handle zero-day attacks if they do occur.
It is imperative that universities and colleges integrate suitable people, processes and policies to build a robust cybersecurity framework. A few measures that institutions should implement to mitigate the damage of zero-day exploits include:
Threat intelligence tools are a necessity against the modern and complex cyberattacks utilized to exploit codes and software. The tools offer protection against large-scale and automated zero-day attacks, thus acting far more efficiently compared to a manual approach––which may make zero-day patching complex and slow.
Some examples of automated threat intelligence tools that organizations and corporations can purchase are Kaspersky Threat Intelligence, IntSights External Threat Protection (ETP) Suite, The Recorded Future Security Intelligence Platform, ThreatFusion, and many more. Integrating these with existing processes and choosing the right combination for a university’s use can be done with an CISO’s guidance.
Stationing layered security controls and limiting access to a minimal number of users will help prevent vulnerabilities and weaknesses caused by human error or lack of strong and updated security. Strengthening security controls by installing next-gen firewalls and reinforcing endpoint security mechanisms will help in detecting zero-day attacks that are in progress.
Despite robust security protocols, it is still possible that a cybersecurity breach will occur. What is most important at this juncture is having a strong, comprehensive disaster recovery and backup plan. Typically, organizations will form contractual relationships with incident response firms and experts to help aid in immediate action when a zero-day attack does occur.
By executing input validation and data sanitization, institutions can “close the attack vector that comes with input fields on sites and applications.” In other words, input validation and sanitation filters data inputs that pose potential problems or expose weaknesses in the code or software.
High-risk vulnerabilities caused by zero-day attacks can have wide-reaching effects, particularly in higher education, where thousands of people and their families may be impacted.
Hartman Executive Advisors is experienced in helping universities and colleges navigate technological transformation to efficiently intercept and respond to zero-day attacks and cybersecurity breaches. Reach out to learn more about preventing high-risk vulnerabilities in higher education or to schedule an appointment to get started.