08/08/2021

Top 6 Reasons Why Student Data Security Is Essential

Today, most schools have adopted the use of technology. When a student is registering, they provide their data as well as their parents’ data. This means that it may turn very detrimental if student information is not appropriately secured. Most institutions do not understand why it is vital for schools to ensure that they need to secure student’s data. Since they think that student information is not significant. This article will explain why it is essential to ensure that your students’ data is well secured.

Manipulations

Schools store students, parents, and staff data such as names, emails, phone contacts in a database. These types of information are sensitive, and they can be used to manipulate parents by sending them email spam in case an authorized person gains access. For example, a parent can be receiving wrong information about their children or even threats.

There are so many things that intruders can do with such a database, which can lead to severe damage and loss. If this data falls in the wrong hands, it can be sold in the black market at a hefty price. So, it is vital to ensure that there is complete control of every bit of information in a school.

Information value

Information is crucial for any institution. If an intruder gains access to a school system, financial information may be at risk. Most schools hold vital data about their staff identifiable information such as worker’s date of birth, address, social security numbers, etc. that a criminal can use to impersonate someone.

Since schools contain all this information for both students and staff, it makes it an ideal place for attackers. So, the school database has so much value, and it is crucial to ensure it is secured.

Intrusion

A school database contains data on all students as well as their parents. It also has all the information on student’s academic performance on the assignments and final exams. However, if this information is not correctly secured, intruders with wrong intentions can access the information and change or delete grades for students. This can affect students in the future. For example, if there is an employment opportunity and the employer visit a national police check Australia for background check-up.

This form of manipulation is possible if there is no proper data protection in place. So, you should invest in a system that ensures that data privacy is maintained.

Mobile phone use

With the emergence of mobile devices such as phones and tablets, schools are taking advantage of introducing them to classrooms. However, the introduction of a new device in the network opens a new avenue of attack, is presented for criminals to exploit. These devices can be easily accessed and hacked. And as long as a device can connect to the internet, it can be easily hacked and accessed.

Mobile devices can be easily lost or stolen, and if it was not secured, an authorized person could gain access to school information. Therefore, everyone needs to ensure that they secure their phones, and if there is sensitive data, a school should be able to clear the data remotely.

Risk of life

When school data and information are taken with lightness, it can lead to security problems for students, parents, and staff. For example, if a hacker wants to kidnap a kid, they can send false message to the school using a clone number of a parent about picking up the kids.

So anybody whose data is in the school database is at risk because they can track where you are all the time. Therefore, this is another reason why schools should ensure that they invest in security systems to ensure everyone’s safety.

Malicious external attacks

These types of attacks happen in various ways. For example, a student or employee can click on a hyperlink that has a virus. Or a user opens an attachment that is sent by a hacker. After a user opens such an accessory, a hacker can gain access to a school system using the user’s terminal. So it is vital for schools always to do risk analysis and vulnerability tests on their network.

These are some of the reasons that every educational institution must ensure that students’ data and information are secured. This way, a student will not face problems with national police check Australia when they are looking for an employment opportunity since there will be no issues such as changed grades, impersonation, among others. Remember, if data is poorly handled can lead to severe damage to a person.

About Common Proficiency Test: CPT stands for Common Proficiency Test and it is the entrance exam to become a Chartered