In 2024, the average cost for a higher education institution to recover from a ransomware attack hit $4.2 million—nearly four times the $1.6 million average in 2023. And while the price tag is staggering, the impact goes beyond finances. On average, it takes colleges and universities five months to publicly report a breach—the longest delay of any sector—further eroding trust with students, families, and donors.
The Growing Threat to Higher Education
Nearly 80% of ransomware attacks in education last year targeted higher education institutions, with many schools lacking the resources to recover quickly. Even more concerning, 77% of universities detected a cyberattack in the past year, underscoring how pervasive these threats have become.
For institutions already stretched thin by budget constraints and staffing shortages, a successful attack can bring operations to a standstill—delaying financial aid disbursements, locking students out of registration, or even compromising sensitive personal information.
Many colleges and universities continue to rely on legacy SIS platforms that weren’t built for today’s cybersecurity landscape. Outdated systems often lack advanced encryption and real-time monitoring, rely on manual oversight and struggle to keep up with timely security patches. Each of these weaknesses creates entry points for attackers and increases the risk of disruption.
The Cloud Advantage: A Modern Defense
A cloud-based SIS like Thesis Elements is designed to meet today’s cybersecurity challenges head-on. Since data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, role-based access ensures users only see what’s relevant to their role. In addition, multi-factor authentication makes it harder for attackers to gain entry with stolen credentials. Regular automatic updates protect institutions from newly discovered vulnerabilities without burdening IT teams, while compliance with standards such as ISO 27001 and local data protection laws ensures institutions meet regulatory requirements.
Equally important, Thesis Elements takes regular, secure backups and offers redundancy to restore operations quickly in the event of an incident. Combined, these safeguards make it possible to prevent attacks from disrupting the student experience—and to recover with minimal downtime if an attack does occur.
Safeguarding the Student Experience
Cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting systems—it’s about protecting students. By adopting a cloud-based SIS, institutions can ensure secure access to academic records, financial aid and course registration without disruption. It’s more than an IT decision; it’s a student success decision.
Thesis Elements is purpose-built for small to mid-sized colleges and universities, offering the security, scalability and reliability institutions need in today’s threat landscape.