Education

Threat Free Learning for Everyone

Academic institutions need security solutions that empower educators to deliver an inclusive learning experience. As digital classrooms expand and cyber threats evolve, schools must take a proactive approach to protecting students, staff, and data.

Get the eBook

Young students using laptops in a classroom

Education Is a Top Target for Cyberattacks

82%

Nearly 14,000 security events observed and over 9,300 confirmed incidents, 82% of reporting K-12 schools experienced cyber threat impacts

$3.76M

The average cost for an educational institution to remediate a single cybersecurity incident is USD $3.76 million

92%

92% of school IT leaders identify the most dangerous emerging threat as AI-powered phishing

The Challenge of Protecting Students in a Digital World

As digital learning accelerates, protecting students, educators, and critical systems requires a more strategic approach to cybersecurity – one that evolves alongside emerging threats.

Security Stack

Access control, identity protection, endpoint security, and asset protection all play a role in creating a safe, reliable learning environment.

Get a Unified Platform

Hybrid Learning

With classrooms spanning in-person and remote environments, schools must strengthen security to protect users and data everywhere learning happens.

Get Hybrid Solutions

Regulatory Compliance

Schools worldwide must meet strict Internet safety and data protection requirements – while maintaining consistent, secure access for students and staff.

Get Compliant

Rethink Security in Education

Protecting students and enabling digital learning requires a proactive, layered approach to security – not isolated solutions.

Intelligent Content Control

Modern content filtering goes beyond blocking sites – it helps schools manage risk, guide safe behavior, and maintain visibility across digital learning environments.

Identity-First Security

As identities become the new perimeter, multi-factor authentication is essential to reducing risk and protecting access across users, devices, and applications.

Visibility Drives Compliance

Centralized monitoring and insight are critical to meeting regulatory demands and proving security posture in an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Secure Network Foundations

Segmented, resilient Wi-Fi networks create a secure foundation for learning – supporting diverse users while reducing exposure and simplifying compliance.

This form requires the Marketo script to function properly.

How to allow Marketo

Secure Your School Today

Contact us to discover how WatchGuard can help educational institutions stay secure.

Teacher in front of a classroom of young children
WatchGuard has consistently stayed relatively ahead of the pack with regards to having a solution available when we needed that technology.

Dawn LaMothe,

IT Director, Christian Life School

Read the Story

FAQs About Cybersecurity in Education

Learn more about how academic institutions are impacted by modern security threats and the solutions available to address them.

Teenager in headphones sitting at a long table looking at a laptop

Educational institutions are prime targets due to open networks, decentralized IT, and widespread use of personal devices. Limited budgets, third-party EdTech tools, and AI-driven phishing further increase risk, making a zero trust approach critical.

Phishing and ransomware are the most common threats, often fueled by AI-generated social engineering. Schools also face DDoS attacks during testing periods and Business Email Compromise targeting tuition and payroll.

Hybrid learning expands the attack surface by mixing campus networks with unmanaged home devices. Credential theft, reused passwords, shadow IT, and vulnerable Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies can allow ransomware to spread into core systems.

Schools should adopt a zero trust model that continuously verifies users and devices. Multi-factor authentication, granular access controls, and real-time monitoring help protect student data without limiting collaboration.

Low-cost steps like MFA, least-privilege access, patching, and security awareness training reduce risk quickly. Unified security platforms also help small IT teams gain visibility while minimizing tool sprawl.

Related Blogs

Read more

Start Protecting Yourself Today

Discover how simple it is to keep educational facilities secure with WatchGuard.

Talk to Sales