Cybersecurity Gaps in Education: Addressing Risks in Schools and Universities

Cybersecurity gaps in education have become more prevalent than ever. The education sector sits at the crossroads of healthcare, finance, and technology—and as institutions digitize more functions, their exposure to cybersecurity threats grows. From health clinic portals to online tuition payments and classroom platforms for minors, schools and universities handle sensitive data governed by laws such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and COPPA.

This blog explores why educational institutions are high-value targets for cyberattacks, how common vulnerabilities threaten compliance with federal regulations, and what schools can do to close security gaps and better protect students, families, and staff.

Why the Education Sector is a Prime Target

1. Multi-Domain Data Collection: Education systems are not just academic repositories. They manage:

• Healthcare records via on-campus clinics and counseling centers (subject to HIPAA).
• Payment card information for tuition, cafeteria accounts, and loan processing (subject to PCI DSS).
• Online activity data of minors, especially under age 13, through digital learning tools (regulated by COPPA).

2. Underserved Security Posture: Most K-12 districts and smaller colleges lack the funding and expertise to implement security architectures that meet the standards set by HIPAA or PCI DSS. Inconsistent access controls, unencrypted systems, and reliance on outdated software remain widespread.
3. Increased Dependency on Third-Party Platforms: Learning management systems (LMS), payment processors, health record platforms, and remote learning tools are often operated by vendors—introducing third-party risk, especially if those vendors don’t follow rigorous compliance practices.

Common Cybersecurity Gaps in Education

• Phishing emails: Fake emails claiming to be from health administrators or financial aid offices trick students into disclosing personal health or payment information. These attacks can breach compliance if PHI or payment data is compromised.
• Ransomware Attacks: When ransomware encrypts student records, health clinic databases, or payment portals, it creates potential violations of HIPAA and PCI DSS due to unavailability or leakage of protected data.
• Web Skimming and Formjacking: Cybercriminals inject malicious JavaScript into tuition or payment pages, harvesting cardholder data directly—violating PCI DSS 4.0 if real-time change detection (Requirement 11.6.1) is missing.
• Poor Access Controls in Child-Facing Tools: COPPA violations can occur when unauthorized third parties gain access to data collected from minors using edtech apps or classroom portals—especially if proper parental consent was not obtained or if tracking technologies (like cookies or IP logging) are active without disclosure.

Key Vulnerabilities in Educational Institutions

1. Inadequate Protection for Electronic Health Records (EHR): Many schools with on-campus medical or mental health services store PHI in shared systems, often without full encryption, audit logs, or role-based access controls—all required by HIPAA.
2. Insecure Payment Platforms: Online portals for tuition, donations, or bookstore purchases often lack full PCI DSS compliance. This includes:
   • Unmonitored scripts on payment pages.
   • Absence of file integrity monitoring.
   • Use of weak TLS encryption or unsupported browsers.
3. EdTech Tools Targeting Children: Platforms collecting personal data from children under 13 often do not provide direct notice to parents or allow for data deletion, as required under COPPA. Schools may be unaware they’re using non-compliant tools or fail to vet these vendors appropriately.
4. Lack of Network Segmentation: When payment processing, health data systems, and academic records share the same flat network, a breach in one area can cascade into multiple domains—exposing institutions to multi-regulatory failures.

Regulatory Risks: HIPAA, PCI DSS, and COPPA in Education

1. HIPAA Compliance for School Health Services

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) applies to school-based health centers that transmit PHI electronically. Schools must ensure:

• Access logs for EHR systems
• User authentication and session timeouts
• Regular risk assessments and breach notification procedures

2. PCI DSS Compliance for Financial Transactions

Any institution that processes credit or debit card payments for tuition, cafeteria accounts, merchandise, or housing must comply with PCI DSS. Key requirements include:

• Tokenization and encryption of cardholder data
• Regular vulnerability scans and change monitoring (e.g., Requirement 11.6.1)
• Use of compliant payment gateways

3. COPPA Compliance for Online Learning Tools

Schools using edtech platforms with students under 13 must ensure vendors:

• Provide clear privacy policies
• Do not collect more information than necessary
• Obtain verifiable parental consent
• Offer tools for data review and deletion

Failure to comply with any of these regulations not only invites legal consequences and fines but also severely damages public trust.

Real-World Impact of Cybersecurity Gaps in Education

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Ransomware Attack (2022): In September 2022, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest in the U.S., suffered a ransomware attack by the Vice Society group. The breach disrupted access to email, computer systems, and applications, affecting over 600,000 students. Approximately 2,000 student assessment records were leaked, including sensitive information like Social Security numbers and COVID-19 test results. 

University of California Accellion Data Breach (2020-2021): The University of California system was impacted by a nationwide cyberattack exploiting vulnerabilities in Accellion’s File Transfer Appliance. The breach compromised personal data of approximately 547,000 individuals, including Social Security numbers and health information. 

Strategies to Strengthen Cybersecurity in Education with Feroot Solutions

1. Implement Real-Time Client-Side Monitoring with Feroot PageGuard

Modern educational institutions increasingly rely on JavaScript-based applications for online learning platforms, payment processing, and health services. Feroot PageGuard offers real-time visibility and control over the client-side environment, automatically monitoring and protecting every user session. By embedding PageGuard into your web applications, you can detect and block unauthorized scripts, prevent data exfiltration, and ensure compliance with regulations like PCI DSS and HIPAA.

2. Protect Health Data and Ensure HIPAA Compliance with Feroot HealthData Shield

Schools and universities offering health services must protect electronic protected health information (ePHI) in compliance with HIPAA. Feroot HealthData Shield automatically identifies and inventory trackers, cookies, and scripts across your websites, ensuring they comply with HIPAA’s rules for protecting PHI. It detects unauthorized data collection and potential PHI disclosures, providing real-time monitoring and control to enforce compliance rules. 

3. Ensure COPPA Compliance with Feroot AlphaPrivacy AI

For institutions serving children under 13, compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is essential. Feroot AlphaPrivacy AI provides complete visibility into data collection activities, implements robust parental consent mechanisms, and continuously monitors for unauthorized data access. It helps institutions develop child-focused data protection frameworks and maintain ongoing compliance with COPPA requirements. 

4. Strengthen PCI DSS Compliance with Feroot PaymentGuard AI

Educational institutions that process tuition, donations, or bookstore payments online are subject to PCI DSS 4.0 requirements—especially when it comes to protecting payment pages from unauthorized JavaScript injections and formjacking attacks. Feroot PaymentGuard AI provides advanced client-side protection by using behavioral AI to detect and block suspicious scripts in real time.

5. Automate Compliance Reporting and Audit Readiness

Preparing for audits and demonstrating compliance can be resource-intensive. Feroot’s solutions automate the generation of detailed compliance reports, aligning with various regulatory requirements. This automation reduces manual effort, ensures accuracy, and provides clear documentation to support audit readiness across HIPAA, PCI DSS, and COPPA frameworks. 

Conclusion and Recommendations

The education sector can no longer afford to treat cybersecurity as an isolated IT concern. With exposure to healthcare, financial, and child privacy regulations, institutions must take a cross-disciplinary approach to risk management.

Secure your institution’s digital perimeter with Feroot: From protecting student health records to securing payment portals and child-facing applications, Feroot’s platform delivers real-time visibility, compliance automation, and advanced client-side threat detection. Take the next step toward closing cybersecurity gaps in education today.