According to Emsisoft, the education sector continues to experience ransomware attacks, with a whopping 1,043 schools affected by ransomware in 2021. This statistic breaks down to 62 school districts and 26 colleges and universities.

Emsisoft estimates that data of employees and students were stolen in at least half of those attacks in 2021.

2022 looks to be even worse for higher education than 2021 for ransomware attacks. In the beginning of 2022, higher education institutions continued to be targeted by ransomware gangs. In March and April, BlackCat (a/k/a ALPHV group) deployed ransomware against North Carolina A&T State University and Florida International University, and in April Austin Peay State University was hit with a ransomware attack as well.

Some of the attacks disrupted the application process, operations, and classes in one case, the ransomware attack put the school over the edge to closure. All the more reason for those in the education sector to prepare and mitigate against the risk of an attack.