As the fall semester approaches, student housing organizations are preparing for an influx of students. While ensuring that students have a comfortable and safe living environment is a priority, it's equally important to address the unique cyber security concerns that come with managing student housing. Student housing companies must be proactive and work on their technology and cyber security solutions this summer to ensure that their network and data are secure.
Here are some of the unique cyber security concerns that student housing companies must be aware of:
Student Devices: Students will bring various devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets that may be infected with malware or have vulnerabilities. These devices can compromise the security of the housing company's network. Having proper cyber security hardware and up-to-date software will help prevent bad actors from getting into your network through your tenants’ devices.
Social Engineering: Cybercriminals can use social engineering techniques to trick students into allowing unauthorized visitors into the student housing facility. A cybercriminal may be able to get into server rooms or company devices if these are not properly protected behind locked doors, complex passwords (that aren’t on a sticky note under a keyboard) and more. This information can be used to gain unauthorized access to the housing company's network and carry out many types of cyber-attacks. Having proper property surveillance will also help to make sure unauthorized visitors are not gaining access to your buildings or systems.
Wi-Fi Security: Students rely heavily on the Wi-Fi network provided by student housing companies. The Wi-Fi network must be secure and robust to prevent unauthorized access and hacking attempts.
To address these concerns, student housing companies should take the following steps:
Conduct a Cyber Security Audit: A cyber security audit will help identify vulnerabilities in the network and data infrastructure. This audit should be conducted by a professional cyber security company. To learn more about 5Q’s building assessments, email us at info@5qcloud.com
Implement Security Best Practices: Once vulnerabilities have been identified, student housing companies should implement security best practices like multi-factor authentication, regular software updates, and data encryption.
Educate Students: Student housing companies should educate students about the risks of using unsecured networks, sharing login credentials, and clicking on suspicious links. This education should include regular security awareness training. Partnering with the school where your housing facility is located to create a culture of cyber security awareness is a great way protect your organization, the students, the school, and provide marketing opportunities all in one!
Monitor Endpoints and Device Behavior: By monitoring endpoints and device behavior, student housing companies can identify potential security threats such as malware or unauthorized access attempts. This helps to protect both the company's systems and data, as well as the personal information of students who use the company's services. To learn more about how 5Q Centry’s Managed Security can protect your company, visit 5qcloud.com/5q-cyber-centry.
Back Up Data: Student housing companies should regularly back up their data to prevent data loss due to cyber-attacks or natural disasters.
Student housing organizations must prioritize cyber security to protect their network and data from cyber-attacks. With the right technology and cyber security solutions in place, student housing companies can ensure that their students have a safe and secure living environment. By working on their technology and cyber security solutions this summer, student housing companies can be well-prepared for the intake of students this fall. To learn more about 5Q’s full suite of technology and cyber security services visit 5qcloud.com or contact us here.