As with anything in life, when it comes to peace of mind, having insurance can provide a sense of security. Whether it’s your car, your home, or your health, insurance gives us peace of mind and a feeling of security knowing that if an emergency or “worst case” situation arises, we have a safety net to help get us through the tough times.

But what about the education industry? Are the same benefits of insurance available to K-12 and higher education institutions?

Given the scope of cyberattacks that have taken place all across the globe in recent years, it’s no surprise that many organizations are now turning to cybersecurity insurance as an option for added protection. Fortunately, cybersecurity insurance can also greatly benefit K-12 and higher education institutions, providing the same level of security and safety net that is made available to many other organizations in more consumer industries.

What Is Cybersecurity Insurance?

When it comes to insurance, it’s important to understand exactly what it is and how it works. In the case of cybersecurity insurance, it is a kind of policy designed to help protect organizations in the event of a cyberattack. The policy will cover losses specifically related to cyberattacks. It’s important to know that, as with any insurance policy, some terms and conditions must be met to receive coverage.

Each policy differs, but as a whole, cybersecurity insurance helps organizations recover the costs related to things like:

• Operational instability: Any downtime resulting from a cyberattack can be costly both financially and reputationally. Having cybersecurity insurance can help cover the costs associated with the downtime and help get operations back up and running. This will enable schools to continue teaching and educating their students with little to no interruption while minimizing the costs associated with the attack.
• Data restoration: Cybersecurity insurance can also help organizations cover any costs associated with the restoration of lost data. This assures schools that if their data is ever compromised, they’ll have the funds needed to restore the information and get their systems back up and running.
• Public relations: Cybersecurity insurance can also help schools cover the costs associated with any public relations concerns that might arise from a cyber attack. This can include the costs related to issuing damage control statements and dealing with any resulting media coverage.

In addition to the above, many cybersecurity insurance policies also include liability coverage for any third-party lawsuits resulting from a cyberattack. This coverage is especially important for schools as they are more exposed to lawsuits related to the theft of student and staff data.

Benefits of Cybersecurity Insurance in the Education Industry

Schools and Educational Institutions have an enormous responsibility in protecting the data of their students and staff. With the ever-increasing rate of cyberattacks, having cybersecurity insurance is a critical tool for K-12 and Higher Education Institutions.

Imagine, for a moment, the potential losses associated with a cyberattack for a large school district and the costs associated with:

• Recovering from the attack.
• Restoring lost data.
• Public relations and damage control.
• Any third-party lawsuits resulting from the attack.

Having cybersecurity insurance in place can greatly reduce the financial burden and the disruption to learning associated with a cyberattack. Additionally, the implementation of cybersecurity insurance can be an effective way for a school to show its commitment to protecting its students and staff from the growing threat of cyberattacks.

The benefits of cyber security insurance for schools provide peace of mind in the event of an unfortunate incident.

No Longer An Option

Even in the most optimistic of scenarios, good cybersecurity practices are no longer an option for K-12 and Higher Education Institutions – they’re a necessity. Cybersecurity insurance is just one more tool that can be used to protect students and staff from the growing threat of cyberattacks.

Schools and educational institutions are duty-bound to protect their students and staff, and having cybersecurity insurance can help ensure that this obligation is met. Cybersecurity insurance will aid in preserving a bright future for their students and staff, ensuring that their educational experience is not compromised or hindered due to a cyberattack.

Great cybersecurity practices are a critical component of any organization’s IT security strategy, this is especially true of educational environments.

At Concensus Technologies, we have the knowledge, experience, and understanding to provide the best Identity and Access Management guidance. Our solutions are proven to work and save companies from massive cybersecurity issues down the road.

Contact Us to learn more!