Whether you work at a small K-12 school district or a huge state university, SAP plays a big role in education, controlling important operational functions of your school from payroll and PTO requests to maintenance schedules and contracts.
So, imagine what would happen if it got hacked.
What would you do? Who would you ask for help? Could you act quickly enough to stop the threat before it paralyzed your operations?
If you don’t have the answers, don’t worry. Below, we’ll explain the risks to higher education and K-12 cybersecurity and how SAP is affected, as well as the steps you can take to stop hackers before they threaten your system and data.
Why Is Education an Attractive Target for SAP Cyberattacks?
First, let’s start by diving into why anyone would target an educational institution in the first place. The easy answer: It can be a low-effort, high-payoff prospect for a hacker.
SAP in Education: A Treasure Trove of Personal Information
Why are hackers even interested in schools in the first place? Well, they store a lot of sensitive personal and business information in their SAP systems, including:
- Student records: These could include names, addresses, Social Security numbers, health information (like vaccination records) and disciplinary records. SAP Student Lifecycle Management, for example, is targeted toward Higher-Ed schools and lets students manage their data and upload documents and submissions themselves.
- Staff records: Schools are also employers, and that means they store information about their staff. In addition to the addresses and Social Security numbers they store for students, they also keep employment history, staff salaries, performance reviews, and payroll information that could include banking details.
- Parental information: Schools obviously have parent contact information on file, but they might also store details about a parent’s employer or any financial aid they’ve received.
- Operational data: A school’s SAP might house vendor information, maintenance records, and financial records, including information on the school’s various bank accounts, which any fraudster would love to get their hands on.
Cybersecurity in Schools = a Poorly Locked Door
We’ve talked before about the cybersecurity skills shortage. And that gap is only growing, according to the World Economic Forum:
"The global talent shortage, which spans nations, states and industries, could reach 85 million workers by 2030, causing approximately $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenue."
– World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity
SAP cybersecurity experts, already in high demand, are only becoming more difficult to find. With limited budgets, educational facilities are unlikely to get the talent they need to protect their mission-critical systems. Instead, the role may be given to whichever teacher or administrator has the most technological know-how.
Another people problem that gets in the way of cybersecurity? Our natural desire to trust. Without a trained cybersecurity professional on-hand who knows how to train staff to be more security-aware, successful cyberattacks — like phishing — are much more likely.
SAP in Education: The Impact of Cyberattacks
The information stored within your SAP system can cause enough mayhem in the wrong hands. But if a hacker is able to take your SAP system offline, the results could be even more disastrous. That’s because so many critical operations of your educational institution are reliant on SAP, like:
HR Functions
When you can’t get into SAP, you can’t complete payroll. These delays could lead to employees, including teachers and administrators, not being paid on time. How happy would you be at work if your check were several weeks late? What’s worse, unhappy employees might even alert the media, causing a PR nightmare on top of a security breach.
Procurement
Your employees aren’t the only ones who are paid through SAP. Vendors are, too. And if they aren’t paid, you might find yourself without lunch to serve or books to teach from.
Logistics
When you’re locked out of SAP, scheduling and maintenance planning could be disrupted. That could mean essential services such as school bus operations and building repairs may be delayed. Now, half the students can’t get to school, and the ones who can are being taught in a classroom without working A/C, since the HVAC repair company never got paid.
Best Practices for SAP Cybersecurity in K-12 and Higher Ed
Educational institutions are made of teachers, not cybersecurity experts. So they can’t be expected to know the ins and outs of SAP cybersecurity. Typically, they resolve this by using internal networks to restrict access to their SAP systems, limiting exposure to external threats.
But there are times when you can’t fully lock the door on your SAP. Take an employee self-service portal, for example. Even well-meaning employees can inadvertently introduce malware as they upload documents into SAP.
We spoke with Sukhbir Singh, SAP Consultant for Duval County Public Schools, who faced this challenge firsthand … and wanted to mitigate the risk:
"When we wanted to bring our employee self-service and manager self-service system to the internet from the intranet, the first concern was, ‘How do we make it secure?’ Certain leave options need proof — which requires files to be attached. If that attachment contains a virus, the database will get corrupted. So that can bring the whole district down."
– Sukhbir Singh, Duval County Public Schools
If you’re in the same situation, here’s how to improve the cybersecurity of your SAP systems — without having to find specialized staff.
Educate your staff
Awareness is the first line of defense in preventing cyberattacks. So, teach everyone with access to your system about the dangers of suspicious links and phishing emails.
"It's definitely important to educate your staff on the kind of emails they get or links they should and shouldn't click. Carelessness or ignorance can lead to significant risks, as the world is not as trustworthy as it used to be."
– Sukhbir Singh, Duval County Public Schools
Restrict file types
Users can’t upload dangerous files if the system doesn’t accept that kind of file at all. So, use solutions like bowbridge to block potentially dangerous file types from being uploaded to the system. A virus can’t damage your system if it can’t get in your system to begin with.
Implement two-factor authentication (2FA)
Adding an extra layer of security can reduce the risk of system intruders. 2FA usually includes sending a code to an email address or cell phone that the user has to enter before they can access the system. Think of it like having a locked door in front of another locked door. It’s one more level of protection for your system.
Patch early and often
Cyberthreats are constantly evolving. And system security updates are designed to address these threats. If you don’t stay up to date with SAP’s regular Security Notes, cybercriminals will find out about the vulnerability before you’ve patched for it … leaving you open to attack. So be sure to keep your SAP system and all associated security measures up to date.
Limit access where possible
Does every employee need to access every corner of your SAP system? Of course not. Operating on a zero-trust policy and keeping permissions locked down limits your risk surface and the amount of potential damage that could be done.
Use reliable security solutions
You probably have a lock on your front door, right? We thought so. Your SAP needs a strong lock, too. So, consider investing in proven security solutions that can detect and block threats at your system’s entry points. But make sure whatever you choose is a good fit for your organization’s needs and capacity.
"We chose bowbridge because it allowed us to disallow specific file types and update security signatures automatically every day. It offered control in a good way. But it didn't need babysitting and ran on its own."
– Sukhbir Singh, Duval County Public Schools
Keep in mind that the standard anti-malware solutions out there are designed to function through your operating system (Windows, for example). SAP’s architecture operates differently, making these solutions largely ineffective. Instead, it’s key to look for an antivirus program made specifically for SAP.
Make the Grade in SAP Cybersecurity
Keeping your SAP system secure is not just about protecting data; it’s about making sure your entire educational institution continues to run.
Fortunately, proactive measures and the right tools can make all the difference. By educating staff, implementing robust security solutions like bowbridge, and staying vigilant with regular updates, you can stay one step ahead of the hackers — and keep your operations safe from potential cyberthreats.
Want to see how bowbridge can secure SAP for your educational institution?
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