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Identity Verification in the Education Sector

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In ancient civilizations, various writing systems were developed around the world. In Europe, the modern education system originated during the High Middle Ages, and the Roman Catholic Church monasteries were the education centers. That’s why education was mainly imparted through the Buddhist and Vedic education systems. Even in England, most of the schooling was managed through church schools. 

We can confidently say that, in ancient times, most schools were based on religious values. In recent times, the purpose and way of education have changed. According to an article published in Forbes, education and technology are evolving together. Schools and universities have started adopting more technology to teach various things.

Distance education and e-learning are already in trend, allowing students to study without being physically available in a school. Unfortunately, there are many challenges to this modern education system, causing threats for students and educators.

Educational institutions house extensive, sensitive personal data regarding their students, encompassing academic records and financial details. As a result, safeguarding this information from unauthorized access and misuse became a primary obligation for the education sector.

So, tag along, as this article will discuss some significant challenges of the modern education system and determine how identity verification can help education providers cope.

The Main Challenges of the Modern Education Sector

The modern education sector faces many challenges that demand our attention and concerted efforts. One of the primary challenges lies in adapting to rapidly evolving technology. With the digital revolution sweeping across industries, education must keep pace with innovative teaching methods and digital tools that can enhance learning experiences. 

However, the issues in the education sector don’t end here. Tackling these challenges, head-on is essential to ensure that education remains a powerful force for personal and societal advancement in the modern world. Let’s look into it:

Data Security Issues

According to a report by the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center, the ransomware attacks and data breaches in schools and colleges in the USA are three times more than what was disclosed in 2018. On the 5th of March 2020, the Icelandic SA imposed a fine of ISK 1.300.000 on the Breiðholt Upper Secondary School for the personal data breach. 

Educational institutions collect and store vast amounts of sensitive student data, from personal information to academic records. Protecting this data from breaches and unauthorized access is crucial. The rise of online platforms and digital tools introduces new vulnerabilities that can lead to data leaks if not properly secured.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the education sector has become gainful for cyberattackers worldwide. The primary reason is that the personal data (personally identifiable information, health details, and financial data) maintained by schools about the staff and students is a hot commodity sold in millions for fraud.

Cybersecurity Threats

E-learning platforms are susceptible to cyberattacks, including phishing, ransomware, and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. These threats can disrupt learning activities and compromise the integrity of the educational process.

In addition, educational institutions must navigate various data protection laws and regulations, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the United States, and ensure compliance while implementing e-learning solutions.

Recent Statistics of Cyberattacks on Students

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Limited to No Dedicated IT Resources

Most educational institutions have a shortage of dedicated IT resources to cope with cybersecurity challenges. Some institutions may operate with outdated IT infrastructure that requires significant investment to meet modern security standards. This further strains available resources.

Educational institutions have diverse IT needs, ranging from maintaining learning management systems to securing student data and research assets. This diversity can stretch already limited IT resources thin. Lastly, many educational organizations, especially smaller ones or those in underfunded areas, often have limited budgets for IT resources. This can result in insufficient funding for cybersecurity measures.

The Changing Student Lifecycle

The roles of students in an educational institute keep changing with each passing year. Students are promoted to the next standard; some become alumni, while others become teacher assistants. As a result, educational institutes need to verify and validate these new identities as soon as they transition to new positions or roles. It will minimize the risk of a security breach to a great extent.

Why Cyber Threats to the Education Sector Have Intensified?

For a long time, the education sector assumed that it didn’t have anything that cyberattackers could attract. Still, numerous schools, universities, and education systems lack the resources required to maintain a secure cybersecurity environment.

In most education facilities across the world, they don’t have a full-time staff dedicated to cybersecurity. If a few schools have dedicated cells to deal with data breaches, their employees don’t have the expertise to manage advanced cyber attacks.

Other factors influencing the higher risk of cybercrime in education include:

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Identity Verification in the Education Sector


Educational institutes can benefit from identity verification in numerous ways:

1. Real-Time Identity Verification for Increased Security

An advanced identity verification system allows institutions to verify their staff and students in real-time and eliminate the risk of ID thefts. With the help of a powerful verification system, educational institutes can conduct checks on documents like a government-issued ID, driving license, passport, or data, such as a social security number.

2. Easy Compliance with National and Local Laws

Instant yet advanced verification solutions also enable schools and universities to comply with local and national identity verification requirements.

3. Maintained and Improved Reputation

Not having a proper identity verification system increases identity fraud risk and is a bad sign for an institution’s reputation. According to a recent report, half of the hacked businesses struggle to attract new customers.

If you’re searching for an AI-enabled remote identity verification solution for your school, college, or any other educational institute, you can try iDenfy.

We combine liveness detection, ID verification, and face recognition in a single solution to provide a powerful verification solution. To know more, book a meeting

This blog post was updated on the 4th of September, 2023, to match the latest insights about the education sector and identity verification.
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