– The education sector experienced an increase in cyberattacks as digital adoption rose
– Emerging markets with large digital industries were among those most targeted by hackers
– 96% of businesses have changed their cybersecurity strategy due to Covid-19
– Businesses and governments alike are looking to bolster their cybersecurity defences
The coronavirus pandemic has helped drive the rapid growth of digital solutions. While this has enabled a number of positive developments, it has also exposed many sectors to a heightened threat of cyberattacks.
As lockdowns and curfews were introduced around the world to stop the spread of Covid-19, various aspects of daily life shifted online.
In many countries, digital education platforms were introduced to ensure that students could continue their studies while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Similarly, there was a boom in telemedicine solutions, with innovations that allow doctors to remotely assess patients becoming increasingly popular.
Perhaps more dramatic was the exponential growth in digital payments, as consumers sought to avoid person-to-person contact when paying for many goods and services.
While these developments have been key to maintaining some form of continuity during the pandemic, they have also opened up more industries to the threat of cyberattacks.
One sector to have experienced a sharp increase in cyberthreats is education, due to the uptick in remote learning over the past 12 months.