5 Ways Higher Education Is Investing in Data Resilience

Across the United States, higher education budgets are tightening. State and federal funding is shrinking (or outright disappearing). Yet, the expectations haven't changed: Institutions still need to deliver seamless student experiences, meet rigorous and ever-changing compliance standards, and recover from data incidents quickly.

Meanwhile, the threats are growing. In 2024, over 66 percent of higher education institutions reported being hit by ransomware. Recovery costs are also soaring—averaging $4.02 million—and cyber insurance is no longer the safety net it used to be.^Footnote1

But there is good news.

More and more institutions are realizing that they don't need an unlimited budget to build data resilience. They need a smarter strategy—one that shifts from a purely preventive mindset to a proactive, resilience-first approach.

Here are five ways colleges and universities are building long-term data resiliency—even in the face of budget cuts.

Cloud-Based Backup and Disaster Recovery

Higher education institutions are moving away from traditional, on-campus backups and shifting to cloud-based solutions that store their data in real time across multiple locations. By keeping copies in different places (a fundamental component of a 3-2-1 backup strategy), institutions reduce the risk of losing data during power outages, natural disasters, or ransomware attacks.

Many IT teams follow a layered backup strategy, saving backups on-site, off-site, and in the cloud. It's a "just in case" approach that ensures safe copies are always available, no matter what happens. With ransomware now targeting backup files too, having a secure, cloud-based copy that can't be altered is a smart move.

Higher education institutions are increasingly adopting hybrid and multicloud backup platforms to meet strict Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs). By investing in cloud-based backup and disaster recovery (DR) and regularly testing their recovery plans, colleges and universities are building the confidence they need to bounce back with minimal downtime. These solutions also offer flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing, shifting from large upfront costs to manageable operational expenses. Cloud backups deliver faster, more reliable recovery compared to outdated on-prem tape systems.

Zero Trust Security Architecture

Another step colleges and universities are taking to enhance data resilience is adopting a Zero Trust security approach. On a busy campus with thousands of people and devices, it's not safe to assume anything inside the network is trustworthy. Zero Trust is based on a simple rule: "Never trust, always verify." This means that every user and device must verify their identity each time they access systems, regardless of location.

A strong Zero Trust approach often starts with tightening identity and access management (IAM). Many colleges and universities already use multifactor authentication (MFA) for faculty, staff, and students. It's a smart move since MFA can cut the risk of account hacks by 99.9 percent.^Footnote2

IAM systems also manage who has access to what. So, as people change roles or leave, such as a student becoming a teaching assistant or an employee moving on, their access gets updated or removed automatically. Some institutions even use tools that sync with HR and student systems to handle these changes in real time.

Additionally, many colleges and universities are adopting microsegmentation to limit the impact of a breach. Microsegmentation involves breaking systems into smaller secure zones. For example, access to research data or HR files might require extra verification steps. This way, if one account gets compromised, the damage is contained, and security teams have more time to respond before anything spreads.

AI-Powered Threat Detection and Response

With rising cyber threats and limited staff, higher education institutions are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance their data security. AI continuously monitors network traffic for anomalies, isolates compromised systems in real time, and automatically applies patches to vulnerable endpoints. Advanced systems like XDR and SIEM use AI to pull data from across the campus—including servers, devices, and cloud apps—and flag anything that looks off. For example, if a user logs in from two different countries within an hour or a server suddenly gets flooded with traffic in the middle of the night, the system flags it or shuts it down automatically.

Some institutions also use AI for predictive risk assessments, enabling them to spot weak points before they become problems. This advanced technology cuts through the noise, which helps smaller teams and allows colleges and universities to stay one step ahead of threats.

Data Governance and Compliance Automation

Along with building stronger security systems, colleges and universities are paying close attention to how they manage and protect sensitive data, such as student records, grades, financial aid details, health information, research work, and staff files. All of this data is subject to stringent privacy rules, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and other laws. Many institutions now use backup and recovery solutions that automatically scan systems, find sensitive data, and add labels like "FERPA-protected" or "HIPAA PHI," which keeps things safe by applying encryption or limited access controls. Some tools even stop faculty and staff from sending an email if it includes private information.

Instead of relying on slow manual checks, institutions are using smart systems that make the job easier and more accurate. Furthermore, many colleges and universities are automating compliance with privacy rules. These systems keep track of who accessed what data and when, automatically delete or archive information after a set period, and manage consent, such as who can give permission to use the data and for what purpose.

A growing number of colleges and universities are now appointing chief data officers (CDOs) to lead their data strategy. CDOs help break down silos; align teams across IT, compliance, and academic departments; and create clear policies around data use. Many are introducing data stewardship frameworks, where each department takes ownership of the quality and security of their data.

Immutable Storage and Ransomware Protection

Colleges and universities are also focusing on using immutable storage to protect their data from ransomware and tampering. Ransomware attacks, which lock files and demand payment, have hit higher education hard in recent years. Many institutions are ensuring their backups can't be touched even if hackers get in.

That's where technologies like immutable backups, WORM (write-once-read-many) storage, and air-gapped systems come in. Once a backup is saved in this way, no one, not even the admin, can change or delete it for a set period. It's a simple but powerful idea. Even if ransomware encrypts the main servers, clean backup copies stay safe and ready to restore the data, eliminating the need to pay a ransom or lose valuable data.

Many colleges and universities use cloud storage with retention locks or special backup devices that create unchangeable copies. Some also follow the "3-2-1 backup rule." This backup rule keeps three copies of data on two types of media, with at least one copy stored separately and offline. Air-gapped or offline storage checks that last box, keeping a backup out of reach in case of an attack. It's an extra layer of protection that's becoming standard across higher education.

But it's not just about having immutable storage. It's about making it part of the daily backup routine. Many institutions now set up backup systems to automatically take read-only snapshots—sometimes every hour. They can quickly restore clean data from these untouched copies if ransomware hits.

Final Words

Today, more than ever, data resilience has become an essential part of the cybersecurity strategy at higher education institutions. From shifting to smarter cloud backups, adopting Zero Trust frameworks, using AI for faster threat response, and automating compliance, colleges and universities are trying to stay ahead.

A cyber-resilient college or university is well-positioned to adopt new technologies. These investments are guided by an institutional commitment to preparation, resilience, and continuous improvement. Rather than reacting to each new threat with alarm, today's higher education leaders are calmly building an infrastructure that can withstand uncertainty.

Notes

1. Tomer Ronen, "31 Must-Know Education Cybersecurity Statistics," Varonis Blog, October 3, 2024; Puja Mahendru, "The State of Ransomware in Education 2024," Sophos News, July 11, 2024. Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.↩
2. Melanie Maynes, "One Simple Action You Can Take to Prevent 99.9 Percent of Attacks on Your Accounts," Microsoft Security Blog, August 20, 2019. Jump back to footnote 2 in the text.↩

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