Preparing for evolving ransomware threats in 2025

Key points:

In its 2024 threat assessment report, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declared K-12 school districts “a near-constant ransomware target.” The report attributed this alarming trend to budget constraints within school IT departments, insufficient resources dedicated to cybersecurity, and the disturbing success cybercriminals have had in persuading schools to pay ransoms. These vulnerabilities have made educational institutions a popular target for attackers, threatening not only the data privacy of students and staff, but also the continuity of critical operations.

As ransomware evolves, so must the strategies used to combat it. Traditional perimeter defenses, such as firewalls and antivirus software, are no longer sufficient in an era of cyberattacks driven by artificial intelligence (ai). Educational institutions should adopt an “assume a breach” mentality focused on internal defenses such as Zero Trust architectures, data encryption, segmentation tools, and post-breach containment strategies. By limiting attackers' ability to move laterally within networks and quickly restore operations after an attack, schools can minimize disruptions and ensure continuity of their missions. Without these proactive measures, the education sector risks falling even further behind in ransomware attacks.

A changing landscape in 2025

The ransomware landscape in 2025 will likely include more sophisticated attacks as threat actors take advantage of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. These innovations will allow cybercriminals to identify system vulnerabilities more quickly by leveraging advanced tools, automated scanning methods, and sophisticated analysis. This capability will allow them to discover weaknesses in security defenses and launch highly targeted attacks with unprecedented precision, often before schools can detect or respond effectively. Additionally, these tools are likely to further automate phishing campaigns, evade traditional detection mechanisms, and adapt in real time to a school's defenses.

The rise of advanced ransomware tactics underscores why schools, with their limited defenses and critical data, remain prime targets for cybercriminals. Attackers increasingly view the education sector as a high-reward, low-risk opportunity, underscoring the urgent need for a shift towards modern cybersecurity strategies. Fortunately, there are steps that even schools with limited resources can take that will better prepare them to proactively deal with these new attacks.

Building internal defenses for education in 2025

To counter the growing sophistication of ransomware attacks, schools must adopt a “take a breach” mentality, which emphasizes strengthening internal defenses so that breaches do not turn into cyber disasters. This approach shifts the focus beyond simple prevention to include resilience and aims to minimize the impact of a breach by implementing proactive security measures, protocols and tools designed under the assumption that attackers may already have access to parts of the network. By adopting this mindset, these measures prioritize safeguarding sensitive data, detecting anomalies, and enabling rapid responses to emerging threats before they even occur.

“Assume non-compliance” is strengthened when combined with Zero Trust, which operates under a “never trust, always verify” mentality. As a result, measures are implemented to contain violations quickly, such as continually checking users and ensuring they only access the resources they need to access. From there, schools can implement protections that proactively safeguard data, such as modern data encryption methods or applicationswhich are usually fast and profitable.

Another vital defense is the adoption of Zero Trust Segmentation (ZTS). ZTS is designed to restrict lateral movement within a network by adopting Zero Trust measures to continually verify communication and then create granular policies that allow only essential interactions. For example, if an attacker breaches a segment, ZTS restricts their ability to move freely through the network and access sensitive assets, such as student records or financial databases. This containment strategy minimizes the damage of an attack by isolating threats before they can spread further. By implementing ZTS, schools create a layered defense system that safeguards critical assets while providing resilience against sophisticated cyber threats.

End-to-end visibility is also particularly critical in hybrid environments where a combination of on-premises and cloud-based systems expands the attack surface. By tracking communication between devices, workflows, and external networks, schools can better understand how data moves within their ecosystems. This understanding allows for the application of least privilege policies, granting users access only to the resources they need for their roles. These restrictions limit an attacker's ability to exploit compromised accounts, reducing the potential impact of a breach. With a clearer picture of traffic patterns and system behavior, districts can strengthen their defenses against emerging threats.

Combining Zero Trust principles and the “assume a breach” mentality with ZTS shifts the focus from preventing all breaches to containing their impact, using security measures and protocols to prevent incidents from turning into disasters.

Changing the paradigm: from reactive to proactive

As ransomware threats continue to evolve, schools face a critical inflection point. The increasing integration of digital tools into K-12 schools, from virtual learning platforms to smart classroom technologies, has overwhelmed many districts' cybersecurity resources, underscoring the urgent need for modern, proactive security strategies. Traditional perimeter defenses alone cannot withstand the sophisticated ai-powered tactics of modern attackers. By adopting comprehensive, multifaceted defensive measures, such as an “assume a breach” mentality, zero trust architectures, data encryption, segmentation, and post-breach containment strategies, schools can shift their cybersecurity posture from reactive to proactive. . Proactive measures that emphasize containment and resilience prepare schools to be better prepared to confront growing ransomware threats in 2025 and beyond.

With a commitment to modern cybersecurity practices and a focus on protecting critical assets, schools can safeguard their data against new ransomware threats and continue to provide safe environments for learning.