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Compromised Credentials: How to Defuse the Ticking Time Bomb with SafeID

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Compromised credentials are a significant but often underestimated challenge for K-12 school systems. Many end users re-use their district password across dozens of other sites, platforms, and applications. A data breach in any of these other entities puts your school system at risk because that same password is potentially compromised. Without a proactive strategy to mitigate the risk, your school system’s leaders may not realize that user credentials have been stolen until their district, too, has suffered a data breach. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent these breaches, or at least minimize the damage they cause. 

What Are Compromised Credentials?

Compromised credentials are usernames and passwords that were exposed or stolen, potentially providing unauthorized access to educational systems. The most common causes include:

  • Phishing Attacks
  • Data Breaches
  • Weak or Reused Passwords

Because IT leaders cannot prevent users from reusing their district password on other websites, compromised credentials can provide a “back door” for cybercriminals to access school system resources—oftenbefore IT staff even realize what’s happened. This makes school systems vulnerable to cyber attacks and data breaches, representing a significant portion of security incidents in the education sector. More than 2,600 data breaches were reported in U.S. educational institutions between 2005 and 2023—compromising more than 32 million records, according to a Comparitech report. These incidents can result in financial losses, data theft, legal liability, and reputational damage to students, parents, the community, and your district. Knowing the risks, how do you track compromised credentials before they can cause significant harm?

Solutions and Best Practices for K-12 Institutions

Taking a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity is an industry best practice. Key steps to mitigate your district’s risk of compromised credentials include:

  1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. Tailoring MFA options based on user needs and the security risks they pose can minimize login friction.
  2. Password Management Tools: These tools encourage staff and students to use strong, unique passwords, minimizing vulnerabilities due to password reuse or simple password choices. An enterprise deployment of a password management tool increases the likelihood that it will be used.
  3. Regular Credential Audits: Proactive audits help identify and address potential weaknesses before they are exploited. It’s the difference between A) notifying a homeowner that someone has made a copy of their house key so they can change the locks before a break-in, or B) notifying them that their house has been robbed. We’d all choose option A, right?
  4. Incident Response Strategies: Having an incident response plan for compromised credentials is critical. This includes:
    • Immediate incident investigation and containment
    • Notifying affected individuals
    • Implementing recovery actions, such as password resets
  5. Employee Training: Educating staff and students on recognizing phishing attempts and other security threats is an essential line of defense. Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging tools like artificial intelligence and cybercrime-as-a-service, so don’t overlook the importance of ongoing user training.  
  6. Security Analytics Using tools that monitor login behavior for signs of compromise can provide early detection and prevent breaches from escalating. RapidIdentity SafeID is an advanced solution designed to mitigate the risks associated with compromised credentials.

RapidIdentity SafeID:: How This Powerful Tool for K-12 Works

SafeID continuously monitors all of your district’s digital identities that it manages and compares the credentials to those known to have been compromised in data breaches and available for sale on the dark web. RapidIdentity SafeID provides a dashboard containing all active users whose current credentials have been flagged as compromised. Benefits include:

  • Continuous Monitoring: SafeID’s robust dark web credential monitoring​ tracks exposure of login information, leveraging data from an estimated one billion new breach assets monthly. This allows your IT leaders to focus on other important tasks, all the while knowing district credentials are being carefully monitored.
  • Proactive Risk Notification: SafeID Instantly alerts your education institution when compromised credentials are discovered in external breaches. This allows your IT staff to take action BEFORE your institution is breached.
  • Streamlined Remediation: SafeID facilitates quick and effective responses to exposed identities, such as forced password resets that prevent users from selecting previously exposed passwords. 
  • NIST Password Alignment: NIST password standards call for organizations to check for “commonly used, expected, or compromised” passwords. SafeID’s dark web credential monitoring helps ensure compliance with NIST recommendations by checking new and existing passwords against known breaches. 

Stay Ahead of Compromised Credentials with SafeID

The K-12 cybersecurity landscape requires continuous vigilance to safeguard against threats, including compromised credentials. RapidIdentity SafeID provides your district with effective risk management strategies, allowing your school leaders to focus on their fundamental objective: cultivating a safe learning environment for students and staff. Request a demo of SafeID today.

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