Are Ecuadorian universities prepared for cyberattacks?

Abstract

In the last year, educational institutions have become one of the most attacked sectors worldwide, according to the Check Point Security Report ​(2024a)​. This puts data security and the continuity of academic operations at risk. In Ecuador, data from ESET ​(2023)​ reveals that the country ranks first in phishing attacks in Latin America, which shows its vulnerability to multiple threats, including malware, ransomware, and social engineering attacks. Despite growing concern, the lack of specific data on the impact on Ecuadorian universities limits a full understanding of the magnitude of the problem.
Open source tools have emerged as a viable solution to improve cybersecurity, provided that trained personnel are available for their implementation. However, unsupervised automation can generate additional risks, highlighting the importance of combining technology with human intervention. International collaboration is essential to strengthen cybersecurity in universities, allowing the exchange of knowledge and resources. The creation of Security Operations Centers (SOC) based on open technologies has proven to be an effective strategy for monitoring and responding to incidents in real time, while also offering practical training opportunities. In Ecuador, collaboration with the Computer Emergency Response Team (EcuCERT) could further strengthen security in the university environment.