Cyberattacks across academic organisations: Analysis of attacks and guidelines to improve defence

摘要

Due to an increasing level of reliance on ICT and the proliferation of sophisticated cyberattacks, organisations are increasingly vulnerable to them. Cyberattacks take a variety of forms and have a broad spectrum of effects. Also, the growth of cyberattacks and the damage caused by them has highlighted the concern about the theme. Therefore, this study aims, through the use of a survey, to comprehend cyberattacks in the academic context and then propose guidelines on how to improve defence against them. To meet the aim and the objectives of this research, a literature review was carried out to comprehend the cyberattack phenomenon on the academic organisation, including the record of expert definitions and features about cyberattacks, the cataloguing of the most common types of attacks that have occurred in general and academic context and its associated cost. To achieve this comprehension, the survey was used as a research method and structured telephone interview as the technique to collect data. The analysis of cyberattacks revealed that there are several causes of successful cyberattacks and to minimise or avoid them up-to-date countermeasures must be applied. The results of this study support the view that cyberattack is a crescent issue and should be better understood by being addressed properly. Once organisations understand how, where and why they are the target of cyberattacks, this knowledge may improve their defence system. This study should be of value to practitioners of academic organisations wishing to improve their defence against cyberattacks.