Is the #Education Sector Ready for #Cybersecurity Challenges in the Age of #AI?

5 min readSep 26, 2024

It was a real privilege to be invited as the keynote speaker for the first Stone Group Cybersecurity Summit 2024 at their headquarters in Stone. You might be wondering why I, someone who usually talks about AI and the future of work and co-founded the AI Teacher Course, would be speaking about cybersecurity.

The truth is, cybersecurity is becoming a critical issue for everyone, regardless of their industry. Whether you’re working in AI or teaching AI in schools, the challenges are already here, and we simply can’t afford to ignore them.

As I addressed the room, both in-person and virtually, it was clear that the timing of this event couldn’t have been more appropriate. Cybersecurity is no longer just something for the IT department to worry about; it’s a business priority.

But why should educators and school leaders care?

Well, the numbers speak for themselves. There’s been a sharp rise in cyberattacks on schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs). This is a sector we work with closely through the AI Teacher Course, our non-profit initiative. Here’s a snapshot of the situation:

Over 80% of universities and colleges have experienced cyberattacks in the past year. In fact, just a day after the summit, a major attack hit an academy.
1.5 million businesses across the UK were affected by cybercrime in the last 12 months.
Public sector cyber attacks have jumped by 40% in the past year.

I opened my keynote with a clear message: AI isn’t going anywhere. It’s both a powerful asset and a significant risk. While AI tools like MidJourney and Microsoft Defender have brought incredible efficiencies, they’ve also given cybercriminals new, more effective ways to strike.

For example, AI has boosted productivity in some sectors by as much as 400%. That’s one reason I also launched the AI Marketing Course, which helps organizations harness these gains. However, that same AI can be used by hackers to carry out attacks with frightening precision. This means every organization — whether a school, a business, or a public institution — has to be prepared.

During my talk, I highlighted the growing threats from ransomware, deep fakes, and the next generation of phishing attacks.

The Threats Are Growing

Remember AI is great at increasing productivity, but it is used by both sides of society. As we become more productive at work so the criminals in society do too. Which is why… Ransomware incidents have surged by 73%, and small organizations are increasingly vulnerable.

These aren’t just attacks on large corporations like Royal Mail or the City of Dallas; small businesses and public institutions are now prime targets. And it’s not just the work of a few tech-savvy individuals; hackers are using deepfake technology to clone voices and images, turning fraud into a scalable business.

The public sector, in particular, faces a tough reality. One of the more shocking statistics I shared was that

“only 27% of public sector organizations are using AI to counter these threats.”

Shouldn’t that number be significantly higher? The gap is alarming, especially as many organizations are overlooking critical areas like employee training.

While 41% of businesses acknowledge that training should be updated monthly to keep up with evolving threats, only 29% are actually doing it. Given how quickly AI-generated deep fakes are spreading, even a monthly update might not be enough.

We also touched on the issue of AI policies — or, more often than not, the absence of them. I stressed the importance of putting an AI policy in place. If your school or business doesn’t have one yet, now is the time. AI can be a powerful defense mechanism, but only if it’s managed correctly. Without clear policies, the same tools that could protect you might become vulnerabilities.

But It’s Not All About Threats

Yes, AI will continue to develop. Yes, cybercriminals will get smarter. But so will we. In the end, cybersecurity isn’t just about technology — it’s about people. The real question we need to ask ourselves isn’t, “What will AI do next?” but

“What are we doing to stay ahead?”

One of the highlights of the event was a “speed dating” session where attendees could meet directly with software security vendors. It gave everyone a chance to discuss their specific needs and challenges, gaining tailored advice from experts. This ties in perfectly with Stone’s new publication, The Collection 2024, which offers more insights into important topics like cybersecurity. And, of course, I encouraged everyone to check out the AI Teacher Course, our non-profit initiative that helps educators get to grips with AI. It’s also featured in the publication.

As the day drew to a close, I left the audience with one final takeaway: don’t wait for someone else to protect your organization. Be proactive. Get your training in place, draft those AI policies, invest in your team, and partner with experts who can help you strengthen your defenses.

Cybersecurity isn’t something we can think about tomorrow. The threats are here today. Whether it’s your school, your business, or your community, the actions you take now could save you from a major crisis in the future. It’s up to us to shape a secure, innovative, and sustainable future. Stay informed, stay protected, and let’s keep the conversation going.

Dan Sodergren, Is Co-founder of the AI Teacher Course with Janine Atkin.