At a Glance
This blog examines how ransomware campaigns against schools and governments have become more sophisticated in 2025, including the use of double-extortion tactics, exploitation of unpatched systems, and increased targeting of managed IT environments. It also outlines the real-world impact on classrooms, public safety, and citizen services and explains why proactive cybersecurity strategies are essential. By adopting risk assessments, layered security controls, employee training, and managed detection and response, schools and government entities can reduce ransomware risk, improve resilience, and better protect sensitive data and operations.
Cybercriminals continue to target schools and government offices with ransomware attacks, but recent data indicate some encouraging trends. According to research from Bitdefender, the number of successful attacks against these institutions has dropped significantly in recent months.
The Numbers Are Going Down
In the first three months of 2025, 109 educational institutions were victims of ransomware attacks. By the third quarter of the year, that number had dropped to just 42 victims. Government agencies saw a similar decline, falling from 105 victims in the first quarter to only 28 in the third quarter.
While any cyberattack is serious, this downward trend suggests that some security improvements may be working.
Who's Being Targeted?
When it comes to schools, cybercriminals don't seem to prefer one type over another. Universities and colleges made up about a third of education victims in 2025. Online learning platforms, training centers, and private schools accounted for another 30%. Elementary and high schools (K-12) came in third, followed by entire school districts.
The United States remains the most targeted country for ransomware attacks targeting education and government. This makes sense when you consider how many schools and government offices exist in the U.S., along with the valuable information they store, such as personal data, financial records, and research.
How Do These Attacks Happen?
The methods criminals use differ between schools and government offices.
In schools, attackers often rely on social engineering, tricking people into clicking malicious links or giving up their passwords. Once they're inside a system, cybercriminals lock files and demand a ransom to unlock them.
For government agencies, hackers often exploit security vulnerabilities in software or exploit newly discovered weaknesses known as zero-days. Instead of just locking files, they sometimes steal sensitive data and threaten to release it publicly unless they're paid.
Regardless of the type of organization targeted, criminals often employ "Living off the Land" tactics. This means they use standard programs already on computers, such as PowerShell or Windows Management tools, to navigate networks and avoid detection.
Why Schools Are More Likely to Pay
Interestingly, schools are more likely to pay ransoms than government offices. Government agencies face strict data protection regulations and must publicly report breaches, which creates barriers to making secret payments. The sensitive nature of government work also makes it harder to quietly pay criminals.
What's Putting Organizations at Risk?
Several common security weaknesses make schools and government offices vulnerable:
- Poor password practices and lack of strong authentication requirements
- Weak plans for responding to cyber incidents
- Not having good backup and recovery systems in place
- Failing to update software and fix known security holes quickly
- Using security tools that don't work well together or can't monitor the entire network
How to Stay Protected
Security experts recommend several key steps to prevent ransomware attacks:
Use multi-factor authentication (MFA): This means requiring more than just a password to log in, like a code sent to your phone. This should be required for anyone with administrative access to important systems.
Monitor networks actively: Organizations need systems that can detect unusual activity and respond quickly to threats. This is most effective when technology is combined with trained security personnel.
Have a solid backup plan: Follow the 3-2-1 rule: Keep three copies of important data, store them on two different types of storage, and keep one copy separate and protected from the network. Most importantly, test these backups regularly to ensure they function as expected.
Be proactive, not just reactive: Instead of responding only after attacks occur, organizations should make it harder for attackers to succeed in the first place. This includes blocking risky actions before they can cause damage.
Looking Forward
While ransomware remains a serious threat to schools and government agencies, the declining numbers suggest progress is being made. By understanding how these attacks occur and implementing robust preventive measures, organizations can better protect themselves and the sensitive information they handle.
The key is staying vigilant, keeping systems up to date, training staff to recognize threats, and having solid backup plans in place. Cybersecurity isn't just an IT issue; it's everyone's responsibility.
The information presented in this article includes findings from Bitdefender's Q3 2025 ransomware analysis.
Solutionz Security: Your Strategic Cybersecurity Partner
Protect critical systems before the next attack. Solutionz Security helps schools and government agencies reduce ransomware risk with proactive cybersecurity assessments, managed security services, and compliance-driven strategies designed to safeguard sensitive data, ensure operational continuity, and strengthen long-term cyber resilience in an evolving threat landscape.
Learn more about Solutionz Security
FAQs
What data do ransomware attackers typically target in public sector organizations?
Attackers commonly target student records, personal identifiable information (PII), payroll data, law enforcement records, healthcare-related data, and internal communications.
What are the most common entry points for ransomware attacks?
The most frequent entry points include phishing emails, compromised credentials, unpatched systems, remote desktop protocol (RDP) exposure, and third-party vendor vulnerabilities.
What role do managed security services play in ransomware defense?
Managed security services provide continuous monitoring, threat detection, incident response, and expert oversight—capabilities that many schools and government agencies lack internally.
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