IAM Cybersecurity in Higher Education: New Ways to Combat Hackers

Since one of our original articles focused on how higher education can fight back against hackers, the threat landscape has only grown. As of 2025, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting students as a means to infiltrate university systems. With vast stores of personal data, cutting-edge research, and ever-expanding digital archives, colleges and universities have become prime targets. In fact, recent stats show that 91% of higher educational institutions have already faced cyberattacks this year. 

There are several key reasons behind the rise in cyberattacks on higher education. For one, high-value research, particularly in fields such as biotechnology, has become a target for corporate espionage. At the same time, ransomware tools have become more advanced and easier to use, lowering the barrier for less-skilled hackers to launch attacks. Colleges and universities also tend to use a wide range of software, which can create backdoor vulnerabilities. But perhaps the biggest game-changer is automation. With AI-powered tools and increasingly sophisticated autonomous attack frameworks, cybercriminals can now launch large-scale attacks on universities with minimal effort.

Use IAM Automation to Combat Hackers 

To better protect themselves from cybercriminals, schools must evolve in tandem with the threats they face. Adversarial dynamics, defined as the interaction between two intelligent agents with opposing goals, often involves reciprocal adaptation, where both sides grow more sophisticated in response to each other’s actions. In cybersecurity, this means defenders must adopt and master the same advanced techniques used by attackers, essentially fighting automation with automation. Many universities still rely on decentralized systems, which can leave backdoor vulnerabilities open to exploitation. Even with ongoing improvements in identity and access management (IAM), these gaps can put sensitive databases at risk. The problem is further compounded by outdated infrastructure that lacks modern security controls, making institutions even more vulnerable to attack. 

One of the more subtle challenges universities face is what's known as data perfection paralysis. This occurs when institutional decision-makers, driven by a culture that values clean, perfectly organized information, hesitate to adopt identity and access management (IAM) solutions unless all data is fully structured, duplicate-free, perfectly categorized, and 100% compliant. What’s often overlooked is that IAM systems are designed to handle imperfect data. These tools not only function effectively with messy datasets but also help clean and organize information over time, streamlining systems in the process. By embracing IAM solutions, universities can address these challenges head-on and significantly strengthen their cybersecurity posture. According to a recent EDUCASE QuickPolls result claimed siloed data and older technology were one of the top barriers to overcome. 

Reduce Human Error 

According to the 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 60% of breaches involved a human element, such as clicking on phishing links, a figure nearly unchanged from the previous year’s 61%. 

• Common missteps include incorrect access privileges, orphaned accounts, and weak password practices. 

• Even minor mistakes can lead to significant security breaches. 

• Schools can strengthen their systems by formalizing and automating access privileges, password management, and other IAM processes. 

• Automation doesn’t eliminate human error entirely, but it reduces the likelihood of avoidable mistakes. 

The number one cause of identity and access management (IAM) system vulnerabilities continues to be human error. 

Adapt More Quickly to an Ever-changing Cyber Threat Landscape 

Keeping pace with the rate of technological advancement is a challenge under any circumstance. When those improvements also empower threat actors to exploit system vulnerabilities, it can feel nearly impossible to stay ahead of them. 

• Automating critical and often tedious tasks allows schools to reallocate resources toward combating evolving cyber threats. This proactive approach enables institutions to stay one step ahead of potential future attacks. 

• Modernized systems can provide stronger defenses against increasingly sophisticated tactics. For example, cybercriminals now use AI-driven phishing campaigns that automate distribution and dynamically alter text to appear professional and legitimate. 

According to the 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, there has been a significant increase in the capabilities of cyberattacks, underscoring the importance of modern, automated protections to mitigate these growing risks. 

Make Room for Innovation 

Strong cybersecurity requires time and resources, especially when much of the work is manual. Schools that still rely on homegrown identity and access management (IAM) solutions often spend countless hours patching problems as they arise. This approach is inefficient, unsustainable, and leaves little room for growth or innovation. 

• Introducing automation helps colleges and universities strengthen their systems while reducing the burden of routine maintenance. 

• Automated IAM systems free up IT teams to focus on improvements, scalability, and strategic initiatives. 

• A proactive approach to cybersecurity is more effective than reactive methods. 

In contrast, automated systems eliminated vulnerabilities immediately, according to the 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report. 

One of the top technological challenges for higher education remains combating cyberattacks. As threats grow more complex, often powered by automation themselves, the solution is clear. By automating IAM systems, schools can implement scalable, future-ready defense to protect their most valuable data now and in the years ahead. 

Executive Buy-in 

Ultimately, automating identity and access management (IAM) in higher education requires IT leaders to secure buy-in from all key decision-makers. While IT professionals often understand the clear benefits of automation, communicating those advantages to the C-suite can be a challenge of its own.  

In fact, nearly three-quarters of respondents identified executive buy-in as a barrier to automation. For some institutions, this lack of support is the single greatest obstacle to progress. As with budget constraints, the key to overcoming this hurdle lies in clearly presenting the return on investment, highlighting time saved, reduced human error, and long-term cost savings. These challenges, while significant, are not insurmountable. Clear, data-driven communication about the value of IAM automation will be crucial as colleges and universities strive to modernize their systems and enhance their digital infrastructure protection. 

To explore the full results of our survey and gain deeper insights into the challenges and benefits of IAM automation in higher education, download our free resource: Higher Education IT Leaders Are Looking to Complement Access Governance With Automation.