The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is using outdated hardware and software that leaves its systems vulnerable to cyberattacks. The report highlights the risks associated with using SA-SAMS, the DBE's primary administrative software, which is only compatible with older versions of Windows that no longer receive security updates. This leaves the department's systems exposed to sophisticated and increasingly frequent cyberattacks.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is facing severe cybersecurity risks due to its continued reliance on outdated hardware and software, according to a recent report. The report highlights that the DBE's primary administrative software, SA-SAMS , is only compatible with older versions of Windows that no longer receive security updates from Microsoft. This leaves the department's systems vulnerable to cyberattacks, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent.
The report expresses concern that the DBE lacks cloud storage for sensitive data, relying instead on schools to transport data on USB drives or even physically transporting computers to department offices. This outdated approach not only increases costs but also significantly elevates the risk of data breaches.The report underscores the potential consequences of such vulnerability, noting that a successful cyberattack could expose vast troves of private information, including addresses, ID numbers, and potentially even banking details. Schools, forced to use SA-SAMS for data transmission to the department, experience further challenges with software updates that often disrupt operations. A school principal in KwaZulu-Natal cited the inflexibility and outdated nature of the software, stating that its use is mandated by the department.Given the South African government's past experiences with crippling cyberattacks, such as the ransomware attack on Transnet and the National Health Laboratory Service, the DBE's outdated systems raise serious concerns. The report warns that a successful breach could have cascading effects, potentially compromising other government departments and critical infrastructure. The reliance on insecure hardware and outdated software creates a substantial window of risk for the DBE and the broader South African government
Education Cybersecurity CYBERSECURITY DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION SA-SAMS WINDOWS DATA BREACH CLOUD STORAGE RANSOMWARE
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