Newark, NJ, April 13, 2021 – Edge, the region’s nonprofit research and education network and technology partner, has announced a new service designed to protect against data exfiltration and sale on the dark web. An addition to Edge’s existing cybersecurity assessment services, the dark web vulnerability scan enables institutions to identify undetected security breaches and better prepare for future attacks.
With ransomware attacks in higher education increasing 100% over the past year, and average pay-outs totalling nearly $450,000, the ability to quickly scan network traffic as well as the dark web is critical in protecting the personal information stored in institutional systems and intellectual property at research institutions from potential hackers.
Edge’s Dark Web Vulnerability Scan is a combination of traditional vulnerability scanning technology, plus a suite of proprietary tools that scan the institution’s network traffic for interactions with known attack vectors on the internet as well as the depths of the dark web to illuminate blind spots for institutions.
“Colleges and universities hold a treasure trove of personal data in their systems, making them very attractive targets for hackers. In some cases, these systems have already been breached without the institution even being aware of that fact,” said Dawn Dunkerley, PhD, who leads Edge’s team of virtual Chief Information Security Officers. “Smart hackers can get inside your network quietly, and stay there extracting information to the dark web over long periods of time. This service offers organizations a way to find out if their data is already out there on the dark web and protect themselves from future attacks.”
Given a recently issued FBI warning about rising numbers of cyberattacks against colleges and universities, the higher education community is expected to remain an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to steal sensitive information and exfiltrate it to the dark web and/or hold it for ransom.
Edge’s proprietary dark web vulnerability scan is available on a monthly or real-time subscription basis. The monthly plan provides a point-in-time snapshot of the institution’s data exposure on the dark web, and analysis of netflow traffic to identify whether attackers have interacted with your network. The real-time plan provides an immediate, ongoing, and specific view of possible attack vectors from the dark web and your institution’s files or infrastructure to notify the institution of any warning signs as they arise.
About Edge
Founded in 2000, Edge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, serves as a purpose-built research and education wide area network and technology solutions partner. Edge connects members with affordable, easy access to high-performance optical networking, commodity Internet and Internet2 services, and a variety of technology-powered products, solutions, and services. The Edge member consortium consists of colleges and universities, K-12 schools and districts, government entities, healthcare networks, and businesses spread throughout the continental US. The group is governed by the New Jersey Presidents’ Council with offices in Newark, Princeton, and Wall Township, NJ. For more information, please visit: www.njedge.net.
Media Contact:
Adam Scarzafava
AVP for Marketing and Communications, Edge
855-832-3343
adam.scarzafava@njedge.net
