Action1, a leader in autonomous endpoint management (AEM), has released its Cybersecurity in Education Report 2025-2026. The study reveals that while school leaders are increasingly realistic about their cybersecurity maturity, structural barriers and sophisticated threats like AI-driven phishing continue to leave learning environments vulnerable.

The Growing Cyber Maturity Gap

“Education systems remain a top target for cyber criminals,” stated Mike Walters, President and Co-founder of Action1. Despite rising budgets, persistent staffing shortages and outdated infrastructure continue to undermine progress.

Key Findings from the 2025-2026 Report

  • Growing Realism: 66% of school IT leaders now rate their cybersecurity maturity as moderate, with high confidence dropping from 30% last year to just 18%.
  • Ubiquity of Incidents: 89% of schools experienced at least one cyber incident in the past year, primarily through phishing, malware, and unauthorized access.
  • Staffing Crisis: 74% of schools lack a dedicated cybersecurity specialist, which significantly undermines the benefits of increased spending.
  • Ransomware Concerns: Half of school IT leaders still view ransomware as a major threat to learning continuity.
  • AI-Driven Phishing: A striking 92% of respondents expect AI-powered phishing to be the most dangerous threat in the coming year, surpassing even ransomware.
  • Structural Obstacles: Budget limits, staff shortages, and low user awareness remain the primary hurdles to stronger protection.
  • Inconsistent Proactivity: While regular vulnerability assessments are increasing, nearly one-third of schools conduct phishing simulations only once a year or not at all.

About the Report

The report surveyed over 350 school IT leaders and administrators worldwide, benchmarking cybersecurity maturity across K-12 and higher education institutions.

For more details, visit the Action1 Cybersecurity in Education Report 2025-2026.

About Action1

Action1 is an autonomous endpoint management platform trusted by many Fortune 500 companies. Cloud-native, infinitely scalable, highly secure, and configurable in 5 minutes—it just works and is always free for the first 200 endpoints, with no functional limits. By pioneering autonomous OS and third-party patching with peer-to-peer patch distribution and real-time vulnerability assessment without needing a VPN, it eliminates routine labor, preempts ransomware and security risks, and protects the digital employee experience.

In 2025, Action1 was recognized by Inc. 5000 as the fastest-growing private software company in America. The company is founder-led by Alex Vovk and Mike Walters, American entrepreneurs who previously founded Netwrix, a multi-billion-dollar cybersecurity company.

About Version 2

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