How Does Python Help with Cybersecurity for Educational Institutions?

The education and research sector suffered a 75% increase in cyberattacks in 2021 over 2020 as per some studies. While we tend to think of cyber-attacks as something that only plague rich businesses or government organisations with a treasure trove of data or deep pockets, cyber criminals don’t discriminate.

For them, educational institutions have become a fruitful playground with their increasing dependence on digital tools and their vast repositories of data, ranging from student data to parent data to research material.

How can Python help educational institutions stay safe?

Python is a high-level coding language that is easy to learn and use. Cyber security and programming cannot be separated. One of the key programming tools used for creating a cyber-secure online infrastructure is Python. It prevents system attacks by programmes designed to illegally penetrate the systems.

Educational institutions prefer using Python for cyber security programming. They do so because it is a flexible coding language. It can be used to test systems for security and to analyse the generated data. 

It has a large pool of AI-based libraries that provide several benefits to schools. It can perform multiple functions, such as scanning, penetration testing, and attack analysis. 

It’s user-friendly and has been in the market for many years. Python allows developers to do more tasks with python security tools. They can do any of the following tasks without the need for third-party tools:

• Cloning websites

• Fingerprinting website servers

• Network traffic transmission

• Scanning ports

• Mail server access

• Developing systems for detecting and preventing intrusion

• Attacks simulation

Students can understand the concepts of Python too as it is considered one of the easiest languages to learn. This can help them play a vital role in elevating the cyber posture of their schools or colleges. In fact, many students do their research or write papers on this subject to enhance their knowledge of Python. While students can do their own research, they can also use online services to order essay online from professional writers.

Why is Python an ideal programming language for cybersecurity?

Python is a top choice of programming language in cyber security. To understand better how Python is used in cyber security, it is necessary to look into its various features. 

• Easy to learn: Python is easy to learn, and even new users can easily use it to code. The advanced features might take more time to learn. However, its basic features take only a few hours or days to learn.
• It is an open-source program: It is a free, open-source program that can be modified based on need. Once modified, it can be redistributed for free. 
• It is portable: You don’t need to create separate codes for each operating system. One code can be used on multiple operating systems. 
• It is easy to read: Its codes are not complicated but are easy to read and understand. 
• It has a library full of tools and codes: You don’t need to create everything with Python. You only need to explore the library and make use of the tools and codes available. 
• It is a high-level programming language: Python perfectly fits high-level programming due to its architecture. 
• It is supported by a large online community: Being an open-source program, you can connect with an online community and learn more. 

These are some of the features that make Python a favourite program in cyber security. The program requires minimum code. This makes it easier for programmers to debug errors. Due to the simplicity of its design, debugging with Python is straightforward. The programmer only needs to use its PDB debugger to correct an error. 

Thanks to Python’s object-oriented design, a programmer can implement codes securely. Its automatic memory manager makes work easier for programmers. They don’t have to concern themselves with partitioning, catching, or allocating memory. 

Final Thoughts

Institutions of learning hold a large volume of sensitive data. They store student information, research results, and other types of confidential data. The major threats experienced by educational institutions are related to cloud security, malware, and phishing attacks. Other common forms are Distributed denial of service and attacks on personal devices. Ransomware attacks, of course, are a top concern for educational institutions like every other organisation today. 

While IT and security professionals have to deploy several tools and technologies to keep organisations safe, Python is one powerful device in this arsenal.  Apart from deploying Python, educational institutions must undertake other cybersecurity best practices like having a good cyber incident response plan and giving their IT staff high-quality cybersecurity training on a regular basis. With all such efforts combined, it is indeed possible for institutes of higher learning to avoid cyber-attacks or at least minimize their impact.