Watch Now: Top Cyber Risks in Education

On January 28, 2026, NYSERNet hosted "Top Cyber Risks in Education: What 2025 Taught Us and How to Prepare for 2026 ," featuring Trevor Burnside and Sumera Riaz from Telarus and Emilyann Fogarty, CISO at NYSERNet.

Conversation Highlights

• Identity: The New Perimeter
  One of the most significant shifts identified by the panel is the diminishment of the traditional physical perimeter. With the rise of remote learning and cloud-based applications, the firewall is no longer the primary line of defense. Experts now define identity as the modern edge of the network.
• The AI Explosion and "Shadow AI"
  Education has seen a spike in AI adoption that outpaces many other industries. While AI is a powerful tool for curriculum planning and assignments, it has introduced the challenge of Shadow AI—the use of unvetted LLMs by students and staff.
• Back to Basics: Data Governance
  The panel emphasized that while new tools are tempting, they are not "silver bullets." AI often serves as a spotlight on existing weaknesses in an institution's cybersecurity posture. Before deploying AI solutions like Microsoft Copilot, institutions must prioritize data classification and labeling.
• Third-Party Risk
  Roughly 30% of breaches involve third-party vendors. Institutions must rigorously vet partners and transition away from traditional Virtual Private Network (VPNs) toward more secure access methods.

NYSERNet + Telarus

NYSERNet membership provides access to expert Telarus consultants dedicated to guiding you to the solutions that will best fit your needs. Members can leverage this relationship to expand into new practice areas and grow capacity with the expertise of specialized resources for Contact Center, Cloud, UCaaS, Mobility, IoT and Security. Rebecca Werner, Director of Membership at NYSERNet, shares:

“When we started working with Telarus, what stood out wasn’t their massive provider network — it was how human their approach is. When a campus says, ‘We don’t know where to start,’ Telarus listens, asks the right questions, maps the problem, and brings vetted options that actually fit. They act like a seasoned guide, someone who’s walked campuses through similar challenges and can say, ‘Here’s what this means, and here’s what will work for you.’”

Contact membership@nysernet.org to setup an initial consultation.

Your Next Step?

 NYSERNet  is your partner in securing your campus and building defensible systems.

• Security Services - Explore  our  suite of innovative, community-driven solutions built specifically for complex nonprofit ecosystems → https://nysernet.org/cybersolutions

• Training Bundles – Boost technical expertise with curated security courses including live instruction and community cohorts → https://nysernet.org/education/stormwind
• Conferences & Events - Learn, collaborate and gain real-world insight with a community of your NYSERNet peers and subject matter experts → https://nysernet.org/education