As the number of data breaches continues to skyrocket, it’s not a question of if a cyber attack will occur—it’s when. In the U.S. alone, the number of reported data breaches has jumped from 447 in 2012 to a record-breaking 3,205 in 2023.

Cyberattacks on colleges and universities have been on the rise for years, and this trend will likely continue in 2025. In response to this, we can expect to see a number of new data privacy and security developments that will impact higher education in the new year.