Colleges and universities manage large, dynamic identity environments that include students, faculty, staff, alumni, contractors, and third-party users. That complexity creates opportunities for unauthorized access, especially when institutions rely too heavily on the assumption that a valid login means a trusted user.

This resource highlights seven actions higher education institutions can take to help reduce account takeover risk across the campus identity lifecycle. Topics include:

• Why institutions should assume valid credentials can be compromised
• How to prioritize protection for high-value accounts
• Why Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) alone is not enough
• How compromised accounts can be used for internal phishing and impersonation
• Ways to address identity sprawl across the campus lifecycle
• How risk signals can help focus staff effort
• Why adaptable identity controls matter as threats evolve

The guidance in this tip sheet is designed for the operational realities of colleges and universities. It focuses on practical, non-disruptive steps that can help institutions reduce risk while supporting accessibility, limiting unnecessary manual review, and maintaining a smoother experience for legitimate users. It also explores how a broader, intelligence-led approach to identity assessment can help institutions evaluate digital interactions with greater context and confidence.

If your institution is looking for ways to strengthen identity assurance, protect high-risk processes, and respond to evolving account takeover tactics, this tip sheet offers a concise, actionable starting point. It can help your team better understand where exposure exists and what steps may help reduce risk across academic and administrative functions.

Get the guide: When Attackers Log In: 7 Steps to Help Reduce Account Takeover Risk for Higher Education Institutions and explore strategies to help protect campus identities, reduce fraud risk, and reinforce trust across digital interactions.