Recent breaches and security incidents underscore why cyberattacks continue to proliferate across higher education: decentralized IT environments, open data-sharing norms, and the research mission make campuses attractive targets and hinder rapid enforcement of stricter protections. Experts argue many institutions resist tighter controls to preserve academic freedom, leaving vulnerabilities in identity management, supply chains, and cloud configurations. Security leaders are urging unified governance, stronger data practices, and investment in defensive tooling as cyber risk climbs alongside digital transformation and AI deployment on campuses.