Modern Campus Web Traffic Blocking

In response to evolving global cybersecurity threats, particularly those originating from Russia and China, Modern Campus is implementing targeted security measures. We continue to review the impacts of these threats. While we intend to minimize operational disruptions, we will be blocking all web traffic from Russia, and we are monitoring the threat profile from China. Residents of blocked countries can use a Virtual Private Network, if available, to access Modern Campus web applications.  

Modern Campus will communicate with customers before making changes that will affect your product(s). 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The following FAQ addresses common questions. 

 Why is Modern Campus taking this action? 

Modern Campus is taking this action in response to an evolving global threat environment. We have observed a measurable increase in malicious activity targeting educational and SaaS platforms including reconnaissance, credential harvesting, and bot-driven attack patterns. While we have historically mitigated these threats reactively, the current risk posture demands more proactive measures to safeguard institutional operations and ensure long-term platform stability and security. 

 

Why is Modern Campus targeting Russia and China specifically? 

Russia and China are recognized by U.S. government and threat intelligence sources as frequent sources of coordinated cyberattacks. Over the past several months, we’ve seen an uptick in activity originating from these regions, including traffic consistent with reconnaissance and automated attack tooling. Targeting these regions allows us to focus mitigation efforts where the signal-to-noise ratio of malicious activity is highest, aligning with common industry practices in response to advanced persistent threats.

 

Is this a temporary measure? When will these blocks be lifted? 

This is an ongoing security control, not a temporary restriction. We will continue to monitor regional activity and global threat intelligence and will re-evaluate the need for these controls periodically. Any changes to the blocking policy, whether expansion or removal, will be communicated in advance and driven by measurable shifts in risk posture. 

 

Was web traffic from these regions blocked by Modern Campus before now? 

For most Modern Campus websites and hosted products, no, we were not specifically blocking traffic from these regions. 

 

Our institution does business with customers in the affected countries. What can we do to continue to support them? Can our institution opt out of these regional web traffic blocks for the instances of our Modern Campus software? 

We recognize that security needs to be balanced with institutional flexibility.  

Based on preliminary feedback from our customer base and due to the threat profile, we plan to block traffic from Russia. The date that this block will go into effect will be communicated to customers with at least two-weeks' notice. 

Modern Campus will not block traffic from China at this time. We will continue to monitor the threat profile from China and if we plan to make changes, we will communicate with customers beforehand. 

If these blocks would impact your ability to serve learners or partners in these regions, please contact Modern Campus at web-traffic@moderncampus.com. If you have already shared your concerns with your Account Manager or with Modern Campus Support, you do not need to contact this email alias again unless you have new concerns. We will work with you on a case-by-case basis to identify potential accommodations or mitigations that preserve both accessibility and platform integrity. 

 

Does Modern Campus block traffic from other sanctioned countries? Are there any plans to do so? 

We continuously monitor activity from all regions, including countries under U.S. sanctions. While Russia is our immediate focus due to observed threat activity, we reserve the right to extend protections to other regions if warranted by risk trends, legal requirements, or threat intelligence.  Institutions will be notified in advance before any additional action is taken that would affect their users. 

 

On which specific date(s) will these blocks be implemented? 

No specific implementation date has been set. We are currently reviewing institutional feedback and historical traffic patterns to guide our next steps. Institutions will be notified in advance before any action is taken that would affect their users. 

That said, we continue to routinely monitor and mitigate threats from these regions. We have observed an uptick in activity, and what may have previously been addressed through targeted, reactive mitigations no longer appears sufficient to ensure stable and secure service delivery. Our shift toward more proactive controls reflects an evolving threat environment and our responsibility to protect institutional data and operations. 

 

What will the user experience be if someone in a blocked region attempts to access a Modern Campus website or product? Will they get an error? 

A user in a blocked region will see a message similar to the below mock-up in their browser window. 

If an agent attempts to connect programmatically, they will receive a 403 Unauthorized Error. 

Sorry, you have been blocked You are unable to access <attempted URL> Your connection has been blocked based on security and regional access policies. This may be due to your location or network settings      Why have I been blocked? This website uses a security service to protect from online attacks. Access restrictions help protect against unauthorized access and security risks. Some regions may be blocked due to compliance or operational requirements.      What can I do to resolve this? If you believe this is an error, contact the institution or organization that operates this website. Ensure you are not attempting access from a restricted location or network.   Error Code: <tbd-will be hardcoded>

 

If users in blocked countries use a VPN, will they be able to access the Modern Campus website or product? 

Yes. In most cases, a VPN that routes traffic through an allowed region can provide access. However, the availability and legality of VPN use varies by country, and Modern Campus does not support or endorse any specific VPN solutions. 

 

VPN usage in many countries is highly restricted and may not be an option for most people. Are there other options to allow us to continue to do business with individuals such regions? 

We understand the limitations in regarding VPN usage in some regions. If your institution has specific engagement needs in the region, contact Modern Campus at  
web-traffic@moderncampus.com. 

 

Will this change affect learner access to third-party systems with which Modern Campus software integrates? 

No. These controls apply to web-based access of Modern Campus products only.  

 

Will the intended block on web traffic originating in China affect Macau, Taiwan, or Hong Kong? 

Modern Campus will not block traffic from China, Macau, Taiwan, or Hong Kong at this time. We will continue to monitor the threat profile and if we plan to make changes, we will communicate with customers beforehand.