The time following a cyber attack can be very stressful, and in the heat of the moment it can be difficult to know what the best thing to do between working out what went wrong, how to recover and what went missing, it can be hard to know where to start first.
We provide some help and guidance in our Information and Cyber Security Best Practice Area, which also includes the checklist:
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What to do immediately after a Cyber Attack(58 KB)
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The NCSC have recently published a series of web pages about Cyber Incident Response. The NCSC assured Cyber Incident Response (CIR) scheme gives clients confidence in companies which meet the NCSCs rigorous standards for high quality cyber incident response.
The CIR companies help organisations which have been the victim of a cyber attack.
CIR Assured Service Providers help organisations to recover from cyber incidents and deliver a full investigation of the incident along with recommendations on how to prevent it happening again.
The NCSC recommends that all UK organisations use a CIR Assured Service Provider when dealing with cyber incidents.
Whenever you have a cyber incident, check what personal data might have been breached:
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Data Breach Assessment Matrix(5 KB)
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Article 32 of the UK GDPR states:
1. Controllers and processors shall implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk, including, amongst other things as appropriate:
a) Pseudonymisation and encryption of personal data.
b) The ability to ensure the ongoing confidentiality, integrity, availability and resilience of processing systems and services; (Business Continuity).
c) The ability to restore availability and access to personal data in a timely manner in the event of a physical or technical incident (Disaster Recovery).
d) A process for regularly testing, assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of technical and organisational measures for ensuring the security of the processing (Pen Testing, Penetration Testing).
2. Assessing risks from accidental or unlawful destruction, loss alteration, unauthorised disclosure or access to personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed.
3. Adherence to an approved code of conduct.
4. Ensure that any individual acting under the authority of the controller or the processor who has access to personal data does not process them except on instructions from the controller unless they are required to do so by domestic law.
Review the Data Breach Best Practice Area.
What to do in the event of a cyber attack
First, follow your cyber response plan. Record the incident in your internal incident log, inform your governing board or trustees, and contact your Data Protection Officer (DPO) as soon as possible if personal data could be involved.
Incidents or attacks where a security breach may have taken place, or other damage was caused, should also be reported to an external body. The SLT digital lead is responsible for assigning someone to report any suspicious cyber incidents or attacks. This person will need to report to:
- Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud in December 2025, on 0300 123 2040 or through the Report Fraud website. Make sure it is recorded as a crime report so that you receive a crime reference number.
- the DfE sector cyber team at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
You may also need to report to:
- the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) if the incident or attack causes long-term school closure, the closure of more than one school, or serious financial damage. If you're not sure who to report to, use the government's cyber incident signposting service.
- the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach, unless the breach is unlikely to result in a risk to people's rights and freedoms. If the risk is high, you must also tell the people affected without undue delay. Your DPO can help you assess this. We will do this on behalf of DPE customers.
- the Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) emergency assistance helpline on 0800 368 6378 or
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , if you are an RPA member, or your cyber insurance provider if you have one - your local police force if you suspect a safeguarding impact
- any third-party service providers whose systems are affected, so they can be part of a coordinated response
- Jisc CSIRT, if you are part of a further education institution.
You must act in accordance with:
- Report Fraud's guide to reporting cyber crime and fraud
- Academy Trust Handbook Part 6, if you are part of an academy trust. Since September 2025, academy trusts must not pay any cyber ransom demands.
- the ICO's guidance on personal data breaches.
Preserve the evidence
Police investigations may find out whether any compromised data has been published or sold, and identify the perpetrator. Preserving evidence is as important as recovering from the crime. Keep a clear record of what happened, when, and what actions you took. The DfE's guidance on record keeping in an incident explains what to capture.
Reporting suspicious emails and texts
Forward suspicious emails to