Podcast Episode 1 - data protection training for school staff

Podcast Episode 1 - data protection training for school staff

Join us for our first DPE podcast! Data Protection Training for School Staff

This podcast episode provides an overview of the Data Protection Education's 2024 training update, focusing on the legal framework and practical guidance for data protection in the workplace. The discussion covers key definitions like UK GDPR, Data Controller, Data Processor, Personal Data, and Data Protection Officer. It also highlights the importance of data protection in preventing breaches and fostering a strong

Read more …

Image of a robot against a blackboard.  White background. Orange text: New. Blue text: DfE AI Guidance with video training

New DfE AI Guidance

🤖 📢  The DfE has issued some training and guidance about the use of AI in Education.  The guidance aims to help educators safely and effectively use AI to enhance the classroom experience and reduce teacher workload.

Read more …

photo of hands holding a shining padlock.  School's almost out for Summer in orange text on blue back ground. Cyber and data protection checklist. What's your plan for when you're not there in black text. Data Protection office by Data protection education logo

Holiday Cheer or Cyber Fear? : Essential Pre-holiday Checks

😎☀️ Did you know there is an increase in cyber attacks on a long weekend, half term and end of term, so a period of heightened cyber risk.  This article gives some advice about what you need to have in place - it's particularly important that you are able to monitor your network during the long Summer break.

Read more …

photo of a hand holding a phone with whatsapp on the screen. Beige background and black text: What's up with WhatsApp? Emma Martins, Chief Commissioner of the Data & Marketing Commission and Data Protection Education have teamed together to give you a comprehensive overview of the risks, recent cases and guidelines about using WhatsApp.

Preschool Employment tribunal for the use of WhatsApp

📳What's Up with WhatsApp? WhatsApp is a regular theme in relation to SARs, FOI's, data breaches and general use as tickets into our Knowledge Bank platform.  Emma Martins, Chief Commissioner of the Data and Marketing Commission has worked with us to produce some guidance following the recent employment tribunal that was published in relation to a preschool.

Read more …

Photo of a masked man at lots of computer screens.  Blue text on a white background:

Social engineering + impersonation = Fraud ≡ cyber deception

Fraud is deception used to gain something valuable (money, goods, services or information) from someone else's dishonesty. We are seeing a lot of blended cyber attacks in the news currently where social engineering might then be combined with an impersonation followed by a ransomware attack, in order to take data and/or money.

Read more …

Photo of a shadow behind some computer code. Blue background and white text: Education & business comparisons. Navy background and blue text: Gov.uk Cyber security breaches survey 2025. Data Protection Education logo

Data Breaches 2025 Report Highlights

The GOV.UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 is out and reveals that 43% of UK businesses and 30% of charities experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months.  We review and highlight some key data protection points.

Read more …

AI generated photo of the back of a  computer screen with hands on a keyboard. Blue padlock with white text saying: Not everyone should have access.  White background and black text: The key to protecting sensitive data : least privilege. Recent dismissal case in Nottinghamshire

Not everyone needs access: The Key to Protecting Sensitive Data

🚫🔒 Sensitive data requires a higher level of security under UK GDPR because of its potential to cause significant harm to individuals if it is lost, stolen or misused.  A recent case of a teacher losing their job after accessing a safeguarding report and transcribing it to her personal computer highlights the both the importance for least privilege access and continual review of access.

Read more …

Photo of a computer network and lots of spiders on a white background.  Black text: The Scattered Spider Web. Data Protection Education DPO badge

Getting caught in the Scattered Spider web

🛡️🕷️ The Scattered Spider is a fast-growing group of cyber attackers currently on the attack and possibly attributed to the recent attack on M & S - they don't just break in and grab one thing, they like to cause as much chaos as possible and then ask for a ransom.

Read more …

Photo of a cat with leopard markings laying down on a white background underneath black text: Password Day, we suggest not using your pet's name for passwords! Data Protection Education DPO badge

World Password Day

🔒 It's World Password Day - a reminder to check how secure your passwords are and where you store that information.  There's a lot of password help and advice out there which can be confusing.  We highlight the basic things you need to be thinking about.

Read more …

Photo of blocks and notepads with the words, honesty, integrity, values and ethics in red ink. Above the photo in white on black: National Honesty Day: How transparent is your organisation?

National Honesty Day: Transparency

⚖️🛡️ National Honesty Day, although one day to highlight the importance of honesty, it reminds us of how importance truth is in the realms of data protection and cyber security and how it should be part of an organisation's fundamental beliefs and ethos.

Read more …

Photo of glasses, the letters 'FOIA' in red, Freedom of information black text on white background.  BBC News Reporter request, DAta Protection Education DPO badge

FOI Request - BBC News

This article shares advice we have given to several customers who have received an FOI request from the BBC News about conducting research into the challenges of handling harmful sexual behaviour in schools.

Read more …

Ludo pieces on a board on white background. Blue text: New Governor resources, Governors: data protection & cyber security course, governance frameworks: data protection, cyber governance code of practice. Data Protection Education logo and DPO services badge

New Governor Resources

📢🏛️ We've published some new resources for governing bodies about data protection and cyber security.  Governors can be added to our Knowledge Bank platform as part of your subscription with us at no extra charge.

Read more …

Image of circles with people in and finger pushing one on a world map in blue.  World backup Day 2025 in Blue. Data Protection Education logo

World Backup Day

🔄☁️ Having a robust backup is being prepared against data loss and data theft.  March 31st is World Backup day to remind everyone of the importance of having a robust and accessible backup.

Read more …

Transparent image of a teacher at the front of a class teaching children.  Robot holding AI in blue letters. Text in blue and black: 83% teacher say AI is a time saver. Data Protection Education logo

Are teachers using AI? 83% say its a time-saver

🤖🕒 Most meetings we are having with schools at the moment feature conversations and questions around the use of AI by staff in  organisations.  It's clear the landscape is rapidly evolving and education may not be moving as fast, however, it does help to be prepared.

Read more …

Robot hand pointing to opt out check box. Arbor AI in orange text, On by default in white text. Data Protection Education logo. Blue background

Arbor AI - On By Default

💻 ⚠️ Arbor recently announced that it was including some AI as part of it's default configuration - some customers have raised questions about this with us.

Read more …

Background photo of digital folders around a shield in blue and white. A bag of money in a trolley. Text says procuring a new MIS. Data Protection Education logo

DfE Guidance: Choosing a new MIS

✅📃 An MIS (management information system) is a critical part of the school's day to day operations and digital infrastructure.  They can be on premise or in the cloud, which means contract terms can differ.  We highlight the latest guidance alongside what is already data protection law - you should follow this, even if you are procuring your MIS through your local authority or third party IT provider.

Read more …

photo of a girl sitting on a stack of books, a camera lens in the background. Navy text: Sharing photos on World Book Day privacy considerations. Data Protection Education logo

Sharing photos on World Book Day: Privacy considerations

📸✅ It's World Book Day on the 6th March when most schools will be celebrating reading and capturing photos of staff and students in their costumes.   Given this is one of many significant photographic events in the calendar, we thought it was a good opportunity to remind everyone of photo and video best practice.

Read more …

Text: HCRG Data Breach. Photo of a hand coming out of a laptop holding a red key

HCRG Care Group data breach

Some of our customers have been affected by the data breach reported by the HCRG Care Group.  The group is currently investigating claims by a ransomware group that more than two terabytes of sensitive information has been breached.

Read more …

Black and grey background with white visitor badge with black text: Visitor and Data Protection Education logo on the badge.  How to verify it white text. Visitors in blue text on an orange background.

How to verify visitors the right way

✅🔍 We visit a lot of schools and have a lot of conversations about documentation we are asked to provide as new and returning visitors to organisations. Sometimes we don't agree with what the organisation is asking for, so we thought we'd give some clarification about regulatory requirements.

Read more …

blue text a quick guide to: AI in black text. Blue robot dog. Data Protection education logo

Short Guide to AI Video

🎥🤖  Some of the organisations we are talking to are a little confused about AI, whether they should use it and if their staff already are using it or not.  We've put together a short video explaining the different types of AI, the risks and how you should start documenting your use.

Read more …

  1. Safer Internet Day, Cyber Security & Data Protection
  2. The Cyber Resilience Championship
  3. The Multiple Dimensions of Supplier Due Diligence
  4. School shares sensitive pupil information as part of an FOI response
  5. AI (Artificial Intelligence) Best Practice Area & Policy
  6. Blacon High School Cyber Attack
  7. WhatsApp and FOI's: ICO Warnings
  8. New AI Guidance from the DfE
  9. The role of Passkeys in Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security
  10. What the proposed Government legislative proposal around cyber crime means
  11. ICO report on AI tools in recruitment
  12. DfE update to record keeping and management
  13. Update to data sharing for school immunisation programmes
  14. Early Years Settings and Cyber Security
  15. SLT Digital Lead Profile
  16. Ransomware-Resistant Backups
  17. The role of governors in cyber security and data protection
  18. DfE Digital Standards Webinars 2025
  19. Effectively communicating during a cyber incident
  20. Contracts Register
  21. South East Technological University has experienced a cyber incident
  22. Safeguarding Identity in Microsoft 365: Protecting the UK Education Sector Against Cyber Threats
  23. DfE Digital Standards Autumn Update
  24. The importance of knowing how to access your CCTV footage!
  25. Cyber Attack on a Special School
  26. Stealing children's data
  27. What is dark data? (and why does it matter?)
  28. Ofqual highlights the value of cyber security training in schools
  29. Searching for data when you receive a Subject Access Request
  30. Fylde Coast Academy Trust Cyber Attack This Week
  31. Calling all IT leads in schools and mult academy trusts!
  32. Ransomware cyber attack on a school in Bromley
  33. Join Our Social Media Family!
  34. School hit by Cyber Attack
  35. Cyber Security Best Practice Area
  36. DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Tracker
  37. New Policies, Documents, Letters and Posters page
  38. Schools and Trusts Best Practice Area
  39. The DPE Retention Schedule
  40. Making the Rounds Update (now includes reporting)
  41. ESFA Cyber Essentials Requirement for Colleges from 2024/2025
  42. ICO Reprimands a School
  43. How does the recent global IT outage affect me?
  44. King's speech introduces new bills in relation to cyber security, smart data and digital information
  45. Navigating Privacy at the End of Term , Special Occasions and End of Year
  46. Out of date technology
  47. Data Retention and the Pupil File
  48. Have you assigned your SLT Digital Lead yet?
  49. What's a Cyber Incident and what should we do?
  50. Getting Started with AI (Artificial Intelligence)
  51. Cyber attack on a school during half term
  52. Free short cyber training for staff
  53. Update to the DfE Digital Cyber Security Standards for Schools and Colleges (May 2024)
  54. The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
  55. ICO: Learning from the mistakes of others report
  56. Children's mental health data leaked after a cyber attack
  57. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
  58. School Focus: The Vale Federation | Aylesbury
  59. DfE Dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs) Guidance
  60. Update to the Guidance on Information Sharing from the DfE
  61. FOI Requests generated by Artificial Intelligence
  62. Social Media Best Practice Area
  63. Lettings Best Practice Area
  64. Appropriate filtering and monitoring definitions
  65. MFA Bombing - What is it?
  66. Protecting your Social Media Accounts
  67. Why we recommend using checklists
  68. Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
  69. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  70. Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
  71. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  72. Cyber Incident Review: The Benefits
  73. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  74. Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
  75. Milk Island: The secret location that allows children to view restricted content on Google Maps
  76. Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
  77. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
  78. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
  79. Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
  80. Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
  81. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  82. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  83. Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
  84. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  85. Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
  86. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  87. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
  88. Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
  89. Cyber attack on a University
  90. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  91. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  92. Cyber Attack on a School
  93. Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
  94. Major cyber-criminal gang Lockbit brought down by UK Law Enforcement
  95. Why Due Diligence is Important: Fake apps
  96. Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
  97. Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
  98. Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
  99. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  100. Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
  101. Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
  102. Safer Internet Day 2024
  103. Kent Councils Data Breach
  104. Free cyber training for staff
  105. DfE Digital Standards Update
  106. The Mother of all Breaches
  107. ClassCharts Possible Data Breach
  108. Where is your data stored?
  109. IAPP looks at AI privacy risks
  110. If you suspect a financial scam .....
  111. Guardians of Privacy: 16. Social Media Checklist
  112. Guardians of Privacy: 15. Navigating Social Media in Educational Settings Summary
  113. Guardians of Privacy: 14. Social Media and Cyber Bullying
  114. Guardians of Privacy: 13. Social Media, Copyright and Intellectual Property
  115. Guardians of Privacy: 12. Social Media and Going Viral
  116. Guardians of Privacy: 11. Staff Social Media Accounts
  117. Guardians of Privacy: 10. Social Media and Cookies
  118. Guardians of Privacy: 9. Social Media and Morality
  119. New Resources for Schools from the ICO
  120. Guardians of Privacy: 8. Social Media Policies
  121. Guardians of Privacy: 7. Social Media Data Retention
  122. Guardians of Privacy: 6. Posting Safely
  123. Guardians of Privacy: 5. Social Media and Consent
  124. Guardians of Privacy: 4. Social Media Access Control
  125. Guardians of Privacy: 3. Social Media Channels
  126. Guardians of Privacy: 2. Law and Regulations
  127. Guardians of Privacy: 1. Social media, privacy and children
  128. Latest ICO Reprimand. Mr. S. Claus, Chief Executive Officer, North Pole Enterprises
  129. Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
  130. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  131. KCSIE: Filtering, Monitoring and Privacy
  132. Guidance for the use of school email and applying email retention in schools
  133. CISA and UK NCSC Announce Joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development
  134. Data Protection Tips for Early Years Settings
  135. Children's Privacy around the world is a puzzle
  136. Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
  137. Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
  138. Records Management Best Practice Update
  139. Governors and Data Best Practice Area Update
  140. The Crime in a Cyber Attack and a Data Breach
  141. What do I need to redact?
  142. NCSC Annual Review is published for 2023
  143. Learning from Data Breaches
  144. Windows 11 security ineffective against attacks on old devices
  145. Trust Initial Plan for Data Protection Compliance (for Multi Academy Trusts)
  146. International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2023 Joint Statement
  147. Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
  148. Resistant Cloud Backups
  149. Top Ten Cyber Security Misconfigurations
  150. Lettings Best Practice and Guidance
  151. ICO Reprimand: company suffered a ransomware attack
  152. The UK Online Safety Bill becomes an Act (Law)
  153. Considerations when migrating to a new MIS
  154. The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
  155. Public bodies and sensitive data
  156. Adding offline bulk training using the Certificates function
  157. Ransomware, extortion and the cyber crime ecosystem
  158. Get a DPE Badge for your website!
  159. ICO: 10 Step guide to sharing information to safeguard children
  160. Cyber Resource: The Cyber Resilience Centre Group
  161. Email and Security: ICO recent guidance
  162. Help after a Cyber Attack/Incident
  163. Social Media Policy
  164. Data Protection and Cyber Security (Inset Day) Training Ideas
  165. Changes to Microsoft Free Licensing for Schools
  166. What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack
  167. Cyber Crime: AI Generated Phishing Attacks
  168. Handling Freedom of Information Requests the right way
  169. Cyber Attack: Exam Boards
  170. VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
  171. Using Tags if you are a group of organisations in the DPE Knowledge Bank
  172. Where's Harry the Hacker?
  173. Be Cyber Aware: USB Sticks
  174. Cyber Insurance in the Public Sector
  175. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDos Attack (Microsoft DDoS Attack in June)
  176. Cyber Attack: Manchester University
  177. Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
  178. The ICO Reprimands a school
  179. Be Cyber Aware: Firewalls
  180. Be Cyber Aware: Cyber attacks and transparency. A no blame culture
  181. Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
  182. Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
  183. Types of Cyber Attacks: Password Attacks
  184. Be Cyber Aware: Why regular software updates are important
  185. Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
  186. Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
  187. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDoS Attacks
  188. Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
  189. Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
  190. Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
  191. Using WhatsApp in Schools
  192. The Changes to Data Protection in the UK
  193. Knowledge Bank Updates
  194. Types of malware and how they are linked to data protection
  195. Striking Data Breach
  196. IPR Protection Email Scam
  197. Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 Retirement
  198. How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
  199. YouTube breached child protection laws
  200. How a school fought back after a cyberattack
  201. Types of Cyber Attacks - Credential Stuffing
  202. January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
  203. Assigning courses to staff using to-dos
  204. How the Record of Processing Can Help You
  205. Information Security Basics: What are VPN's?
  206. What does a Data Protection Officer Do?
  207. Are you ready for a Data Breach?
  208. Carrying out Supplier Due Diligence
  209. How Long Should You Keep Personal Data For?
  210. The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
  211. How to Assess your Data Security
  212. Schools Blocked from Using Facial Recognition Systems
  213. Sharing this year’s Nativity play online
  214. The Children's Code
  215. B&H FoI: Racist/religious incidents/bullying
  216. Cyber Attacks
  217. Protocol for Setting Up and Delivery of Online Teaching and Learning
  218. Class Dojo International Data Sharing
  219. Model Publication Scheme: Amendments, Improvements and Updates
  220. Child friendly privacy notices
  221. Transparency
  222. Parents and students covertly recording conversations
  223. SAR? ER? FOI?
  224. Secure file transfer of files using Royal Mail
  225. Emergency contacts and consent
  226. Key elements of a successful DPIA
  227. FOI Publication Schemes
  228. SHARE: Avoid disinformation online
  229. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  230. New Drip Feeds: Recognise and Respond to Subject Access Request
  231. When to contact the Data Protection Officer?
  232. National child measurement programme
  233. Make sure DPE is your registered DPO with the ICO
  234. Compliance Manager released
  235. Headteacher fined for breach of data protection legislation
  236. Emails – good practice and minimising the risk of a data breach

Search

Keep in the Know!

Get our latest news directly to your inbox

Privacy notice