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We're sharing some small snippets over Christmas to share with staff.  Please feel free to share the link to this short news article or follow us over on our social media channels where we share additional help and advice - we'd love to see you there!

The DfE Technology in Schools survey: 2024 to 2025 was published this week. We give our views on the results:

Several London councils are believed to have been targeted in cyber attacks within the past few days, including Hammersmith, who were previously attacked in 2020.

The government has announced an additional Digital Standard to help with planning, commissioning and reviewing their IT support services.  The services can be internal, external or a hybrid.  Effective IT support is essential for maintaining technology, planning improvements and mitigating risks like outages and cyber incidents, and sits alongside the other 11 standards.

The ICO has published some updated guidance for people and organisations who work in the education sector with children and young people under 18.  The idea of the guidance is to help organisations feel confident to share personal information for safeguarding purposes.

Whether it's via a support ticket, online data protection compliance meeting or data walk around an organisation, we are having lots of conversations about the use of Shadow AI - the use of AI tools, applications or models by staff or students without the formal approval, oversight or governance of the organisation.

As Cyber Security Awareness Month draws to a close, it's important to recognise that cybersecurity isn't a destination; it's a continuous journey. For organisations, particularly those in the education sector, this journey often involves working towards recognised standards and certifications. In the UK, Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are government-backed schemes designed to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber threats. For schools, the Department for Education (DfE) Digital Standards provide additional, tailored guidance.  The Government has recently published their Cyber Assessment Framework for further best practice guidance.

Understanding where to get help for cyber resilience and in the event of a cyber attack is crucial for both individuals and organisations.  The good news is that there is help and guidance available!

Administrator accounts (often called "privileged accounts") are the most powerful and, so, the most sought-after targets for cybercriminals. These accounts hold the "keys to the kingdom," possessing extensive permissions to configure systems, access sensitive data, manage users, and make critical changes across an entire network or application. A single compromised admin account can lead to a catastrophic data breach, widespread system paralysis, or complete organisational takeover by attackers. Therefore, making these accounts cyber resilient through controls, processes, and procedures is crucial.

Phishing remains one of the most prevalent and effective cyberattack methods, tricking millions into compromising their data every year. These deceptive messages, often arriving via email, text message (smishing), or phone call (vishing), are designed to look legitimate. They aim to trick you into revealing sensitive information like login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal data, or to click on malicious links that install malware.  They may also be the start of a more complex cyber attack as a way into a system.

Your password is your first, and often most critical, line of defence. Yet, far too many people still rely on easily guessable combinations like "123456" or "password," leaving their digital lives wide open to attack. Cybercriminals use sophisticated tools to crack weak passwords in seconds, and is one of the easiest forms of attack - low risk.

It's easy to overlook the importance of physical security when we rely so heavily on digital systems, but it's a critical component of overall cyber security. This means protecting your devices and data from unauthorised physical access. For individuals, it's locking your laptop when you step away, securing your home network equipment, and shredding sensitive documents. For organisations, it includes controlled access to offices and server rooms, securing hardware (laptops, USB drives), and maintaining a clean desk policy. A physical breach can be just as damaging as a digital one, so don't neglect this fundamental layer of defence.

For most organisations, servers are the undisputed backbone of their IT infrastructure. They house critical applications, store vast amounts of sensitive data (customer information, intellectual property, financial records), and power essential services. Consequently, servers are prime targets for cyber attackers, making robust server security an absolute necessity, not an option. A compromise of even one critical server can bring an entire operation to its knees.

Regular backups are the most fundamental and vital cyber security practices; they are your indispensable recovery safety net, ensuring that even if disaster strikes, valuable data can be restored.

In cybersecurity, filtering and monitoring are proactive measures that act as your digital watchdogs, guarding against threats by controlling what comes in and out of your networks and systems, and by continuously observing activity for suspicious signs. These practices are essential for early threat detection and prevention.

Printers are often overlooked, however, they can represent significant security vulnerabilities if not properly secured.  Modern printers are essentially specialised computers with network connections, storage capabilities, and their own operating systems, making them potential targets for cybercriminals.

In any organisation, and even for individuals with multiple devices, simply knowing what hardware and software you own is the foundational step for effective cybersecurity. This practice is known as asset management, and it's far more than just an inventory list; it's a critical component of risk management and security posture. You cannot protect what you do not know you have, or what state it's in.

When upgrading your tech or getting rid of old devices, simply deleting files or formatting a hard drive is often not enough to truly erase your data. Safe disposal of hardware is a critical, yet frequently overlooked, aspect of cybersecurity. If sensitive personal or organisational information remains recoverable on old devices, it can easily fall into the wrong hands, leading to identity theft, financial fraud, or severe data breaches.

Anti-virus and anti-malware are essential tools that are designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software – collectively known as malware – that can infect your devices, compromise your data, and disrupt your operations. Just like your body needs an immune system to fight off infections, your digital devices need protection against cyber threats.

In the fast-evolving world of cybersecurity, software, operating systems, and applications are constantly being refined, improved, and, crucially, secured. Regular updates, also known as patching, are not merely about gaining new features or improving performance; they are an absolutely critical cybersecurity practice. Neglecting updates is like leaving your digital doors wide open after a burglar has already identified the weak spots.

In cybersecurity, access control for users is about ensuring that only authorised individuals can access specific systems, applications, and data, and only to the extent necessary for their role. This principle is often referred to as the "principle of least privilege"  – granting users the bare minimum permissions required to perform their job functions, and nothing more.

Your Wi-Fi network and broader internal networks are the digital gateways to all your connected devices, resources and data. Just as a physical building needs secure entrances, your networks require robust access controls to prevent unauthorised entry and protect everything within. Ignoring network security is like leaving your front door wide open.

The shift to remote work has transformed how we work, but also introduces new cyber security challenges, particarly around access control in a less structured environment, like a home office.  When working off site,  your personal network and devices become potential entry points into your organisation's systems, making robust access control crucial.

Multi factor authentication is considered the most impactful single step you can take to strengthen your access control to digital accounts, systems and data. While a strong password is your first line of defence, MFA adds a critical second (or more) layer of verification, making it much harder for cyber criminals to gain unauthorised entry, even if they've stolen your password.

Following the Kido nursery breach we've previously published information about, one of our consultants was invited to be guest on the Small Business Cyber Security Guy's podcast.

Cyber security awareness isn't static; it evolves with new threats and changes in technology.  

Technology alone will not fully protect an organisation; people are often considered the weakest link or biggest vulnerability in the security chain, but they can also be the strongest. Cyber security training is not just an option, but an absolute necessity.

Cyber security has many levels; policies and procedures are about establishing clear rules, guidelines and processes that govern how information is handled within an organisation.  Well-defined policies and procedures serve as the blueprint for your cyber security program, ensuring consistent practices, reducing human error and providing a framework for accountability.

Before you can effectively improve your cyber security, you must first understand where you are - Understand Your Cyber Posture. It involves a thorough evaluation of your existing security measures, identifying vulnerabilities, and understanding the risks you face.  You can't protect what you don't know you have or what weaknesses you might have hidden

🔚Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on October 14th 2025 - this means no more security updates, bug fixes or technical support.