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A dark image with the word "FRAUD" in white lettering on a black background, with a magnifying glass over the F. Below "FRAUD" are the words "Awareness" in orange text. In the bottom-left corner, a person in a black hoodie and a white mask holds a phone and has a finger to their lips in a shushing gesture. In the bottom-right corner is a circular logo for "Data Protection Officer" with the website "dataprotection.law/education".
Best Practice Updates

Given the Public Sector Fraud Authority estimates that every year between £39.9 billion and £58.5 billion of taxpayer's money is subject to fraud and error, it's no wonder the UK Government has published some guidance about fraud awareness.

A stylized image of a panda wearing a dark suit and tie, standing in a bamboo forest. The background is a mix of digital circuit patterns and glowing lights. At the bottom, a graphic overlay with the text, "IS THERE A 'MURKY PANDA' ON THE TIMETABLE? THE LATEST CYBER THREAT." The logo for "D NEWS" is in the bottom right corner.
Information/Cyber Security

The Murky Panda (also known as Silk Typhoon) is a cyber threat that has had significant activity since 2023 and has targeted government, technology, academic, legal and professional services. Currently there are reports of the threats only in North America, however, as the Murky Panda has previously targeted compromises in the cloud, it is assumed that they will easily transition to attacks further afield. The threat group is a China-nexus group motivated by intelligence collection.

A detailed flowchart titled "Accountability Framework" showing how the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) framework and DfE (Department for Education) Digital Standard Trackers align. The central hub is "Accountability Framework" with ten radiating branches, each representing a key area: Leadership & Oversight, Risk Management, Policies & Procedures, Individual Rights, Response & Enforcement, Monitoring Verification & Reporting, Transparency, Records Management & Security, Contracts & Data Sharing, and Training & Awareness. Each branch connects to a box labeled "DfE Digital Standard Trackers," with several icons and checklist boxes underneath. The bottom of the image lists various tools and resources, including "Best Practice Library," "Retention Schedule," "Phishing simulations," "Risk Register," and "Accountability Tracker," which are all linked to the main framework. The overall image illustrates a comprehensive system for achieving and tracking data protection compliance in an educational setting.
Best Practice Updates

The ICO Accountability Framework is a crucial tool for any organisation handling personal data, providing a structured approach to data protection compliance. When applied to the Department for Education (DfE) Digital Standards, it becomes a powerful mechanism for schools and trusts to ensure their technology and data practices are not only efficient but also legally compliant and secure.

  1. Data Breaches 2025 Report Highlights
  2. School cyber attack: Framlingham College, Suffolk
  3. Getting caught in the Scattered Spider web
  4. A Wake-Up Call for Cyber Vigilance - Danger in the Threat Landscape for Everyone
  5. Social Media and Marketing Guidelines and Training
  6. New Governor Resources
  7. Apple removes its highest level data security tool from UK customers
  8. Safer Internet Day, Cyber Security & Data Protection
  9. The Cyber Resilience Championship
  10. The Multiple Dimensions of Supplier Due Diligence
  11. Blacon High School Cyber Attack
  12. The role of Passkeys in Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security
  13. What the proposed Government legislative proposal around cyber crime means
  14. Effectively communicating during a cyber incident
  15. Safeguarding Identity in Microsoft 365: Protecting the UK Education Sector Against Cyber Threats
  16. Cyber Security Best Practice Area
  17. DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Tracker
  18. New Policies, Documents, Letters and Posters page
  19. Schools and Trusts Best Practice Area
  20. The DPE Retention Schedule
  21. Making the Rounds Update (now includes reporting)
  22. How does the recent global IT outage affect me?
  23. King's speech introduces new bills in relation to cyber security, smart data and digital information
  24. Out of date technology
  25. What's a Cyber Incident and what should we do?
  26. Cyber attack on a school during half term
  27. Free short cyber training for staff
  28. The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
  29. ICO: Learning from the mistakes of others report
  30. Children's mental health data leaked after a cyber attack
  31. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
  32. Social Media Best Practice Area
  33. Lettings Best Practice Area
  34. MFA Bombing - What is it?
  35. Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
  36. Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
  37. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  38. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  39. Cyber Incident Review: The Benefits
  40. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  41. Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
  42. Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
  43. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
  44. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
  45. Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
  46. Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
  47. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  48. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  49. Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
  50. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  51. Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
  52. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  53. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
  54. Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
  55. Cyber attack on a University
  56. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  57. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  58. Cyber Attack on a School
  59. Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
  60. Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
  61. Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
  62. Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
  63. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  64. Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
  65. Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
  66. Kent Councils Data Breach
  67. Free cyber training for staff
  68. DfE Digital Standards Update
  69. Where is your data stored?
  70. Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
  71. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  72. CISA and UK NCSC Announce Joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development
  73. Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
  74. Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
  75. Records Management Best Practice Update
  76. The Crime in a Cyber Attack and a Data Breach
  77. NCSC Annual Review is published for 2023
  78. Learning from Data Breaches
  79. Windows 11 security ineffective against attacks on old devices
  80. Trust Initial Plan for Data Protection Compliance (for Multi Academy Trusts)
  81. International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2023 Joint Statement
  82. Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
  83. Top Ten Cyber Security Misconfigurations
  84. ICO Reprimand: company suffered a ransomware attack
  85. The UK Online Safety Bill becomes an Act (Law)
  86. The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
  87. Ransomware, extortion and the cyber crime ecosystem
  88. Cyber Resource: The Cyber Resilience Centre Group
  89. Email and Security: ICO recent guidance
  90. Help after a Cyber Attack/Incident
  91. What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack
  92. How KCSIE is linked to Cyber Strategy
  93. Cyber Crime: AI Generated Phishing Attacks
  94. Cyber Attack: Exam Boards
  95. VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
  96. Using Tags if you are a group of organisations in the DPE Knowledge Bank
  97. Where's Harry the Hacker?
  98. Be Cyber Aware: USB Sticks
  99. Cyber Insurance in the Public Sector
  100. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDos Attack (Microsoft DDoS Attack in June)
  101. Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
  102. Be Cyber Aware: Firewalls
  103. Be Cyber Aware: Cyber attacks and transparency. A no blame culture
  104. Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
  105. Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
  106. Types of Cyber Attacks: Password Attacks
  107. Be Cyber Aware: Why regular software updates are important
  108. Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
  109. Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
  110. Why we recommend using PIN codes on printers
  111. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDoS Attacks
  112. Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
  113. Redaction Guidelines Updated
  114. Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
  115. Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
  116. Using WhatsApp in Schools
  117. Knowledge Bank Updates
  118. Types of malware and how they are linked to data protection
  119. Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 Retirement
  120. How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
  121. How a school fought back after a cyberattack
  122. Types of Cyber Attacks - Credential Stuffing
  123. January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
  124. Assigning courses to staff using to-dos
  125. The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
  126. Cyber Attacks
  127. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  128. Compliance Manager released
  129. Emails – good practice and minimising the risk of a data breach

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