Schools & MATs

"A graphic announcing 'October is Cyber Security Awareness Month,' with text explaining the importance of creating a cyber emergency contact list in preparation for a cyber attack. It also includes a 'Cyber tip' to assess passwords, turn on MFA, and review critical accounts, especially email. A shield icon with a checkmark and a lightbulb icon are visible."

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.

"A graphic announcing 'October is Cyber Security Awareness Month,' with text explaining the importance of creating a cyber emergency contact list in preparation for a cyber attack. It also includes a 'Cyber tip' to assess passwords, turn on MFA, and review critical accounts, especially email. A shield icon with a checkmark and a lightbulb icon are visible."

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.

"A graphic announcing 'October is Cyber Security Awareness Month,' with text explaining the importance of creating a cyber emergency contact list in preparation for a cyber attack. It also includes a 'Cyber tip' to assess passwords, turn on MFA, and review critical accounts, especially email. A shield icon with a checkmark and a lightbulb icon are visible."

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.

"A graphic announcing 'October is Cyber Security Awareness Month,' with text explaining the importance of creating a cyber emergency contact list in preparation for a cyber attack. It also includes a 'Cyber tip' to assess passwords, turn on MFA, and review critical accounts, especially email. A shield icon with a checkmark and a lightbulb icon are visible."

Preventing ransomware attacks requires a multi-layered approach.  Regular backups are crucial - ensure they are isolated and tested. Employee training is paramount; staff must be able to recognise a phishing attempt.  All software and systems should be updated to patch vulnerabilities Strong access controls and MFA for all accounts will prevent up to 89% of data beaches.

  1. October 6: Cyber Action Plan and A Roadmap to Resilience
  2. October 5: Cyber Responsibilities - We're All in This Together
  3. October 4: When a Cyber Attack Hits
  4. October 3: Data Security, the Core of Protection
  5. October 2: Privacy Protection & Safeguarding Personal Data
  6. October 1: Welcome to Cyber Security Awareness Month!
  7. Nursery Cyber attack
  8. Fraud awareness from the DfE
  9. The Classroom's Dark Side: Cyber crime from the Classroom
  10. Data Breach: School sends out names and contact details in a spreadsheet.
  11. KCSIE 2025: Data Protection, AI, and Cyber Security
  12. The Online SCR Data Breach: What You Need to Know
  13. Back to School Basics for Data Protection and Cyber Security Compliance
  14. The Latest Cyber Threat: The "Murky Panda"
  15. Building a Secure School: Using the ICO Accountability Framework to Meet DfE Digital Standards
  16. Why Physical and Data Security Must Go Hand-In-Hand
  17. Digital Safeguarding: DfE announces statutory DfE Digital Standards
  18. The Data Protection Lead/Champion Role
  19. Changes to the Academy Trust Handbook 2025
  20. School closes for two days after cyber incident
  21. Social Media Day 2025
  22. How Ofsted looks at AI during inspection and regulation
  23. Data Breaches 2025 Report Highlights
  24. Not everyone needs access: The Key to Protecting Sensitive Data
  25. School cyber attack: Outwood Academy, Middlesbrough
  26. Alert: Schools receiving Microsoft File Sharing Phishing Emails
  27. School cyber attack: Framlingham College, Suffolk
  28. West Lothian Schools in Cyber Attack
  29. A Wake-Up Call for Cyber Vigilance - Danger in the Threat Landscape for Everyone
  30. New Governor Resources
  31. Are teachers using AI? 83% say its a time-saver
  32. DfE Digital Standards - narrowing the digital divide
  33. Arbor AI - On By Default
  34. DfE Guidance: Choosing a new MIS
  35. Short Guide to AI Video
  36. Safer Internet Day, Cyber Security & Data Protection
  37. The Cyber Resilience Championship
  38. The Multiple Dimensions of Supplier Due Diligence
  39. School shares sensitive pupil information as part of an FOI response
  40. Blacon High School Cyber Attack
  41. WhatsApp and FOI's: ICO Warnings
  42. New AI Guidance from the DfE
  43. What the proposed Government legislative proposal around cyber crime means
  44. DfE update to record keeping and management
  45. Update to data sharing for school immunisation programmes
  46. SLT Digital Lead Profile
  47. The role of governors in cyber security and data protection
  48. Navigating Privacy at the End of Term , Special Occasions and End of Year
  49. South East Technological University has experienced a cyber incident
  50. Safeguarding Identity in Microsoft 365: Protecting the UK Education Sector Against Cyber Threats
  51. Cyber Attack on a Special School
  52. Stealing children's data
  53. Ofqual highlights the value of cyber security training in schools
  54. Fylde Coast Academy Trust Cyber Attack This Week
  55. Calling all IT leads in schools and mult academy trusts!
  56. Ransomware cyber attack on a school in Bromley
  57. School hit by Cyber Attack
  58. DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Tracker
  59. Schools and Trusts Best Practice Area
  60. ESFA Cyber Essentials Requirement for Colleges from 2024/2025
  61. ICO Reprimands a School
  62. Out of date technology
  63. Data Retention and the Pupil File
  64. Have you assigned your SLT Digital Lead yet?
  65. What's a Cyber Incident and what should we do?
  66. Getting Started with AI (Artificial Intelligence)
  67. Cyber attack on a school during half term
  68. The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
  69. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
  70. School Focus: The Vale Federation | Aylesbury
  71. DfE Dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs) Guidance
  72. Update to the Guidance on Information Sharing from the DfE
  73. Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
  74. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  75. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  76. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  77. Milk Island: The secret location that allows children to view restricted content on Google Maps
  78. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  79. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  80. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  81. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  82. Cyber attack on a University
  83. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  84. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  85. Cyber Attack on a School
  86. Major cyber-criminal gang Lockbit brought down by UK Law Enforcement
  87. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  88. Safer Internet Day 2024
  89. Kent Councils Data Breach
  90. Free cyber training for staff
  91. DfE Digital Standards Update
  92. ClassCharts Possible Data Breach
  93. School Focus: St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School | Brighton
  94. Guardians of Privacy: 16. Social Media Checklist
  95. Guardians of Privacy: 15. Navigating Social Media in Educational Settings Summary
  96. Guardians of Privacy: 14. Social Media and Cyber Bullying
  97. Guardians of Privacy: 13. Social Media, Copyright and Intellectual Property
  98. Guardians of Privacy: 12. Social Media and Going Viral
  99. Guardians of Privacy: 11. Staff Social Media Accounts
  100. Guardians of Privacy: 10. Social Media and Cookies
  101. Guardians of Privacy: 9. Social Media and Morality
  102. New Resources for Schools from the ICO
  103. Guardians of Privacy: 8. Social Media Policies
  104. Guardians of Privacy: 7. Social Media Data Retention
  105. Guardians of Privacy: 6. Posting Safely
  106. Guardians of Privacy: 5. Social Media and Consent
  107. Guardians of Privacy: 4. Social Media Access Control
  108. Guardians of Privacy: 3. Social Media Channels
  109. Guardians of Privacy: 2. Law and Regulations
  110. Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
  111. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  112. Guidance for the use of school email and applying email retention in schools
  113. Data Protection Tips for Early Years Settings
  114. Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
  115. Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
  116. Trust Initial Plan for Data Protection Compliance (for Multi Academy Trusts)
  117. Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
  118. Lettings Best Practice and Guidance
  119. The UK Online Safety Bill becomes an Act (Law)
  120. Considerations when migrating to a new MIS
  121. The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
  122. Public bodies and sensitive data
  123. ICO: 10 Step guide to sharing information to safeguard children
  124. Email and Security: ICO recent guidance
  125. Social Media Policy
  126. Data Protection and Cyber Security (Inset Day) Training Ideas
  127. Changes to Microsoft Free Licensing for Schools
  128. What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack
  129. How KCSIE is linked to Cyber Strategy
  130. VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
  131. Using Tags if you are a group of organisations in the DPE Knowledge Bank
  132. Cyber Insurance in the Public Sector
  133. Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
  134. The ICO Reprimands a school
  135. Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
  136. Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
  137. Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
  138. Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
  139. Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
  140. Striking Data Breach
  141. January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
  142. FOI: Vaccination Justifications
  143. The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
  144. Schools Blocked from Using Facial Recognition Systems
  145. The Children's Code
  146. Cyber Attacks
  147. Protocol for Setting Up and Delivery of Online Teaching and Learning
  148. Class Dojo International Data Sharing
  149. Secure file transfer of files using Royal Mail
  150. Emergency contacts and consent
  151. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  152. Headteacher fined for breach of data protection legislation

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