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A lady with a head in her hands with computer screens around her. A cyber incident response plan text. communication planning. data protection education logo

📢 It's important to be prepared for when a cyber incident happens to you.  Part of that preparation should include having a Cyber Incident Response Plan, and part of that plan should include how to communicate, who does the communication and what they should say.
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📃 A digital technology contracts register is a lit of all the contracts in your organisation with external suppliers for the supply of digital technology products and services.
Meeting Digital Standards in schools and colleges. Children working in school in the background. Data Protection Education logo

🍂 The DfE have published several updates to the DfE Digital Standards, updating the Filtering and Monitoring Standards, the Digital Leadership & Governance Standards and the Broadband Internet Standards for Schools and Colleges. We give our view on what that means and more details about the updates.
Ai generated image of a school. In the sky: cctv cameras, padlocks, backup cloud, gdpr padlocks. Data Protection Education logo

🎦 CCTV systems play a critical role in maintaining safety and security in organisations.  In schools, for example, it might help deter inappropriate behaviour, prevent unauthorised access and damage to property.
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📢 A special school in Devon has been the victim of a cyber attack and is being blackmailed by hackers.
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In a Malwarebytes blog, author Mark Beare explains how your child's data can be stolen, and even more so if you have given medical  or health data.

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🌑🗃️💻 Dark data is data that is unused but still might be stored somewhere in an organisation, usually kept in unstructured and unsecured repositories or storage.
Breaking news in blue text, cyber attack on south london school. AI generated image of school hall with lots of computers with padlocks on the screen

A high school in south London was closed for the first part of this term due to a ransomware attack.  Students were sent home advising parents that the school would be closed for three days while all staff devices were 'cleansed'.
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Follow us on social media for the latest updates, exclusive content, and insights into data protection best practice, cyber security and online safety.
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Another school has been hit by a cyber attack, this time in Canvey Island, Essex, who say the cyber attack happened during the summer holidays.
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🛡️✅ Gone are the days when cyber security issues meant accidentally downloading a virus, it has grown to mean so much more, where data and identities are stolen, fraud is committed and businesses can be shut down from a cyber attack.  With that in mind we have created a cyber security best practice area to help guide and support your data protection compliance.
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The data protection officer is mentioned many times in the DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges as someone that should either be informed or consulted with.  As part of that consultation process, we would like to announce our new DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Tracker.
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We've put all the specific school and trust related data protection guides, documents and queries into one area to make it easier for you.

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We recognised that a number of our customers needed a generic retention schedule to help get them started with their records management.
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The ICO have issued a reprimand to a school that did not follow due diligence when introducing facial recognition technology (FRT).

Microsoft Copilot AI generated image of computers on a world with hackers by the side

The recent news has been full of the global IT outage that affected many systems over the weekend, including airlines and patient access.  Although the incident was not caused by a cyber attack, it is important to note that it was a cyber incident which affects everyone.

A cyber incident is an event with threatens the confidentiality, integrity or availability of information systems, networks or the information they contain.

Review our previous article:

Cyber incidents can be intentional or accidental and can cause major disruptions.  The recently reported CrowdStrike incident caused significant global disruption.  While there are huge impacts to the affected systems, for which there are now fixes available, there will be an aftermath of 'unrest' where threat actors will use people's vulnerability and concern to send phishing emails.

The NCSC has already reported an increased in phishing activity as opportunistic and malicious actors seek to take advantage of the situation.  The emails could be aimed at organisations or individuals.

The NCSC has released this guidance:

Organisations should review NCSC guidance to make sure that multi-layer phishing mitigations are in place, while individuals should be alert to suspicious emails or messages on this topic and know what to look for.

Their full report can be read here: NCSC Major IT Outage

We've made a short micro learning video for you to share with staff about how they might be affected by cyber incidents like this one:



View our other free micro learning videos!

Article images created using Microsoft Copilot AI.
Micro Learning video created using Vyond AI.

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:

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Report scam text messages by forwarding the original message to 7726 (it spells SPAM on the keypad).

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Ageing and out of date technology is an every day challenge for most schools and small businesses, but is there a risk?
Why data retention matters in black text. Blue blobby man. Data Protection Education logo.

We are asked a lot about retention schedules and keeping file when a pupil moves onto another school.  

This short video explains the basics behind data retention and the implications of keeping data for longer than required.



  Knowledge Bank
We have a retention schedule on our Knowledge Bank portal where you can check the retention period for all types of files in  your organisation.

Visit our Records Management Best Practice Library for more advice and policy templates.

Consider email data retention covered in this article:


Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like us to do a data retention workshop in your organisation.

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We've been asked by some of our customers what they need to consider when thinking about using AI to improve job efficiency as a time saving exercise or part of CPD, so staff related.
This article puts together some available resources as an initial step.
  1. Cyber attack on a school during half term
  2. Free short cyber training for staff
  3. The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
  4. ICO: Learning from the mistakes of others report
  5. Children's mental health data leaked after a cyber attack
  6. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
  7. School Focus: The Vale Federation | Aylesbury
  8. DfE Dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs) Guidance
  9. Update to the Guidance on Information Sharing from the DfE
  10. FOI Requests generated by Artificial Intelligence
  11. Social Media Best Practice Area
  12. Lettings Best Practice Area
  13. MFA Bombing - What is it?
  14. Protecting your Social Media Accounts
  15. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  16. Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
  17. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  18. Cyber Incident Review: The Benefits
  19. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  20. Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
  21. Milk Island: The secret location that allows children to view restricted content on Google Maps
  22. Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
  23. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
  24. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
  25. Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
  26. Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
  27. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  28. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  29. Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
  30. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  31. Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
  32. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  33. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
  34. Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
  35. Cyber attack on a University
  36. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  37. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  38. Cyber Attack on a School
  39. Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
  40. Major cyber-criminal gang Lockbit brought down by UK Law Enforcement
  41. Why Due Diligence is Important: Fake apps
  42. Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
  43. Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
  44. Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
  45. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  46. Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
  47. Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
  48. Safer Internet Day 2024
  49. Kent Councils Data Breach
  50. Free cyber training for staff
  51. DfE Digital Standards Update
  52. The Mother of all Breaches
  53. ClassCharts Possible Data Breach
  54. Where is your data stored?
  55. IAPP looks at AI privacy risks
  56. If you suspect a financial scam .....
  57. Guardians of Privacy: 16. Social Media Checklist
  58. Guardians of Privacy: 15. Navigating Social Media in Educational Settings Summary
  59. Guardians of Privacy: 14. Social Media and Cyber Bullying
  60. Guardians of Privacy: 13. Social Media, Copyright and Intellectual Property
  61. Guardians of Privacy: 12. Social Media and Going Viral
  62. Guardians of Privacy: 11. Staff Social Media Accounts
  63. Guardians of Privacy: 9. Social Media and Morality
  64. New Resources for Schools from the ICO
  65. Guardians of Privacy: 8. Social Media Policies
  66. Guardians of Privacy: 7. Social Media Data Retention
  67. Guardians of Privacy: 6. Posting Safely
  68. Guardians of Privacy: 5. Social Media and Consent
  69. Guardians of Privacy: 4. Social Media Access Control
  70. Guardians of Privacy: 3. Social Media Channels
  71. Guardians of Privacy: 2. Law and Regulations
  72. Latest ICO Reprimand. Mr. S. Claus, Chief Executive Officer, North Pole Enterprises
  73. Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
  74. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  75. Guidance for the use of school email and applying email retention in schools
  76. CISA and UK NCSC Announce Joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development
  77. Data Protection Tips for Early Years Settings
  78. Children's Privacy around the world is a puzzle
  79. Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
  80. Records Management Best Practice Update
  81. The Crime in a Cyber Attack and a Data Breach
  82. What do I need to redact?
  83. Learning from Data Breaches
  84. Windows 11 security ineffective against attacks on old devices
  85. International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2023 Joint Statement
  86. Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
  87. Top Ten Cyber Security Misconfigurations
  88. Lettings Best Practice and Guidance
  89. ICO Reprimand: company suffered a ransomware attack
  90. The UK Online Safety Bill becomes an Act (Law)
  91. Considerations when migrating to a new MIS
  92. The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
  93. Public bodies and sensitive data
  94. Adding offline bulk training using the Certificates function
  95. Ransomware, extortion and the cyber crime ecosystem
  96. Get a DPE Badge for your website!
  97. ICO: 10 Step guide to sharing information to safeguard children
  98. Cyber Resource: The Cyber Resilience Centre Group
  99. Email and Security: ICO recent guidance
  100. Help after a Cyber Attack/Incident
  101. Social Media Policy
  102. Data Protection and Cyber Security (Inset Day) Training Ideas
  103. Changes to Microsoft Free Licensing for Schools
  104. What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack
  105. Cyber Crime: AI Generated Phishing Attacks
  106. Handling Freedom of Information Requests the right way
  107. Cyber Attack: Exam Boards
  108. VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
  109. Using Tags if you are a group of organisations in the DPE Knowledge Bank
  110. Where's Harry the Hacker?
  111. Be Cyber Aware: USB Sticks
  112. Cyber Insurance in the Public Sector
  113. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDos Attack (Microsoft DDoS Attack in June)
  114. Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
  115. The ICO Reprimands a school
  116. Be Cyber Aware: Firewalls
  117. Be Cyber Aware: Cyber attacks and transparency. A no blame culture
  118. Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
  119. Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
  120. Be Cyber Aware: Why regular software updates are important
  121. Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
  122. Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
  123. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDoS Attacks
  124. Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
  125. Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
  126. Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
  127. The Changes to Data Protection in the UK
  128. Knowledge Bank Updates
  129. Types of malware and how they are linked to data protection
  130. Striking Data Breach
  131. IPR Protection Email Scam
  132. Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 Retirement
  133. How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
  134. YouTube breached child protection laws
  135. How a school fought back after a cyberattack
  136. Types of Cyber Attacks - Credential Stuffing
  137. January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
  138. Assigning courses to staff using to-dos
  139. How the Record of Processing Can Help You
  140. Information Security Basics: What are VPN's?
  141. What does a Data Protection Officer Do?
  142. Are you ready for a Data Breach?
  143. Carrying out Supplier Due Diligence
  144. How Long Should You Keep Personal Data For?
  145. The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
  146. How to Assess your Data Security
  147. Schools Blocked from Using Facial Recognition Systems
  148. The Children's Code
  149. B&H FoI: Racist/religious incidents/bullying
  150. Cyber Attacks
  151. Protocol for Setting Up and Delivery of Online Teaching and Learning
  152. Class Dojo International Data Sharing
  153. Model Publication Scheme: Amendments, Improvements and Updates
  154. Child friendly privacy notices
  155. Transparency
  156. Secure file transfer of files using Royal Mail
  157. Emergency contacts and consent
  158. Key elements of a successful DPIA
  159. FOI Publication Schemes
  160. SHARE: Avoid disinformation online
  161. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  162. New Drip Feeds: Recognise and Respond to Subject Access Request
  163. When to contact the Data Protection Officer?
  164. National child measurement programme
  165. Compliance Manager released
  166. Headteacher fined for breach of data protection legislation
  167. Emails – good practice and minimising the risk of a data breach

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