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."

October 4: When a Cyber Attack Hits

Even with the robust preventative measures, cyber attacks can happen.  The key is is not to panic and to have a plan, most organisations will call this a cyber incident response plan.  Knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath can significantly mitigate the damage, limit data loss and speed up recovery.

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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".

Fraud awareness from the DfE

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.

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 A blue graphic with three children peering over a dark blue banner. The banner has white text that reads "Back to School Basics: Data Protection & Cyber Security." To the left of the text is a stack of school books with a red apple on top. To the right is a laptop displaying a logo with the text "Data Protection Education."

Back to School Basics for Data Protection and Cyber Security Compliance

As schools begin to welcome back students, staff and new joiners, the focus is on the new academic year: curriculum planning, safeguarding and operational logistics.  An equally critical and statutory area that demands attention is data protection and cyber security compliance.  Adhering to data protection law isn't just about avoiding fines; it's about protecting sensitive personal data of children, their families and staff.

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

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