Learning from Data Breaches

data breach in orange computer text on a computer screen with computer code

: Information/Cyber Security; 10 November 2023

Learning from Data Breaches

The British Computer Society (BCS) has recently published the biggest data leaks of 2023. The leaks cover worldwide cyber attacks, but the lessons learned apply to organisations of all types all around the world. The data breaches include The Guardian Newspaper, LastPass password manager, Royal Mail, MOVEit, Microsoft, The UK Electoral Commission.

The following are still of vital importance and key lessons to learn from the data breaches:

System backups
Maintaining fully patched software
Educating the workforce to recognise social engineering in all its forms. Phishing are other forms of social engineering are still the most likely initial points of entry for hackers.
Reviewing third-party providers of software and services should also be both a priority and an ongoing process (e.g MOVEit breaches).
Reviewing your organisation's protocols for dealing with basic breaches and a full blown cyber attack should be a priority.

Remember if suffer a cyber attack, as with any emergency, speed and understanding what immediate actions to take (and what not to do) to preserve evidence, could make the difference between a quickly contained breach and a lengthy struggle with untold consequences, both financial and reputational.

The full blog and details of the breaches can be viewed: The biggest cyber attacks of 2023

What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack

Incidents or attacks where any security breaches may have taken place, or other damage was caused, should be reported to an external body.

The SLT digital lead will be responsible for assigning someone to report any suspicious cyber incidents or attacks. This person will need to report this to:

Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or the Action Fraud website
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 NCSC website if the incident or attack causes long term school closure, the closure of more than one school, or serious financial damage
the ICO website within 72 hours, where a high risk data breach has or may have occurred
your cyber insurance provider (if you have one), such as risk protection arrangement (RPA)
Jisc, if you are a part of a further education institution

You must act in accordance with:

Action Fraud guidance for reporting fraud and cyber crime
Academy Trust Handbook Part 6, if you are part of an academy trust
ICO requirements for reporting personal data breaches

Police investigations may find out if any compromised data has been published or sold and identify the perpetrator.

m. Preserving evidence is as important as recovering from the crime.

Forward suspicious emails to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Report SMS scams by forwarding the original message to 7726 (spells SPAM on the keypad).

Little Guide to ACTION FRAUD

InfoSec / Cyber

Learning from Data Breaches

What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack

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