Collage of photos: Harry the Hacker, Where's Harry training poster, seats at a training session, data protection education bag

Schools are back in full swing, and so is our work at Data Protection Education! This week, we’ve been busy with data walks, on-site training, and booking meetings across various schools to ensure data protection standards are up to date and effective.

Knowledge Bank update in blue text. data protection education logo.  Orange and blue circles in the back ground.  A phone and laptop with the knowledge Bank best practice area.   Cyber security best practice in navy text on an orange circle

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.

Orange and blue circles at the front of a photo of children in school.  Meeting Digital Standards in Schools and Colleges text. Data Protection Education logo.

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.

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: What's a Cyber

blackboard with schools out for Summer written in chalk, bucket and spade and sunglasses and Harry the Hacker phishing

As you all prepare to pack up for the Summer, we would like to remind you about the benefits of pre-holiday cyber hygiene.
Many of the cyber attacks that we see on schools happen on the first day of a long weekend or a holiday - that's because the threat actors know in some instances it might be a good while before anyone notices.  

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 Pract

  1. Have you assigned your SLT Digital Lead yet?
  2. What's a Cyber Incident and what should we do?
  3. Getting Started with AI (Artificial Intelligence)
  4. Cyber attack on a school during half term
  5. Free short cyber training for staff
  6. UPDATE: The Upcoming Election and The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
  7. Update to the DfE Digital Cyber Security Standards for Schools and Colleges (May 2024)
  8. The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
  9. ICO: Learning from the mistakes of others report
  10. Children's mental health data leaked after a cyber attack
  11. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
  12. School Focus: The Vale Federation | Aylesbury
  13. DfE Dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs) Guidance
  14. Update to the Guidance on Information Sharing from the DfE
  15. Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 (Education Institutions)
  16. Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 (Businesses and Charities)
  17. FOI Requests generated by Artificial Intelligence
  18. Social Media Best Practice Area
  19. Lettings Best Practice Area
  20. Appropriate filtering and monitoring definitions
  21. MFA Bombing - What is it?
  22. Protecting your Social Media Accounts
  23. Why we recommend using checklists
  24. Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
  25. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  26. Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
  27. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  28. Cyber Incident Review: The Benefits
  29. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  30. Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
  31. Milk Island: The secret location that allows children to view restricted content on Google Maps
  32. Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
  33. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
  34. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
  35. Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
  36. Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
  37. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  38. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  39. Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
  40. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  41. Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
  42. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  43. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
  44. Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
  45. Cyber attack on a University
  46. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  47. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  48. Cyber Attack on a School
  49. Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
  50. Major cyber-criminal gang Lockbit brought down by UK Law Enforcement
  51. Why Due Diligence is Important: Fake apps
  52. Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
  53. Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
  54. Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
  55. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  56. Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
  57. Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
  58. Safer Internet Day 2024
  59. Kent Councils Data Breach
  60. 2FA Authentication day/Happy National Change Your Password Day
  61. Free cyber training for staff
  62. DfE Digital Standards Update
  63. The Mother of all Breaches
  64. ClassCharts Possible Data Breach
  65. Where is your data stored?
  66. IAPP looks at AI privacy risks
  67. If you suspect a financial scam .....
  68. Guardians of Privacy: 16. Social Media Checklist
  69. Guardians of Privacy: 15. Navigating Social Media in Educational Settings Summary
  70. Guardians of Privacy: 14. Social Media and Cyber Bullying
  71. Guardians of Privacy: 13. Social Media, Copyright and Intellectual Property
  72. Guardians of Privacy: 12. Social Media and Going Viral
  73. Guardians of Privacy: 11. Staff Social Media Accounts
  74. Guardians of Privacy: 10. Social Media and Cookies
  75. Guardians of Privacy: 9. Social Media and Morality
  76. New Resources for Schools from the ICO
  77. Guardians of Privacy: 8. Social Media Policies
  78. Guardians of Privacy: 7. Social Media Data Retention
  79. Guardians of Privacy: 6. Posting Safely
  80. Guardians of Privacy: 5. Social Media and Consent
  81. Guardians of Privacy: 4. Social Media Access Control
  82. Guardians of Privacy: 3. Social Media Channels
  83. Guardians of Privacy: 2. Law and Regulations
  84. Guardians of Privacy: 1. Social media, privacy and children
  85. Latest ICO Reprimand. Mr. S. Claus, Chief Executive Officer, North Pole Enterprises
  86. Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
  87. The Data Protection And Digital Information Bill (DPADI)
  88. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  89. KCSIE: Filtering, Monitoring and Privacy
  90. Guidance for the use of school email and applying email retention in schools
  91. CISA and UK NCSC Announce Joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development
  92. Data Protection Tips for Early Years Settings
  93. Children's Privacy around the world is a puzzle
  94. Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
  95. Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
  96. Records Management Best Practice Update
  97. Governors and Data Best Practice Area Update
  98. The Crime in a Cyber Attack and a Data Breach
  99. What do I need to redact?
  100. NCSC Annual Review is published for 2023
  101. Learning from Data Breaches
  102. Windows 11 security ineffective against attacks on old devices
  103. Trust Initial Plan for Data Protection Compliance (for Multi Academy Trusts)
  104. International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2023 Joint Statement
  105. Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
  106. Resistant Cloud Backups
  107. Top Ten Cyber Security Misconfigurations
  108. Lettings Best Practice and Guidance
  109. ICO Reprimand: company suffered a ransomware attack
  110. The UK Online Safety Bill becomes an Act (Law)
  111. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 25. Server Security
  112. Considerations when migrating to a new MIS
  113. The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
  114. Public bodies and sensitive data
  115. Adding offline bulk training using the Certificates function
  116. Ransomware, extortion and the cyber crime ecosystem
  117. ICO: 10 Step guide to sharing information to safeguard children
  118. Schools under Cyber Attack: September 2023
  119. Cyber Resource: The Cyber Resilience Centre Group
  120. Email and Security: ICO recent guidance
  121. Help after a Cyber Attack/Incident
  122. Social Media Policy
  123. Data Protection and Cyber Security (Inset Day) Training Ideas
  124. Changes to Microsoft Free Licensing for Schools
  125. What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack
  126. Cyber Crime: AI Generated Phishing Attacks
  127. Handling Freedom of Information Requests the right way
  128. Cyber Attack: Exam Boards
  129. VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
  130. Using Tags if you are a group of organisations in the DPE Knowledge Bank
  131. Where's Harry the Hacker?
  132. Be Cyber Aware: USB Sticks
  133. Cyber Insurance in the Public Sector
  134. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDos Attack (Microsoft DDoS Attack in June)
  135. Cyber Attack: Manchester University
  136. Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
  137. The ICO Reprimands a school
  138. Be Cyber Aware: Firewalls
  139. Subject Access Requests (SARs)
  140. Be Cyber Aware: Cyber attacks and transparency. A no blame culture
  141. Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
  142. Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
  143. Types of Cyber Attacks: Password Attacks
  144. Be Cyber Aware: Why regular software updates are important
  145. Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2023
  146. World Password Day - May 4th
  147. Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
  148. Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
  149. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDoS Attacks
  150. Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
  151. Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
  152. Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
  153. Using WhatsApp in Schools
  154. The Changes to Data Protection in the UK
  155. Knowledge Bank Updates
  156. Types of malware and how they are linked to data protection
  157. Striking Data Breach
  158. Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 Retirement
  159. How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
  160. YouTube breached child protection laws
  161. How a school fought back after a cyberattack
  162. Types of Cyber Attacks - Credential Stuffing
  163. January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
  164. End of Windows 8.1 Support
  165. Assigning courses to staff using to-dos
  166. How the Record of Processing Can Help You
  167. Information Security Basics: What are VPN's?
  168. What does a Data Protection Officer Do?
  169. Are you ready for a Data Breach?
  170. Blog: Best Practice on the Retention of Child Protection Information
  171. Carrying out Supplier Due Diligence
  172. Email and retention periods
  173. How Long Should You Keep Personal Data For?
  174. The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
  175. How to Assess your Data Security
  176. Schools Blocked from Using Facial Recognition Systems
  177. Sharing this year’s Nativity play online
  178. A quick introduction to the Phishing Simulation tool
  179. The Children's Code
  180. Recording vaccination of staff
  181. B&H FoI: Racist/religious incidents/bullying
  182. Cyber Attacks
  183. Protocol for Setting Up and Delivery of Online Teaching and Learning
  184. Class Dojo International Data Sharing
  185. Model Publication Scheme: Amendments, Improvements and Updates
  186. Child friendly privacy notices
  187. Transparency
  188. Parents and students covertly recording conversations
  189. SAR? ER? FOI?
  190. Secure file transfer of files using Royal Mail
  191. Emergency contacts and consent
  192. Key elements of a successful DPIA
  193. FOI Publication Schemes
  194. SHARE: Avoid disinformation online
  195. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  196. New Drip Feeds: Recognise and Respond to Subject Access Request
  197. When to contact the Data Protection Officer?
  198. National child measurement programme
  199. Make sure DPE is your registered DPO with the ICO
  200. Compliance Manager released
  201. Headteacher fined for breach of data protection legislation
  202. Emails – good practice and minimising the risk of a data breach

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