Ludo pieces on a board on white background. Blue text: New Governor resources, Governors: data protection & cyber security course, governance frameworks: data protection, cyber governance code of practice. Data Protection Education logo and DPO services badge

📢🏛️ We've published some new resources for governing bodies about data protection and cyber security.  Governors can be added to our Knowledge Bank platform as part of your subscription with us at no extra charge.

Image of circles with people in and finger pushing one on a world map in blue.  World backup Day 2025 in Blue. Data Protection Education logo

🔄☁️ Having a robust backup is being prepared against data loss and data theft.  March 31st is World Backup day to remind everyone of the importance of having a robust and accessible backup.

Transparent image of a teacher at the front of a class teaching children.  Robot holding AI in blue letters. Text in blue and black: 83% teacher say AI is a time saver. Data Protection Education logo

🤖🕒 Most meetings we are having with schools at the moment feature conversations and questions around the use of AI by staff in  organisations.  It's clear the landscape is rapidly evolving and education may not be moving as fast, however, it does help to be prepared.

Robot hand pointing to opt out check box. Arbor AI in orange text, On by default in white text. Data Protection Education logo. Blue background

💻 ⚠️ Arbor recently announced that it was including some AI as part of it's default configuration - some customers have raised questions about this with us.

Background photo of digital folders around a shield in blue and white. A bag of money in a trolley. Text says procuring a new MIS. Data Protection Education logo

✅📃 An MIS (management information system) is a critical part of the school's day to day operations and digital infrastructure.  They can be on premise or in the cloud, which means contract terms can differ.  We highlight the latest guidance alongside what is already data protection law - you should follow this, even if you are procuring your MIS through your local authority or third party IT provider.

photo of a girl sitting on a stack of books, a camera lens in the background. Navy text: Sharing photos on World Book Day privacy considerations. Data Protection Education logo

📸✅ It's World Book Day on the 6th March when most schools will be celebrating reading and capturing photos of staff and students in their costumes.   Given this is one of many significant photographic events in the calendar, we thought it was a good opportunity to remind everyone of photo and video best practice.

Text: HCRG Data Breach. Photo of a hand coming out of a laptop holding a red key

Some of our customers have been affected by the data breach reported by the HCRG Care Group.  The group is currently investigating claims by a ransomware group that more than two terabytes of sensitive information has been breached.

Black and grey background with white visitor badge with black text: Visitor and Data Protection Education logo on the badge.  How to verify it white text. Visitors in blue text on an orange background.

✅🔍 We visit a lot of schools and have a lot of conversations about documentation we are asked to provide as new and returning visitors to organisations. Sometimes we don't agree with what the organisation is asking for, so we thought we'd give some clarification about regulatory requirements.

blue text a quick guide to: AI in black text. Blue robot dog. Data Protection education logo

🎥🤖  Some of the organisations we are talking to are a little confused about AI, whether they should use it and if their staff already are using it or not.  We've put together a short video explaining the different types of AI, the risks and how you should start documenting your use.

Safer Internet Day official art work, coloured orange and blue text: Safer Internet Day, Cyber Security, Data Protection. Data Protection Education logo

🛡️🔒We couldn't get through today without mentioning it's Safer Internet Day today (11th February).  And while we don't need a special day to talk about being safe online, cyber security and data protection, we welcome any chance to highlight how important they all are.

New ICO data protection fees

Using a statutory instrument on Jan 27th 2025, the Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has increased the data protection fees to be paid by data controllers.
Tier 1 (micro organisations) from £40 to £52; Tier 2 (small and medium organisations) from £60 to £78; Tier 3 (large organisations) from £2,900 to £3,763. This change will come in from February 27th 2025 and will be charged when your payment is next due.

A reminder for

  1. AI (Artificial Intelligence) Best Practice Area & Policy
  2. Blacon High School Cyber Attack
  3. WhatsApp and FOI's: ICO Warnings
  4. New AI Guidance from the DfE
  5. The role of Passkeys in Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security
  6. What the proposed Government legislative proposal around cyber crime means
  7. DPE Webinar Schedule
  8. ICO report on AI tools in recruitment
  9. DfE update to record keeping and management
  10. Update to data sharing for school immunisation programmes
  11. Early Years Settings and Cyber Security
  12. SLT Digital Lead Profile
  13. Ransomware-Resistant Backups
  14. The role of governors in cyber security and data protection
  15. DfE Digital Standards Webinars 2025
  16. Navigating Privacy at the End of Term , Special Occasions and End of Year
  17. Effectively communicating during a cyber incident
  18. Contracts Register
  19. South East Technological University has experienced a cyber incident
  20. Safeguarding Identity in Microsoft 365: Protecting the UK Education Sector Against Cyber Threats
  21. DfE Digital Standards Autumn Update
  22. The importance of knowing how to access your CCTV footage!
  23. Cyber Attack on a Special School
  24. Stealing children's data
  25. What is dark data? (and why does it matter?)
  26. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 31. On the road to cyber essentials
  27. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 24. Backups
  28. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 30. Support
  29. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 29. Admin controls
  30. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 28. Phishing
  31. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 27. Passwords
  32. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 26. Physical Security
  33. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 25. Server Security
  34. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 23. Filtering and Monitoring
  35. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 22. Hardware: Printers
  36. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 21. Hardware: Asset Control
  37. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 20. Hardware: Safe disposal
  38. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 19. Anti-virus/anti-malware
  39. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 18. Regular Updates
  40. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 17. Access Control (Users)
  41. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 16. Access Control (Wi-Fi/Network access)
  42. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 15. Access Control (working from home/off site)
  43. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 14. Access Control (MFA)
  44. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 13. Awareness
  45. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 12. Training
  46. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 11. Policies and Procedures
  47. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 10. Assess where you are with cyber security
  48. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 9. A guide for education providers
  49. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 8. How can your organisation prevent Ransomware attacks?
  50. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 7. What does a Ransomware attack on a school look like?
  51. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 6. Cyber Action Plan
  52. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 5. Responsibilities
  53. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 4. What to do in a cyber attack
  54. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 3. Data Security
  55. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 2. Privacy Protection
  56. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 1. Why is cyber security important?
  57. Ofqual highlights the value of cyber security training in schools
  58. Searching for data when you receive a Subject Access Request
  59. Fylde Coast Academy Trust Cyber Attack This Week
  60. Calling all IT leads in schools and mult academy trusts!
  61. Ransomware cyber attack on a school in Bromley
  62. Join Our Social Media Family!
  63. School hit by Cyber Attack
  64. New Academic Year Kick-Off!
  65. New e-learning for 2024
  66. Cyber Security Best Practice Area
  67. DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Tracker
  68. New Policies, Documents, Letters and Posters page
  69. Schools and Trusts Best Practice Area
  70. The DPE Retention Schedule
  71. Making the Rounds Update (now includes reporting)
  72. ESFA Cyber Essentials Requirement for Colleges from 2024/2025
  73. ICO Reprimands a School
  74. How does the recent global IT outage affect me?
  75. King's speech introduces new bills in relation to cyber security, smart data and digital information
  76. Navigating Privacy at the End of Term , Special Occasions and End of Year
  77. Out of date technology
  78. Data Retention and the Pupil File
  79. Have you assigned your SLT Digital Lead yet?
  80. What's a Cyber Incident and what should we do?
  81. Getting Started with AI (Artificial Intelligence)
  82. Cyber attack on a school during half term
  83. Free short cyber training for staff
  84. UPDATE: The Upcoming Election and The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
  85. Update to the DfE Digital Cyber Security Standards for Schools and Colleges (May 2024)
  86. The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
  87. ICO: Learning from the mistakes of others report
  88. Children's mental health data leaked after a cyber attack
  89. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
  90. School Focus: The Vale Federation | Aylesbury
  91. DfE Dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs) Guidance
  92. Update to the Guidance on Information Sharing from the DfE
  93. Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 (Education Institutions)
  94. Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 (Businesses and Charities)
  95. FOI Requests generated by Artificial Intelligence
  96. Social Media Best Practice Area
  97. Lettings Best Practice Area
  98. Appropriate filtering and monitoring definitions
  99. MFA Bombing - What is it?
  100. Protecting your Social Media Accounts
  101. Why we recommend using checklists
  102. Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
  103. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  104. Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
  105. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  106. Cyber Incident Review: The Benefits
  107. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  108. Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
  109. Milk Island: The secret location that allows children to view restricted content on Google Maps
  110. Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
  111. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
  112. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
  113. Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
  114. Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
  115. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  116. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  117. Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
  118. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  119. Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
  120. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  121. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
  122. Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
  123. Cyber attack on a University
  124. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  125. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  126. Cyber Attack on a School
  127. Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
  128. Major cyber-criminal gang Lockbit brought down by UK Law Enforcement
  129. Why Due Diligence is Important: Fake apps
  130. Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
  131. Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
  132. Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
  133. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  134. Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
  135. Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
  136. Safer Internet Day 2024
  137. Kent Councils Data Breach
  138. Free cyber training for staff
  139. DfE Digital Standards Update
  140. The Mother of all Breaches
  141. ClassCharts Possible Data Breach
  142. Where is your data stored?
  143. IAPP looks at AI privacy risks
  144. If you suspect a financial scam .....
  145. Guardians of Privacy: 16. Social Media Checklist
  146. Guardians of Privacy: 15. Navigating Social Media in Educational Settings Summary
  147. Guardians of Privacy: 14. Social Media and Cyber Bullying
  148. Guardians of Privacy: 13. Social Media, Copyright and Intellectual Property
  149. Guardians of Privacy: 12. Social Media and Going Viral
  150. Guardians of Privacy: 11. Staff Social Media Accounts
  151. Guardians of Privacy: 10. Social Media and Cookies
  152. Guardians of Privacy: 9. Social Media and Morality
  153. New Resources for Schools from the ICO
  154. Guardians of Privacy: 8. Social Media Policies
  155. Guardians of Privacy: 7. Social Media Data Retention
  156. Guardians of Privacy: 6. Posting Safely
  157. Guardians of Privacy: 5. Social Media and Consent
  158. Guardians of Privacy: 4. Social Media Access Control
  159. Guardians of Privacy: 3. Social Media Channels
  160. Guardians of Privacy: 2. Law and Regulations
  161. Guardians of Privacy: 1. Social media, privacy and children
  162. Latest ICO Reprimand. Mr. S. Claus, Chief Executive Officer, North Pole Enterprises
  163. Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
  164. The Data Protection And Digital Information Bill (DPADI)
  165. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  166. KCSIE: Filtering, Monitoring and Privacy
  167. Guidance for the use of school email and applying email retention in schools
  168. CISA and UK NCSC Announce Joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development
  169. Data Protection Tips for Early Years Settings
  170. Children's Privacy around the world is a puzzle
  171. Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
  172. Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
  173. Records Management Best Practice Update
  174. Governors and Data Best Practice Area Update
  175. The Crime in a Cyber Attack and a Data Breach
  176. What do I need to redact?
  177. NCSC Annual Review is published for 2023
  178. Learning from Data Breaches
  179. Windows 11 security ineffective against attacks on old devices
  180. Trust Initial Plan for Data Protection Compliance (for Multi Academy Trusts)
  181. International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2023 Joint Statement
  182. Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
  183. Resistant Cloud Backups
  184. Top Ten Cyber Security Misconfigurations
  185. Lettings Best Practice and Guidance
  186. ICO Reprimand: company suffered a ransomware attack
  187. The UK Online Safety Bill becomes an Act (Law)
  188. Considerations when migrating to a new MIS
  189. The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
  190. Public bodies and sensitive data
  191. Adding offline bulk training using the Certificates function
  192. Ransomware, extortion and the cyber crime ecosystem
  193. ICO: 10 Step guide to sharing information to safeguard children
  194. Schools under Cyber Attack: September 2023
  195. Cyber Resource: The Cyber Resilience Centre Group
  196. Email and Security: ICO recent guidance
  197. Help after a Cyber Attack/Incident
  198. Social Media Policy
  199. Data Protection and Cyber Security (Inset Day) Training Ideas
  200. Changes to Microsoft Free Licensing for Schools
  201. What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack
  202. Cyber Crime: AI Generated Phishing Attacks
  203. Handling Freedom of Information Requests the right way
  204. Cyber Attack: Exam Boards
  205. VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
  206. Using Tags if you are a group of organisations in the DPE Knowledge Bank
  207. Where's Harry the Hacker?
  208. Be Cyber Aware: USB Sticks
  209. Cyber Insurance in the Public Sector
  210. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDos Attack (Microsoft DDoS Attack in June)
  211. Cyber Attack: Manchester University
  212. Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
  213. The ICO Reprimands a school
  214. Be Cyber Aware: Firewalls
  215. Subject Access Requests (SARs)
  216. Be Cyber Aware: Cyber attacks and transparency. A no blame culture
  217. Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
  218. Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
  219. Types of Cyber Attacks: Password Attacks
  220. Be Cyber Aware: Why regular software updates are important
  221. Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2023
  222. Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
  223. Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
  224. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDoS Attacks
  225. Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
  226. Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
  227. Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
  228. Using WhatsApp in Schools
  229. The Changes to Data Protection in the UK
  230. Knowledge Bank Updates
  231. Types of malware and how they are linked to data protection
  232. Striking Data Breach
  233. Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 Retirement
  234. How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
  235. YouTube breached child protection laws
  236. How a school fought back after a cyberattack
  237. Types of Cyber Attacks - Credential Stuffing
  238. January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
  239. End of Windows 8.1 Support
  240. Assigning courses to staff using to-dos
  241. How the Record of Processing Can Help You
  242. Information Security Basics: What are VPN's?
  243. What does a Data Protection Officer Do?
  244. Are you ready for a Data Breach?
  245. Blog: Best Practice on the Retention of Child Protection Information
  246. Carrying out Supplier Due Diligence
  247. Email and retention periods
  248. How Long Should You Keep Personal Data For?
  249. The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
  250. How to Assess your Data Security
  251. Schools Blocked from Using Facial Recognition Systems
  252. Sharing this year’s Nativity play online
  253. A quick introduction to the Phishing Simulation tool
  254. The Children's Code
  255. Recording vaccination of staff
  256. B&H FoI: Racist/religious incidents/bullying
  257. Cyber Attacks
  258. Protocol for Setting Up and Delivery of Online Teaching and Learning
  259. Class Dojo International Data Sharing
  260. Model Publication Scheme: Amendments, Improvements and Updates
  261. Child friendly privacy notices
  262. Transparency
  263. Parents and students covertly recording conversations
  264. SAR? ER? FOI?
  265. Secure file transfer of files using Royal Mail
  266. Emergency contacts and consent
  267. Key elements of a successful DPIA
  268. FOI Publication Schemes
  269. SHARE: Avoid disinformation online
  270. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  271. New Drip Feeds: Recognise and Respond to Subject Access Request
  272. When to contact the Data Protection Officer?
  273. National child measurement programme
  274. Make sure DPE is your registered DPO with the ICO
  275. Compliance Manager released
  276. Headteacher fined for breach of data protection legislation
  277. Emails – good practice and minimising the risk of a data breach

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