AI generated photo of the back of a  computer screen with hands on a keyboard. Blue padlock with white text saying: Not everyone should have access.  White background and black text: The key to protecting sensitive data : least privilege. Recent dismissal case in Nottinghamshire

Not everyone needs access: The Key to Protecting Sensitive Data

🚫🔒 Sensitive data requires a higher level of security under UK GDPR because of its potential to cause significant harm to individuals if it is lost, stolen or misused.  A recent case of a teacher losing their job after accessing a safeguarding report and transcribing it to her personal computer highlights the both the importance for least privilege access and continual review of access.

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Photo of a computer network and lots of spiders on a white background.  Black text: The Scattered Spider Web. Data Protection Education DPO badge

Getting caught in the Scattered Spider web

🛡️🕷️ The Scattered Spider is a fast-growing group of cyber attackers currently on the attack and possibly attributed to the recent attack on M & S - they don't just break in and grab one thing, they like to cause as much chaos as possible and then ask for a ransom.

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Photo of a cat with leopard markings laying down on a white background underneath black text: Password Day, we suggest not using your pet's name for passwords! Data Protection Education DPO badge

World Password Day

🔒 It's World Password Day - a reminder to check how secure your passwords are and where you store that information.  There's a lot of password help and advice out there which can be confusing.  We highlight the basic things you need to be thinking about.

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Photo of blocks and notepads with the words, honesty, integrity, values and ethics in red ink. Above the photo in white on black: National Honesty Day: How transparent is your organisation?

National Honesty Day: Transparency

⚖️🛡️ National Honesty Day, although one day to highlight the importance of honesty, it reminds us of how importance truth is in the realms of data protection and cyber security and how it should be part of an organisation's fundamental beliefs and ethos.

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Photo of glasses, the letters 'FOIA' in red, Freedom of information black text on white background.  BBC News Reporter request, DAta Protection Education DPO badge

FOI Request - BBC News

This article shares advice we have given to several customers who have received an FOI request from the BBC News about conducting research into the challenges of handling harmful sexual behaviour in schools.

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New Governor Resources

📢🏛️ 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.

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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

Are teachers using AI? 83% say its a time-saver

🤖🕒 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.

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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 AI - On By Default

💻 ⚠️ 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.

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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

DfE Guidance: Choosing a new MIS

✅📃 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.

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

HCRG Care Group data breach

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.

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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.

How to verify visitors the right way

✅🔍 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.

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

Short Guide to AI Video

🎥🤖  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.

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

Safer Internet Day, Cyber Security & Data Protection

🛡️🔒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.

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WhatsApp and FOI's: ICO Warnings

📲💬 We come across many organisations using WhatsApp as a communication tool with staff regularly and have previously highlighted some of the risks.  The ICO have recently published information about a case where WhatsApp messages had to be included in a Freedom of Information Request.

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

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