Podcast Episode 1 - data protection training for school staff

Podcast Episode 1 - data protection training for school staff

Join us for our first DPE podcast! Data Protection Training for School Staff

This podcast episode provides an overview of the Data Protection Education's 2024 training update, focusing on the legal framework and practical guidance for data protection in the workplace. The discussion covers key definitions like UK GDPR, Data Controller, Data Processor, Personal Data, and Data Protection Officer. It also highlights the importance of data protection in preventing breaches and fostering a strong

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photo of a hand holding a phone with whatsapp on the screen. Beige background and black text: What's up with WhatsApp? Emma Martins, Chief Commissioner of the Data & Marketing Commission and Data Protection Education have teamed together to give you a comprehensive overview of the risks, recent cases and guidelines about using WhatsApp.

Preschool Employment tribunal for the use of WhatsApp

📳What's Up with WhatsApp? WhatsApp is a regular theme in relation to SARs, FOI's, data breaches and general use as tickets into our Knowledge Bank platform.  Emma Martins, Chief Commissioner of the Data and Marketing Commission has worked with us to produce some guidance following the recent employment tribunal that was published in relation to a preschool.

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Photo of a masked man at lots of computer screens.  Blue text on a white background:

Social engineering + impersonation = Fraud ≡ cyber deception

Fraud is deception used to gain something valuable (money, goods, services or information) from someone else's dishonesty. We are seeing a lot of blended cyber attacks in the news currently where social engineering might then be combined with an impersonation followed by a ransomware attack, in order to take data and/or money.

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Photo of a shadow behind some computer code. Blue background and white text: Education & business comparisons. Navy background and blue text: Gov.uk Cyber security breaches survey 2025. Data Protection Education logo

Data Breaches 2025 Report Highlights

The GOV.UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 is out and reveals that 43% of UK businesses and 30% of charities experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months.  We review and highlight some key data protection points.

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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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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

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

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