photo of hands holding a shining padlock.  School's almost out for Summer in orange text on blue back ground. Cyber and data protection checklist. What's your plan for when you're not there in black text. Data Protection office by Data protection education logo

Holiday Cheer or Cyber Fear? : Essential Pre-holiday Checks

😎☀️ Did you know there is an increase in cyber attacks on a long weekend, half term and end of term, so a period of heightened cyber risk.  This article gives some advice about what you need to have in place - it's particularly important that you are able to monitor your network during the long Summer break.

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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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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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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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World Backup Day

🔄☁️ 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.

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

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