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Know your IT Support Provider graphic. IT Support Due Diligence Directory for schools and colleges.
Information/Cyber Security

Finding the right IT partner and support provider is a big decision.  Due diligence for IT Support isn't just about who can 'fix computers', it's about ensuring standards are followed and they work with you to meet your organisation's strategy. Data Protection Education has a DfE IT Support Tracker and Supplier Due Diligence Directory to provide support and guidance as well as tracking your progress.

The Government Cyber Action Plan 2026 document. UK public sector cyber security strategy.
Information/Cyber Security

The Government Cyber Action Plan, published in January 2026, sets out a radical shift in how the UK public sector manages cyber security and digital resilience. It moves away from fragmented, siloed defences toward a "Defend as One" model led by a new Government Cyber Unit within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

A promotional image for new digital standards in education. The top half shows four primary school-age children sitting at a desk, looking down and focusing on work. The child closest to the camera on the right is smiling. The bottom half has an orange and blue graphic overlay that reads: "New standard announced! MEETING DIGITAL STANDARDS IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES." In the bottom left corner is a circle image showing students working on laptops. The text "IT Support" is written in a yellow box below the circle. In the bottom right corner is a logo for the "DATA PROTECTION EDUCATION" initiative.
Information/Cyber Security

The government has announced an additional Digital Standard to help with planning, commissioning and reviewing their IT support services.  The services can be internal, external or a hybrid.  Effective IT support is essential for maintaining technology, planning improvements and mitigating risks like outages and cyber incidents, and sits alongside the other 11 standards.

"A graphic announcing 'October is Cyber Security Awareness Month,' with text explaining the importance of creating a cyber emergency contact list in preparation for a cyber attack. It also includes a 'Cyber tip' to assess passwords, turn on MFA, and review critical accounts, especially email. A shield icon with a checkmark and a lightbulb icon are visible."
Information/Cyber Security

As Cyber Security Awareness Month draws to a close, it's important to recognise that cybersecurity isn't a destination; it's a continuous journey. For organisations, particularly those in the education sector, this journey often involves working towards recognised standards and certifications. In the UK, Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are government-backed schemes designed to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber threats. For schools, the Department for Education (DfE) Digital Standards provide additional, tailored guidance.  The Government has recently published their Cyber Assessment Framework for further best practice guidance.

"A graphic announcing 'October is Cyber Security Awareness Month,' with text explaining the importance of creating a cyber emergency contact list in preparation for a cyber attack. It also includes a 'Cyber tip' to assess passwords, turn on MFA, and review critical accounts, especially email. A shield icon with a checkmark and a lightbulb icon are visible."
Information/Cyber Security

Administrator accounts (often called "privileged accounts") are the most powerful and, so, the most sought-after targets for cybercriminals. These accounts hold the "keys to the kingdom," possessing extensive permissions to configure systems, access sensitive data, manage users, and make critical changes across an entire network or application. A single compromised admin account can lead to a catastrophic data breach, widespread system paralysis, or complete organisational takeover by attackers. Therefore, making these accounts cyber resilient through controls, processes, and procedures is crucial.

"A graphic announcing 'October is Cyber Security Awareness Month,' with text explaining the importance of creating a cyber emergency contact list in preparation for a cyber attack. It also includes a 'Cyber tip' to assess passwords, turn on MFA, and review critical accounts, especially email. A shield icon with a checkmark and a lightbulb icon are visible."
Information/Cyber Security

Phishing remains one of the most prevalent and effective cyberattack methods, tricking millions into compromising their data every year. These deceptive messages, often arriving via email, text message (smishing), or phone call (vishing), are designed to look legitimate. They aim to trick you into revealing sensitive information like login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal data, or to click on malicious links that install malware.  They may also be the start of a more complex cyber attack as a way into a system.

  1. October 27. Passwords
  2. October 26. Physical Security of Digital Assets
  3. October 25. Server Security: Protecting Your Digital Core
  4. October 24. Backups: Your Recovery Safety Net
  5. October 23. Filtering and Monitoring
  6. October 22. Hardware: Printers
  7. October 21. Hardware: Asset Management
  8. October 20. Hardware: Safe disposal
  9. October 19. Anti-virus/anti-malware
  10. October 18. Regular Updates: Patching Against Threats
  11. October 17. Access Control: Managing User Privileges
  12. October 16. Access Control: Securing Your Digital Gateways (Wi-Fi & Networks)
  13. October 15. Access Control: Securing Your Home Office (Working From Home)
  14. October 14. Access Control : (Multi-factor authentication)
  15. October 13. Cyber Security Awareness
  16. October 12. Training: Empowering your human firewall
  17. October 11. Policies and Procedures: Cyber Blueprint
  18. October 10. Understanding Your Cyber Posture
  19. Time's Ticking: Windows 10 support ends in October 2025!
  20. October 9. A Guide for Education Providers
  21. October 8. How Can Your Organisation Prevent Ransomware Attacks?
  22. October 7: Under Attack: The Reality of Ransomware
  23. October 6: Cyber Action Plan and A Roadmap to Resilience
  24. October 5: Cyber Responsibilities - We're All in This Together
  25. October 4: When a Cyber Attack Hits
  26. October 3: Data Security, the Core of Protection
  27. October 2: Privacy Protection & Safeguarding Personal Data
  28. October 1: Welcome to Cyber Security Awareness Month!
  29. Nursery Cyber attack
  30. The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework
  31. Fraud awareness from the DfE
  32. The Classroom's Dark Side: Cyber crime from the Classroom
  33. KCSIE 2025: Data Protection, AI, and Cyber Security
  34. The Latest Cyber Threat: The "Murky Panda"
  35. Building a Secure School: Using the ICO Accountability Framework to Meet DfE Digital Standards
  36. Digital Safeguarding: DfE announces statutory DfE Digital Standards
  37. Compliance Reporting from the Knowledge Bank
  38. Social engineering + impersonation = Fraud ≡ cyber deception
  39. Data Breaches 2025 Report Highlights
  40. School cyber attack: Framlingham College, Suffolk
  41. Getting caught in the Scattered Spider web
  42. A Wake-Up Call for Cyber Vigilance - Danger in the Threat Landscape for Everyone
  43. Social Media and Marketing Guidelines and Training
  44. New Governor Resources
  45. Apple removes its highest level data security tool from UK customers
  46. Safer Internet Day, Cyber Security & Data Protection
  47. The Cyber Resilience Championship
  48. The Multiple Dimensions of Supplier Due Diligence
  49. Blacon High School Cyber Attack
  50. The role of Passkeys in Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security
  51. What the proposed Government legislative proposal around cyber crime means
  52. Effectively communicating during a cyber incident
  53. Safeguarding Identity in Microsoft 365: Protecting the UK Education Sector Against Cyber Threats
  54. Cyber Security Best Practice Area
  55. DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Tracker
  56. New Policies, Documents, Letters and Posters page
  57. Schools and Trusts Best Practice Area
  58. The DPE Retention Schedule
  59. Making the Rounds Update (now includes reporting)
  60. How does the recent global IT outage affect me?
  61. King's speech introduces new bills in relation to cyber security, smart data and digital information
  62. Out of date technology
  63. What's a Cyber Incident and what should we do?
  64. Cyber attack on a school during half term
  65. Free short cyber training for staff
  66. The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
  67. ICO: Learning from the mistakes of others report
  68. Children's mental health data leaked after a cyber attack
  69. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
  70. Social Media Best Practice Area
  71. Lettings Best Practice Area
  72. MFA Bombing - What is it?
  73. Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
  74. Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
  75. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  76. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  77. Cyber Incident Review: The Benefits
  78. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  79. Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
  80. Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
  81. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
  82. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
  83. Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
  84. Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
  85. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  86. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  87. Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
  88. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  89. Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
  90. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  91. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
  92. Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
  93. Cyber attack on a University
  94. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  95. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  96. Cyber Attack on a School
  97. Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
  98. Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
  99. Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
  100. Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
  101. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  102. Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
  103. Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
  104. Kent Councils Data Breach
  105. Free cyber training for staff
  106. DfE Digital Standards Update
  107. Where is your data stored?
  108. Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
  109. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  110. CISA and UK NCSC Announce Joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development
  111. Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
  112. Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
  113. Records Management Best Practice Update
  114. The Crime in a Cyber Attack and a Data Breach
  115. NCSC Annual Review is published for 2023
  116. Learning from Data Breaches
  117. Windows 11 security ineffective against attacks on old devices
  118. Trust Initial Plan for Data Protection Compliance (for Multi Academy Trusts)
  119. International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2023 Joint Statement
  120. Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
  121. Top Ten Cyber Security Misconfigurations
  122. ICO Reprimand: company suffered a ransomware attack
  123. The UK Online Safety Bill becomes an Act (Law)
  124. The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
  125. Ransomware, extortion and the cyber crime ecosystem
  126. Cyber Resource: The Cyber Resilience Centre Group
  127. Email and Security: ICO recent guidance
  128. Help after a Cyber Attack/Incident
  129. What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack
  130. How KCSIE is linked to Cyber Strategy
  131. Cyber Crime: AI Generated Phishing Attacks
  132. Cyber Attack: Exam Boards
  133. VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
  134. Using Tags if you are a group of organisations in the DPE Knowledge Bank
  135. Where's Harry the Hacker?
  136. Be Cyber Aware: USB Sticks
  137. Cyber Insurance in the Public Sector
  138. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDos Attack (Microsoft DDoS Attack in June)
  139. Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
  140. Be Cyber Aware: Firewalls
  141. Be Cyber Aware: Cyber attacks and transparency. A no blame culture
  142. Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
  143. Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
  144. Types of Cyber Attacks: Password Attacks
  145. Be Cyber Aware: Why regular software updates are important
  146. Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
  147. Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
  148. Why we recommend using PIN codes on printers
  149. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDoS Attacks
  150. Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
  151. Redaction Guidelines Updated
  152. Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
  153. Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
  154. Using WhatsApp in Schools
  155. Knowledge Bank Updates
  156. Types of malware and how they are linked to data protection
  157. Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 Retirement
  158. How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
  159. How a school fought back after a cyberattack
  160. Types of Cyber Attacks - Credential Stuffing
  161. January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
  162. Assigning courses to staff using to-dos
  163. The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
  164. Cyber Attacks
  165. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  166. Compliance Manager released
  167. Emails – good practice and minimising the risk of a data breach

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