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 A stylized image of a panda wearing a dark suit and tie, standing in a bamboo forest. The background is a mix of digital circuit patterns and glowing lights. At the bottom, a graphic overlay with the text, "IS THERE A 'MURKY PANDA' ON THE TIMETABLE? THE LATEST CYBER THREAT." The logo for "D NEWS" is in the bottom right corner.

The Latest Cyber Threat: The "Murky Panda"

The Murky Panda (also known as Silk Typhoon) is a cyber threat that has had significant activity since 2023 and has targeted government, technology, academic, legal and professional services. Currently there are reports of the threats only in North America, however, as the Murky Panda has previously targeted compromises in the cloud, it is assumed that they will easily transition to attacks further afield. The threat group is a China-nexus group

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 A detailed flowchart titled "Accountability Framework" showing how the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) framework and DfE (Department for Education) Digital Standard Trackers align. The central hub is "Accountability Framework" with ten radiating branches, each representing a key area: Leadership & Oversight, Risk Management, Policies & Procedures, Individual Rights, Response & Enforcement, Monitoring Verification & Reporting, Transparency, Records Management & Security, Contracts & Data Sharing, and Training & Awareness. Each branch connects to a box labeled "DfE Digital Standard Trackers," with several icons and checklist boxes underneath. The bottom of the image lists various tools and resources, including "Best Practice Library," "Retention Schedule," "Phishing simulations," "Risk Register," and "Accountability Tracker," which are all linked to the main framework. The overall image illustrates a comprehensive system for achieving and tracking data protection compliance in an educational setting.

Building a Secure School: Using the ICO Accountability Framework to Meet DfE Digital Standards

The ICO Accountability Framework is a crucial tool for any organisation handling personal data, providing a structured approach to data protection compliance. When applied to the Department for Education (DfE) Digital Standards, it becomes a powerful mechanism for schools and trusts to ensure their technology and data practices are not only efficient but also legally compliant and secure.

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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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  1. New Governor Resources
  2. Apple removes its highest level data security tool from UK customers
  3. Safer Internet Day, Cyber Security & Data Protection
  4. The Cyber Resilience Championship
  5. The Multiple Dimensions of Supplier Due Diligence
  6. Blacon High School Cyber Attack
  7. The role of Passkeys in Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security
  8. What the proposed Government legislative proposal around cyber crime means
  9. Effectively communicating during a cyber incident
  10. Safeguarding Identity in Microsoft 365: Protecting the UK Education Sector Against Cyber Threats
  11. Cyber Security Best Practice Area
  12. DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Tracker
  13. New Policies, Documents, Letters and Posters page
  14. Schools and Trusts Best Practice Area
  15. The DPE Retention Schedule
  16. Making the Rounds Update (now includes reporting)
  17. How does the recent global IT outage affect me?
  18. King's speech introduces new bills in relation to cyber security, smart data and digital information
  19. Out of date technology
  20. What's a Cyber Incident and what should we do?
  21. Cyber attack on a school during half term
  22. Free short cyber training for staff
  23. The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
  24. ICO: Learning from the mistakes of others report
  25. Children's mental health data leaked after a cyber attack
  26. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
  27. Social Media Best Practice Area
  28. Lettings Best Practice Area
  29. MFA Bombing - What is it?
  30. Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
  31. Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
  32. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  33. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  34. Cyber Incident Review: The Benefits
  35. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  36. Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
  37. Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
  38. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
  39. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
  40. Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
  41. Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
  42. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  43. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  44. Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
  45. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  46. Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
  47. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  48. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
  49. Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
  50. Cyber attack on a University
  51. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  52. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  53. Cyber Attack on a School
  54. Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
  55. Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
  56. Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
  57. Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
  58. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  59. Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
  60. Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
  61. Kent Councils Data Breach
  62. Free cyber training for staff
  63. DfE Digital Standards Update
  64. Where is your data stored?
  65. Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
  66. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  67. CISA and UK NCSC Announce Joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development
  68. Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
  69. Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
  70. Records Management Best Practice Update
  71. The Crime in a Cyber Attack and a Data Breach
  72. NCSC Annual Review is published for 2023
  73. Learning from Data Breaches
  74. Windows 11 security ineffective against attacks on old devices
  75. Trust Initial Plan for Data Protection Compliance (for Multi Academy Trusts)
  76. International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2023 Joint Statement
  77. Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
  78. Top Ten Cyber Security Misconfigurations
  79. ICO Reprimand: company suffered a ransomware attack
  80. The UK Online Safety Bill becomes an Act (Law)
  81. The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
  82. Ransomware, extortion and the cyber crime ecosystem
  83. Cyber Resource: The Cyber Resilience Centre Group
  84. Email and Security: ICO recent guidance
  85. Help after a Cyber Attack/Incident
  86. What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack
  87. How KCSIE is linked to Cyber Strategy
  88. Cyber Crime: AI Generated Phishing Attacks
  89. Cyber Attack: Exam Boards
  90. VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
  91. Using Tags if you are a group of organisations in the DPE Knowledge Bank
  92. Where's Harry the Hacker?
  93. Be Cyber Aware: USB Sticks
  94. Cyber Insurance in the Public Sector
  95. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDos Attack (Microsoft DDoS Attack in June)
  96. Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
  97. Be Cyber Aware: Firewalls
  98. Be Cyber Aware: Cyber attacks and transparency. A no blame culture
  99. Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
  100. Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
  101. Types of Cyber Attacks: Password Attacks
  102. Be Cyber Aware: Why regular software updates are important
  103. Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
  104. Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
  105. Why we recommend using PIN codes on printers
  106. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDoS Attacks
  107. Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
  108. Redaction Guidelines Updated
  109. Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
  110. Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
  111. Using WhatsApp in Schools
  112. Knowledge Bank Updates
  113. Types of malware and how they are linked to data protection
  114. A guide to multi-factor authentication
  115. Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 Retirement
  116. How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
  117. How a school fought back after a cyberattack
  118. Types of Cyber Attacks - Credential Stuffing
  119. January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
  120. Assigning courses to staff using to-dos
  121. The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
  122. Cyber Attacks
  123. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  124. Compliance Manager released
  125. Emails – good practice and minimising the risk of a data breach

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