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 A dark image with the word "FRAUD" in white lettering on a black background, with a magnifying glass over the F. Below "FRAUD" are the words "Awareness" in orange text. In the bottom-left corner, a person in a black hoodie and a white mask holds a phone and has a finger to their lips in a shushing gesture. In the bottom-right corner is a circular logo for "Data Protection Officer" with the website "dataprotection.law/education".

Given the Public Sector Fraud Authority estimates that every year between £39.9 billion and £58.5 billion of taxpayer's money is subject to fraud and error, it's no wonder the UK Government has published some guidance about fraud awareness.

 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 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 motivated by intelligence collection.

 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.

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.

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 Out of date technology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

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