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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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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Sharing photos on World Book Day: Privacy considerations

📸✅ It's World Book Day on the 6th March when most schools will be celebrating reading and capturing photos of staff and students in their costumes.   Given this is one of many significant photographic events in the calendar, we thought it was a good opportunity to remind everyone of photo and video best practice.

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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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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. WhatsApp and FOI's: ICO Warnings
  2. New AI Guidance from the DfE
  3. The role of Passkeys in Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security
  4. What the proposed Government legislative proposal around cyber crime means
  5. ICO report on AI tools in recruitment
  6. DfE update to record keeping and management
  7. Update to data sharing for school immunisation programmes
  8. Early Years Settings and Cyber Security
  9. SLT Digital Lead Profile
  10. Ransomware-Resistant Backups
  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. Update to the DfE Digital Cyber Security Standards for Schools and Colleges (May 2024)
  47. The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
  48. ICO: Learning from the mistakes of others report
  49. Children's mental health data leaked after a cyber attack
  50. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
  51. School Focus: The Vale Federation | Aylesbury
  52. DfE Dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs) Guidance
  53. Update to the Guidance on Information Sharing from the DfE
  54. FOI Requests generated by Artificial Intelligence
  55. Social Media Best Practice Area
  56. Lettings Best Practice Area
  57. Appropriate filtering and monitoring definitions
  58. MFA Bombing - What is it?
  59. Protecting your Social Media Accounts
  60. Why we recommend using checklists
  61. Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
  62. Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
  63. Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
  64. Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
  65. Cyber Incident Review: The Benefits
  66. Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
  67. Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
  68. Milk Island: The secret location that allows children to view restricted content on Google Maps
  69. Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
  70. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
  71. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
  72. Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
  73. Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
  74. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
  75. The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
  76. Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
  77. Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
  78. Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
  79. Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
  80. Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
  81. Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
  82. Cyber attack on a University
  83. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
  84. Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
  85. Cyber Attack on a School
  86. Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
  87. Major cyber-criminal gang Lockbit brought down by UK Law Enforcement
  88. Why Due Diligence is Important: Fake apps
  89. Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
  90. Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
  91. Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
  92. Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
  93. Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
  94. Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
  95. Safer Internet Day 2024
  96. Kent Councils Data Breach
  97. Free cyber training for staff
  98. DfE Digital Standards Update
  99. The Mother of all Breaches
  100. ClassCharts Possible Data Breach
  101. Where is your data stored?
  102. IAPP looks at AI privacy risks
  103. If you suspect a financial scam .....
  104. Guardians of Privacy: 16. Social Media Checklist
  105. Guardians of Privacy: 15. Navigating Social Media in Educational Settings Summary
  106. Guardians of Privacy: 14. Social Media and Cyber Bullying
  107. Guardians of Privacy: 13. Social Media, Copyright and Intellectual Property
  108. Guardians of Privacy: 12. Social Media and Going Viral
  109. Guardians of Privacy: 11. Staff Social Media Accounts
  110. Guardians of Privacy: 10. Social Media and Cookies
  111. Guardians of Privacy: 9. Social Media and Morality
  112. New Resources for Schools from the ICO
  113. Guardians of Privacy: 8. Social Media Policies
  114. Guardians of Privacy: 7. Social Media Data Retention
  115. Guardians of Privacy: 6. Posting Safely
  116. Guardians of Privacy: 5. Social Media and Consent
  117. Guardians of Privacy: 4. Social Media Access Control
  118. Guardians of Privacy: 3. Social Media Channels
  119. Guardians of Privacy: 2. Law and Regulations
  120. Guardians of Privacy: 1. Social media, privacy and children
  121. Latest ICO Reprimand. Mr. S. Claus, Chief Executive Officer, North Pole Enterprises
  122. Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
  123. The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
  124. KCSIE: Filtering, Monitoring and Privacy
  125. Guidance for the use of school email and applying email retention in schools
  126. CISA and UK NCSC Announce Joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development
  127. Data Protection Tips for Early Years Settings
  128. Children's Privacy around the world is a puzzle
  129. Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
  130. Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
  131. Records Management Best Practice Update
  132. Governors and Data Best Practice Area 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: Manchester University
  170. Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
  171. The ICO Reprimands a school
  172. Be Cyber Aware: Firewalls
  173. Be Cyber Aware: Cyber attacks and transparency. A no blame culture
  174. Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
  175. Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
  176. Types of Cyber Attacks: Password Attacks
  177. Be Cyber Aware: Why regular software updates are important
  178. Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
  179. Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
  180. Types of Cyber Attacks: DDoS Attacks
  181. Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
  182. Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
  183. Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
  184. Using WhatsApp in Schools
  185. The Changes to Data Protection in the UK
  186. Knowledge Bank Updates
  187. Types of malware and how they are linked to data protection
  188. Striking Data Breach
  189. IPR Protection Email Scam
  190. Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 Retirement
  191. How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
  192. YouTube breached child protection laws
  193. How a school fought back after a cyberattack
  194. Types of Cyber Attacks - Credential Stuffing
  195. January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
  196. Assigning courses to staff using to-dos
  197. How the Record of Processing Can Help You
  198. Information Security Basics: What are VPN's?
  199. What does a Data Protection Officer Do?
  200. Are you ready for a Data Breach?
  201. Carrying out Supplier Due Diligence
  202. How Long Should You Keep Personal Data For?
  203. The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
  204. How to Assess your Data Security
  205. Schools Blocked from Using Facial Recognition Systems
  206. The Children's Code
  207. B&H FoI: Racist/religious incidents/bullying
  208. Cyber Attacks
  209. Protocol for Setting Up and Delivery of Online Teaching and Learning
  210. Class Dojo International Data Sharing
  211. Model Publication Scheme: Amendments, Improvements and Updates
  212. Child friendly privacy notices
  213. Transparency
  214. SAR? ER? FOI?
  215. Secure file transfer of files using Royal Mail
  216. Emergency contacts and consent
  217. Key elements of a successful DPIA
  218. FOI Publication Schemes
  219. SHARE: Avoid disinformation online
  220. Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
  221. New Drip Feeds: Recognise and Respond to Subject Access Request
  222. When to contact the Data Protection Officer?
  223. National child measurement programme
  224. Make sure DPE is your registered DPO with the ICO
  225. Compliance Manager released
  226. Headteacher fined for breach of data protection legislation
  227. Emails – good practice and minimising the risk of a data breach

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