Why does Cyber Essentials matter in education?

Due to the nature of the society we live and work in, we have become greatly reliant on technology – and schools and multi-academy trusts are no exception to this, with an increased reliance on digital technology to support teaching, learning and day-to-day operations.

From cloud-based learning platforms and management information systems to staff devices and online resources, every connected service presents both opportunities and potential cyber security risks.

As such, it has made the education sector an increasingly attractive target for cyber criminals, with many institutions, due to the vast amounts of sensitive information they hold falling victim to ransomware attacks, phishing campaigns and unauthorised access attempts which can disrupt learning, compromise sensitive data and place significant pressure on already stretched IT teams.

Not only does a successful attack affect systems, it can also have a knock on effect on pupils, staff, parents and the wider school community. Ergo, protecting this information is not only essential for maintaining trust but is also a legal responsibility under UK data protection legislation.

The growing challenge of managing digital access

At the same time, modern schools rely on dozens of cloud-based applications and digital learning tools. While these technologies bring enormous educational benefits, what comes with it is: more user accounts, passwords and access points to manage.

Without effective identity and access management, the risk of compromised accounts and unauthorised access increases significantly.

Why Cyber Essentials matters for schools and trusts

Acknowledging these challenges and risks, the Department for Education (DfE) recommends that MATs, schools and colleges meet its Cyber Security Standards, many of which closely align with the principles of Cyber Essentials. Furthermore, achieving Cyber Essentials certification can also demonstrate a school’s commitment to cyber security and, in some cases, may be required when working with certain suppliers, partners or funding opportunities.

For multi-academy trusts, Cyber Essentials is increasingly viewed as a benchmark for good cyber security practice. As trusts grow and manage larger numbers of users, devices and digital services across multiple schools, adopting a consistent, organisation-wide approach to cyber security helps reduce risk, improve resilience and simplify IT management.

Building a safer digital future

Ultimately, Cyber Essentials isn’t just about achieving a certification. It’s about putting practical, effective security measures in place to protect your school community, support safeguarding, reduce disruption and create a safer digital learning environment for everyone.

Solutions such as Skolon can support many of these objectives by simplifying secure access to digital learning tools through single sign-on, centralising identity and access management, reducing password-related risks, and giving schools greater visibility and control over their digital ecosystem. While Cyber Essentials is built on multiple technical controls, making secure access simple for every user is an important part of strengthening your overall cyber security posture.

This is Skolon – we gather the best digital educational tools and make them work in the classroom.

Skolon is an independent platform for digital educational tools and learning resources, created for both teachers and students. With Skolon, accessing and using your digital educational tools is easy – security increases, administration decreases, and there’s more time for learning.

The digital educational tools come from both small and large providers, all of whom have one thing in common – they create digital educational tools that are beneficial for the school environment.