Cyberattacks on English Schools Surge, Students and Staff Pose Threats
Cyberattacks against schools in England are on the rise, with students and employees posing significant threats. Latest figures reveal a worrying increase in the impact of these incidents, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and training.
Ofqual's recent report warns that more than half of cyberattacks against schools are committed by students using stolen logins. To mitigate this, Ofqual recommends regular data backups and robust malware protection. However, the issue extends beyond students. One in five cyber incidents stemmed from employees transferring work data to personal devices in 2024-2025.
The consequences of these attacks are severe. Permanent loss of students' coursework is a stark reality, as seen in an unnamed academy trust where staff had to recreate lost schedules and resources, causing weeks of disruption. The situation is worsening; in 2024-2025, 10% of affected schools reported critical damage, up from 6% the previous year. Recovery times are also increasing, with only 55% of schools recovering immediately in 2024-2025, down from 63% in the prior year.
To tackle this growing threat, Ofqual suggests expanding cybersecurity awareness training for teachers to include personal device usage. Teacher training in cybersecurity has already shown improvement, rising from 61% to 72% between 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. However, with cyberattacks evolving and increasing in severity, schools must remain vigilant and proactive in their cybersecurity efforts.
Read also:
- Employment Claims Surge: Employers Brace for More in 2023
- Third-party access to connected car data causes discomfort among drivers; users advised to refrain from linking Android Auto or Carplay.
- Cybersecurity vacancies at companies remain unfilled, with military veterans being sought out for their skills in agility, collaboration, and an emphasis on objectives – qualities they have honed during their service.
- Summary of 38th Internet Identity Workshop (IIW): Discussion and collaboration event addressing online identity and privacy matters, featuring notable speakers and workshops.
