Focus this month | Education | Cybersecurity in Education: Prevention is the Best Cure
Because it Does Happen, Sometimes
We have all heard the results of cyber-attacks on organisations in the news.
Household names such as Jaguar Land Rover, Marks & Spencer and Co-Op have all fallen foul of hackers in recent times, specifically ransomware attacks. Unfortunately, this kind of event isn’t restricted only to the Commercial sector and even BBC online news has run headlines in early 2026 on schools having to shut for days because of a hacking incident.
The impact on educational sites is immense: it means a shutdown to investigate, with no student access to commonplace tools such as Google Classroom or SharePoint. For some schools, it can mean the DfE’s Cyber Incident Response Team getting involved, and it almost always means sending parents a letter home about the “difficult decision” to close. Of course, it ultimately means hundreds of students not able to access their learning until it is all fixed.
To make matters worse, it snowballs when you bring the machine-learning speeds of modern cyber threats into the picture. Unfortunately, hackers go to great lengths to use AI and social engineering methods to find a route into a broader target, such as a university, a trust, or a school. And the threat of a ransomware attack is now a possibility as parents’ personal details form part of the data landscape.
Be Safe, not Sorry
To avoid any of this happening, it is always safer to ensure you get the right balance of cybersecurity protection for your timescales and budget. The technology and expertise do exist to counter these threats and specifically, where AI is the attacker, cybersecurity technology has advanced so that AI is the defence. A preventative approach is key.
Why Cybersecurity Matters in Education
Cybersecurity in education is no longer just about stopping threats. It is about creating stable, resilient environments that allow teaching and learning to happen without disruption.
There is a significant amount of sensitive data held within education environments. Pupil records, safeguarding information, staff details and financial data all need to be protected and accessible when required. A loss of data or system downtime can quickly affect lessons, day-to-day tasks and confidence across the school community.
Structured Guidance You Can Follow
The Department for Education (DfE) reinforces this through its Cyber Security Standards for Schools and Colleges, one of six core standards all schools and colleges should be working towards by 2030, which sets expectations around secure networks, controlled access and the ability to recover data if systems fail.
Cybersecurity also links directly to safeguarding responsibilities. The statutory guidance ‘Teaching Online Safety in Schools’ highlights online safety and secure systems as part of a school’s wider duty of care. Protecting IT systems helps protect pupils and staff alike.
This is where having a structured framework to follow is valuable, such as the Cyber Essentials accreditation standards. Backed by the UK government, these certification levels, Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, are designed to protect schools, as they focus on five technical controls: firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and patch management. In fact, the DfE encourages schools to adopt these standards to protect against threats like ransomware and phishing. The process involves a self-assessment questionnaire, verified by an external body. Cyber Essentials Plus goes further as it includes a hands-on technical audit of systems. Ultimately, certification publicly validates a school’s commitment to data security and reduces risk.
The Reality for IT Managers in Schools and Trusts
IT managers in education face a unique set of challenges. Many environments include a mix of legacy infrastructure and newer technology. Networks must support hundreds or thousands of users across multiple sites, often with a high number of devices in daily use.
Academy trusts, in particular, must think beyond individual schools. They need consistency, reliability and systems that can scale over time.
Alongside day-to-day support, IT managers are also expected to plan for the future. Decisions made today need to support teaching and learning not just now, but years down the line. Without the right support, that responsibility can become overwhelming.
Plan for Worse Case Scenario, then You’re Covered
Effective cybersecurity starts with strong foundations. Reliable backups are critical. The DfE advises that schools and colleges should maintain regular, secure backups and test them to ensure data can be restored. This protects against cyber incidents, hardware failure and accidental deletion. When backups are in place and monitored, recovery becomes routine rather than stressful.
Secure networks are equally important. Firewalls, filtering and intrusion prevention provide visibility and control, particularly in environments where students are naturally curious and often skilled at trying to bypass restrictions. Perimeter security adds an extra layer of protection, even if individual devices are compromised.
The Benefits of Having a Cybersecurity Advisor
When cybersecurity is managed well, the benefits go far beyond protection. For IT managers, there is peace of mind. Knowing that data is backed up daily, networks are monitored and potential issues are spotted early removes that worry.
Time is another major benefit. When cybersecurity is handled by experts, IT teams are freed up to focus on other priorities, such as supporting staff, improving classroom technology and planning future improvements rather than reacting to incidents.
Education leaders also benefit from reassurance. They have confidence that the systems are reliable, lessons are not disrupted and sensitive data remains protected, maintaining trust with parents, staff and regulators.
How OX IT Solutions Supports Education Settings
OX IT Solutions works with schools, multi-academy trusts, universities, FE colleges and nurseries to deliver cybersecurity protection that fits real educational environments. The focus is on giving customers a proper service, with quick responsivity, informed advice and long-term planning, rather than one-off fixes or pushing a preferred tech vendor.
Support includes secure networks, robust backup strategies, ongoing monitoring and the kind of help that allows IT managers to pick up the phone and get issues resolved quickly. That relationship is often just as valuable as the technology itself.
Building Confidence for the Future
Cybersecurity in education does not need to feel overwhelming. With the right foundations, expert support and a clear plan, it becomes something that quietly supports learning and allows IT managers to devote their limited time to other pressing needs.
By following DfE guidance and working with trusted partners, education settings can protect their data, support their people and give IT teams the breathing space they need to do what they are best at, delivering on their IT plans.
If you found this article of interest, why not meet one of our IT Education Customers at our upcoming webinar March 11th?
To find out more about the kind of protection you need for the year ahead, join us at our webinar Cybersafety in Ed: You’ve Got This!
In March, we are holding a free webinar for IT professionals in Education, in which we are delighted to have guest speaker and OX IT customer, David Fuller, IT & Operations Director at Multi-Academy Trust, The MILL Academy, Witney. We are also delighted to have Martin Lethbridge, Principal Sales Engineer from WatchGuard Technologies as our cybersecurity expert speaker.
Both speakers are going to talk about the Education landscape from their specific viewpoints - and priorities for 2026 as they see them.
To REGISTER, simply click the button below.
We hope to see you there!
