The Educator Magazine U.K. Sept-Dec 2024 issue - Magazine - Page 16
Helping schools to
protect themselves
from ever-evolving
cyber threats
significantly improving their cyber
security governance.
Schools are facing a growing
challenge: protecting themselves
in the ever-evolving landscape
of cyber threats. To address this,
edtech charity LGfL -The National
Grid for Learning has developed
the Elevate Cyber Security
Toolkit for Schools (elevate.lgfl.
net), which is available free to
all schools. This comprehensive
resource empowers schools to
assess their current security
posture – its overall state of
cybersecurity readiness - and
implement robust measures
to safeguard their IT systems and
data.
Emphasis on Continuous
Improvement: Audits and
Regular Checks
The DfE's recently updated Cyber
Security Standards place greater
emphasis on regular audits and
security checks. In response, LGfL
developed a self-led cyber security
audit template. This comprehensive
template encompasses all areas
highlighted within the standards,
offering a structured approach for
schools to evaluate their security
posture.
Demystifying Security,
Meeting New Standards
The Elevate Toolkit is designed
with clarity in mind.
Recognizing that cyber security
can be a complex area, the
resources are presented in
understandable language.
This is particularly beneficial for
teachers who may not have
specialized cybersecurity knowledge.
The toolkit's development is directly
linked to the latest Department for
Education (DfE) Cyber Security
Standards for Schools and Colleges.
Following a joint audit by the National
Centre for Cyber Security (NCSC) and
LGfL in 2019, a critical need was
identified: strengthening the
governance of cyber security within
schools. The audit revealed that while
many schools had technical safeguards
in place, essential documentation and
planning were often lacking. Notably,
less than half of the surveyed schools
had documented their core IT services
or possessed a proper contingency plan
for cyberattacks.
By using the audit template,
schools can gain a clear
understanding of their strengths
and weaknesses. This valuable
information can then be used to
update their risk register and
prioritize areas that require further
attention.
Bridging the Gaps:
Straightforward Templates
for Action
Furthermore, the toolkit provides
additional resources, such as termly
cyber security checks, to ensure
ongoing vigilance and continuous
improvement in a school's cyber
security posture.
The Elevate Toolkit directly addresses
these gaps by providing schools with
readily available templates. These
templates can be easily customized
to fit a school's specific needs.
This user-friendly approach
empowers schools to quickly
establish key documents like risk
registers and contingency plans,
The Elevate Cyber Security Toolkit
positions schools as proactive players
in the fight against cyber threats. By
providing user-friendly resources and
aligning with the latest DfE standards,
the toolkit empowers schools to create
a safer and more secure learning
environment for their students and
staff.
