The rollout of a new cyber security tool to help schools 鈥渟afeguard their pupils鈥 education鈥 amid rising hack attacks has been delayed by over a year and a half. And it is still not known when the 鈥楥yber Secure鈥 tool will be launched.鈥 Following a spate of high-profile cyber-attacks, the Department for Education (DfE) piloted the application in schools between September and November 2021. It intended to launch the scheme nationally in January 2022. However, the DfE told鈥疭chools Week: 鈥淧ilots of this nature take time to develop and this was delayed due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.鈥 Its launched was pushed back until 鈥渢he start鈥 of this academic year. However, three weeks into term there is still no sign of it. The DfE added that, since announcing the scheme two years ago, it had 鈥渞eiterated and tested the content alongside cyber-security experts to ensure sufficient subject coverage to increase resilience within school environments.鈥 The free and anonymous self-assessment tool allows schools to assess their cyber-security measures through a grading system of 0 to 5.鈥 A freedom of information (FOI) response on the results of the pilot 鈥 in which 50 schools were asked to review the tool 鈥 showed views were mixed. One school told the department it would be 鈥渓ucky if anyone bothers after seeing what it involves鈥 due to staff already being 鈥渙verworked鈥. School responses led to cyber security tool changes Another school said it 鈥渄idn鈥檛 like anything about it鈥, adding that the tool was a 鈥渃omplete waste of time鈥. However, the responses led to 鈥渟everal iterations and changes鈥. The tool was first announced by schools minister Nick Gibb in May 2021, when he revealed the sector was struck by more than 70 ransomware attacks during the pandemic.鈥 He said the tool would 鈥渆nable schools to assess their cyber security, helping school leaders and staff safeguard their pupils鈥 education鈥. A government-commissioned鈥痗arried out between September and January found education institutions were more likely to have identified cyber breaches or attacks in the past year than the average UK business. The survey of 241 primaries and 217 secondaries by market research firm Ipsos found 41 per cent of primaries and 63 per cent of secondaries had identified breaches or attacks in the past 12 months.鈥 This compared with 32 per cent of 2,263 surveyed businesses.
26 September 2023 This is really unfortunate and just increases the risks to schools, already this month 3 more schools have been cyber attacked! And these are only the ones known in the public news domain… We also know that schools are already overworked and we’re happy to fill the gap and help wherever we can. Our approach and solutions are straight forward with minimal involvement and time required from the school but making a significant impact to your schools cybersecurity and safety.