All schools, regardless of size or setting, face increasing pressure to protect sensitive data and maintain robust digital operations. As cyber threats grow more advanced, relying on outdated or passive security strategies is no longer enough. Today’s schools must make ongoing staff training and practical upskilling a central part of their defence, ensuring everyone plays a role in keeping systems secure and resilient.
This article explores the urgent need for continuous training across the entire school community. It examines how a well-informed team serves as an essential barrier against sophisticated attacks; particularly modern phishing tactics powered by AI. We also explore how partnering with a consulting team can offer targeted support, valuable insights for system upgrades, and practical help for specific questions that arise.
Cyber attacks against schools are evolving fast. Years ago, attacks often targeted hardware or relied on vulnerabilities in local servers. As more schools have shifted to cloud-based systems, attackers have changed their methods, focusing on social engineering and digital deception.
Phishing attacks have become remarkably convincing, often leveraging AI to craft emails that look and sound exactly like messages from trusted staff or leadership. These emails might mimic the tone, formatting, and even the unique phrases found in a headteacher’s newsletter or routine staff communication. Attackers can extract, delete, or threaten to publish sensitive information if their demands are not met. The danger is especially acute as AI makes it possible to replicate entire digital ecosystems and convincingly impersonate staff, making it difficult for even experienced users to spot a threat.
Schools’ IT departments confront a range of challenges when it comes to supporting security and compliance. From practical resource management to dealing with vendors and enforcing school-wide standards, here’s what many teams are facing day-to-day:
Limited Resources: Many IT teams operate on tight budgets and with small staffs. This reality can make it difficult to proactively address security, upgrade systems, or offer ongoing internal support.
Vendor Contracts and Third-Party Risks: With the widespread adoption of EdTech platforms, the primary concern is often not just the number of systems used, but the strength and clarity of vendor agreements. Schools must assess contracts carefully to ensure vendors meet security standards, have clear breach notification protocols, and are regularly reviewed for compliance.
Enforcing Security Protections: It’s vital to move beyond basic passwords and implement robust security features like multi-factor authentication (MFA). Pushing these requirements across all platforms—not just within central management systems—can be a challenge, but is crucial for effective protection.
Sophisticated Phishing Attacks: Phishing remains the top threat, and schools are targets because attackers know that faculty and staff are often busy, working across devices, and may trust messages that appear to come from internal leaders. Training is essential so all staff can spot the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) signs of these attacks.
Everyone in a school community, from administrative staff and teachers to support teams, handles information that could put the school at risk if compromised. A single misplaced click can lead to serious consequences, making staff training an essential part of your security plan.
Key Areas of Training:
Recognising Phishing and Social Engineering: Staff should be equipped to detect the hallmarks of fraudulent communications, such as slightly altered email addresses, unusual requests, or unexpected file attachments. Simulated phishing exercises can help staff recognise attacks in a controlled, risk-free environment.
Strengthening Password and Account Protections: Schools should enforce strong password practices and make MFA mandatory for all key systems. Staff should be taught the importance of never reusing passwords and updating them regularly.
Device and Data Security: Clear, easily accessible guidance on how to securely use both school-owned and personal (BYOD) devices can reduce accidental exposures. This includes regularly updating devices, using secure Wi-Fi, and avoiding public networks for sensitive tasks.
Confidential Data Handling: Everyone should understand their obligations around managing personal information, report suspected breaches quickly, and follow school policies for protecting student and staff data.
Practical Example: Suppose a staff member receives a seemingly urgent message from the headteacher requesting a set of confidential student records.
Without training, the staff member may act quickly, trying to be helpful, possibly exposing or leaking sensitive information.
With regular training, the staff member is more likely to spot inconsistencies, recognise the risk, confirm the request through another channel, and alert the IT team, averting a potential breach.
A trained and alert team isn’t just a security benefit, it also eases pressure on IT, reducing the incidence of avoidable support cases and allowing the tech team to devote time to more strategic improvements.
While internal training is vital, the rapidly changing threat landscape means no school team can always stay ahead on their own. That’s where working with external consultants adds value.
Benefits of consulting partners:
Deep Specialist Knowledge: Consultants stay abreast of the shifting tactics used against schools, offering advice tailored not only to your systems but to the current threat environment.
Support for Upgrades and System Changes: From choosing and integrating new platforms to improving security protocols across existing systems, consultants provide both technical and strategic guidance.
Risk Assessments and Incident Response: External experts can audit your systems, review vendor agreements for gaps, and deliver actionable recommendations. If an incident does occur, having a consultant ready can speed up investigation and recovery.
Clear, Practical Answers: When new regulations or unusual threats emerge, consultants provide timely, targeted answers to prevent wasted time and costly missteps.
Partnering with a consulting team augments your internal strengths and gives you access to external perspective, ensuring your approach remains current, thorough, and resilient.
To further your school’s security and professional growth, we invite you to explore both Tech Academy and our Academy LMS. Enrolments for the Tech Academy are now open for the January 2026 intake. This specialist programme offers monthly online courses that equip your IT and leadership teams with critical knowledge in areas such as security standards, network security, cyber awareness, and more, ensuring your school remains proactive in a rapidly evolving digital environment.
The Tech Academy delivers CPD-certified training with more than 10 hours of high-quality content. Each participant receives tailored support from a dedicated consultant, allowing for hands-on guidance with your school’s unique needs. This integrated approach empowers your team to strengthen security protocols, enhance compliance, and lead with confidence.
For a wider school-wide impact, our Academy LMS offers the Cyber Pathway, a comprehensive suite of self-paced, interactive courses suitable for all staff. The LMS delivers a broad range of modules designed to build foundational awareness and practical skills across your entire school community. By combining the targeted expertise of the Tech Academy with the accessible, ongoing learning opportunities of the Academy LMS, your school can foster a culture of security awareness and collective responsibility.
Download our comprehensive information pack or contact our team to discuss how both the Tech Academy and Academy LMS can support your school’s journey to digital resilience and long-term safety.
Protecting your school from today’s digital threats demands ongoing investment in people as much as in technology. Comprehensive, ongoing staff training turns every team member into an active participant in your defence strategy, whether by spotting a phishing attack, challenging an unexpected data request, or following strong security practices.
By also leveraging specialised consulting support, your school gains the confidence to tackle complex upgrades, improve contractual protections, and respond to new challenges as they arise. Together, these strategies create a foundation of security and resilience that allows you to focus where it matters most, on delivering high-quality education, knowing the school’s digital systems and data are well defended.